# 1961–62 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1961–62 NCAA men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | New to rankings from previous week |
| Italics | Number of first place votes |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## AP Poll

All AP polls for the 1961–62 season included only 10 ranked teams.
| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 18 | Week 3 Dec. 25 | Week 4 Jan. 1 | Week 5 Jan. 8 | Week 6 Jan. 15 | Week 7 Jan. 22 | Week 8 Jan. 29 | Week 9 Feb. 5 | Week 10 Feb. 12 | Week 11 Feb. 19 | Week 12 Feb. 26 | Week 13 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| 1. | Ohio State | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (7–0) | Ohio State (10–0) | Ohio State (11–0) | Ohio State (12–0) | Ohio State (13–0) | Ohio State (14–0) | Ohio State (16–0) | Ohio State (18–0) | Ohio State (20–0) | Ohio State (21–0) | Ohio State (22–1) | Ohio State (23–1) | 1. |
| 2. | Cincinnati | Cincinnati (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–1) | Cincinnati (10–1) | Cincinnati (11–1) | Kentucky (12–1) | Kentucky (13–1) | Kentucky (13–1) | Kentucky (16–1) | Kentucky (17–1) | Cincinnati (21–2) | Cincinnati (23–2) | Cincinnati (24–2) | Cincinnati (24–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Wake Forest | Providence (5–0) | Duquesne (6–0) | Kentucky (8–1) | Kentucky (10–1) | Cincinnati (11–2) | Cincinnati (13–2) | Cincinnati (14–2) | Cincinnati (17–2) | Cincinnati (19–2) | Kentucky (17–2) | Kansas State (19–2) | Kansas State (21–2) | Kentucky (22–2) | 3. |
| 4. | USC | Kansas State (5–0) | USC (7–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | USC (11–2) | Kansas State (12–2) | Kansas State (13–2) | Kansas State (14–2) | Kansas State (15–2) | Kansas State (17–2) | Kansas State (18–2) | Kentucky (19–2) | Kentucky (20–2) | Mississippi State (24–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Providence | West Virginia (6–0) | Kansas State (7–1) | Villanova (11–0) | Kansas State (10–2) | Duquesne (11–1) | USC (12–3) | USC (12–3) | Duke (14–2) | Bradley (16–3) | Mississippi State (20–1) | Mississippi State (22–1) | Mississippi State (24–1) | Bradley (21–5) | 5. |
| 6. | Purdue | USC (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | USC (9–2) | Villanova (12–1) | USC (12–3) | Duquesne (12–2) | Duke (12–2) | Duquesne (16–2) | Oregon State (17–1) | Bradley (18–3) | Bradley (19–4) | Bradley (21–4) | Kansas State (22–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Duke | Duquesne (5–0) | West Virginia (6–1) | Duquesne (9–1) | Mississippi State (10–0) | Duke (11–2) | Duke (11–2) | Duquesne (14–2) | Bradley (14–3) | Duke (15–3) | Bowling Green (18–2) | Bowling Green (20–2) | Utah (22–3) | Utah (23–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Kansas State | Purdue (3–1) | Wichita (7–1) | Duke (8–1) | Duquesne (9–1) | Bowling Green (12–1) | Bowling Green (14–1) | Bowling Green (16–1) | Bowling Green (16–1) | Mississippi State (18–1) | Duke (17–4) | Duke (19–4) | Bowling Green (21–3) | Bowling Green (21–3) | 8. |
| 9. | St. John's | St. Bonaventure (6–0) | Purdue (5–1) | Mississippi State (9–0) | Bowling Green (10–1) | Bradley (10–2) | Bradley (11–3) | Bradley (12–3) | Mississippi State (16–1) | Duquesne (16–3) | Colorado (14–5) | Colorado (15–5) | Duke (20–5) | Colorado (18–5) | 9. |
| 10. | Seattle | Arizona State (5–0) Seattle (5–0) | Duke (7–1) | Bowling Green (8–1) | Duke (9–2) | Mississippi State (11–1) | Mississippi State (13–1) | Mississippi State (16–1) | Oregon State (16–1) | Bowling Green (16–2) | Oregon State (17–3) | Utah (21–3) | Loyola-Chicago (21–2) | Duke (20–5) | 10. |
| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 18 | Week 3 Dec. 25 | Week 4 Jan. 1 | Week 5 Jan. 8 | Week 6 Jan. 15 | Week 7 Jan. 22 | Week 8 Jan. 29 | Week 9 Feb. 5 | Week 10 Feb. 12 | Week 11 Feb. 19 | Week 12 Feb. 26 | Week 13 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| | | Dropped: Wake Forest (3–3)Duke (5–1)St. John's (3–1) | Dropped: Providence (5–2)St. Bonaventure (6–1)Arizona State (6–1)Seattle (5–0) | Dropped: Wichita (9–2)Purdue (7–2)West Virginia (7–3) | None | Dropped: Villanova (13–2) | None | None | Dropped: USC (12–4) | None | Dropped: Duquesne (16–5) | Dropped: Oregon State (18–4) | Dropped: Colorado (16–6) | Dropped: Loyola-Chicago (21–3) | |

## UPI Poll

The initial UPI poll for this season included only 10 ranked teams, while UPI polls for the remainder of the season included 20 ranked teams.
| | Week 1 Dec. 12 | Week 2 Dec. 19 | Week 3 Dec. 26 | Week 4 Jan. 2 | Week 5 Jan. 9 | Week 6 Jan. 16 | Week 7 Jan. 23 | Week 8 Jan. 30 | Week 9 Feb. 6 | Week 10 Feb. 13 | Week 11 Feb. 20 | Week 12 Feb. 27 | Week 13 Mar. 6 | Final Mar. 13 | |
| 1. | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (7–0) | Ohio State (10–0) | Ohio State (11–0) | Ohio State (12–0) | Ohio State (13–0) | Ohio State (14–0) | Ohio State (16–0) | Ohio State (18–0) | Ohio State (20–0) | Ohio State (21–0) | Ohio State (22–1) | Ohio State (23–1) | 1. |
| 2. | Cincinnati (3–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–1) | Cincinnati (10–1) | Cincinnati (11–1) | Cincinnati (11–2) | Cincinnati (13–2) | Cincinnati (14–2) | Cincinnati (17–2) | Cincinnati (19–2) | Cincinnati (21–2) | Cincinnati (23–2) | Cincinnati (24–2) | Cincinnati (24–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Kansas State (3–0) | Kansas State (5–0) | Kansas State (7–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | USC (11–2) | Kentucky (12–1) | Kentucky (13–1) | Kentucky (13–1) | Kentucky (16–1) | Kentucky (17–1) | Kentucky (17–2) | Kansas State (19–2) | Kansas State (21–2) | Kentucky (22–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Providence (3–0) | Providence (5–0) | USC (7–1) | USC (9–2) | Kentucky (10–1) | Kansas State (12–2) | USC (12–3) | Kansas State (14–2) | Kansas State (15–2) | Kansas State (17–2) | Kansas State (18–2) | Kentucky (19–2) | Kentucky (20–2) | Mississippi State (24–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Duke (3–0) | USC (5–1) | Wichita (7–1) | Kentucky (8–1) | Kansas State (10–2) | USC (12–3) | Kansas State (13–2) | USC (12–3) | Duke (14–2) | Bradley (16–3) | Mississippi State (20–1) | Mississippi State (22–1) | Mississippi State (24–1) | Kansas State (22–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Purdue (2–0) | West Virginia (6–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Villanova (11–0) | Villanova (12–1) | Duquesne (11–1) | Duquesne (12–2) | Duke (12–2) | Duquesne (16–2) | Oregon State (17–1) | Bradley (18–3) | Duke (19–4) | Bradley (21–4) | Bradley (21–5) | 6. |
| 7. | USC (3–1) | Arizona State (5–0) | Duquesne (6–0) | Duke (8–1) | Duquesne (9–1) | Bradley (10–2) | Bradley (11–3) | Duquesne (14–2) | USC (12–4) | Duke (15–3) | Duke (17–4) | Bradley (19–4) | Utah (22–3) | Wake Forest (18–8) | 7. |
| 8. | Arizona State (3–0) | Duke (6–1) | Duke (7–1) | Duquesne (9–1) | Duke (9–2) | Duke (11–2) | Villanova (14–2) | Bradley (12–3) | Bradley (14–3) | Mississippi State (18–1) | Oregon State (17–3) | Bowling Green (20–2) | Wake Forest (18–8) | Colorado (18–5) | 8. |
| 9. | West Virginia (4–0) | Purdue (3–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Wichita (9–2) | Oregon State (9–1) | Villanova (13–2) | Duke (11–2) | Oregon State (14–1) | Oregon State (16–1) | Duquesne (16–3) | St. John's (15–4) | Loyola-Chicago (18–2) | Loyola-Chicago (21–2) | Bowling Green (21–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Wake Forest (2–1) | Wichita (5–1) | Utah (8–1) | Oregon State (7–1) | West Virginia (9–3) | Oregon State (11–1) | Oregon State (13–1) | Villanova (15–2) | Bowling Green (16–1) | USC (13–5) | Bowling Green (18–2) т | Colorado (15–5) | Bowling Green (21–3) | Utah (23–3) | 10. |
| 11. | | Utah (5–1) | Providence (5–2) | Purdue (7–2) | Mississippi State (10–0) | Wichita (13–3) | Wichita (14–4) | Bowling Green (16–1) | Mississippi State (16–1) | Villanova (16–5) | Loyola-Chicago (16–2) т | Oregon State (18–4) | Duke (20–5) | Oregon State (22–4) | 11. |
| 12. | | Duquesne (5–0) | Purdue (5–1) | West Virginia (7–3) | Utah (11–2) | West Virginia (11–3) | Bowling Green (14–1) | West Virginia (14–3) | Villanova (15–4) | Bowling Green (16–2) т | USC (14–6) т | UCLA (14–8) | UCLA (15–8) | St. John's (19–4) | 12. |
| 13. | | St. John's (3–1) | NYU (6–0) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Bradley (8–2) | Mississippi State (11–1) | Mississippi State (13–1) | Mississippi State (16–1) | Colorado (10–5) т | St. John's (15–4) т | Colorado (14–5) | St. John's (16–4) | Oregon State (20–4) | Duke (20–5) т | 13. |
| 14. | | Utah (3–1) | St. John's (4–1) | Mississippi State (9–0) т | Wichita (11–3) | Bowling Green (12–1) | West Virginia (13–3) | Utah (15–2) | Utah (16–3) т | Utah (17–3) | Duquesne (16–5) т | Duquesne (18–5) | West Virginia (24–5) | Loyola-Chicago (21–3) т | 14. |
| 15. | | St. Bonaventure (6–0) | Texas Tech (4–1) | Bowling Green (8–1) т | Santa Clara (12–1) | Utah (13–2) | Utah (15–2) | Loyola-Chicago (21–2) | West Virginia (16–4) т | UCLA (11–7) | Utah (19–3) т | Utah (21–3) | St. John's (17–4) | Arizona State (22–3) | 15. |
| 16. | | Drake (3–1) | Seattle (5–0) | Utah (10–2) | Bowling Green (10–1) | Stanford (7–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Colorado (9–5) | Arizona State (14–3) | Loyola-Chicago (15–2) | West Virginia (19–5) | Houston (21–5) т | Wisconsin (18–6) | West Virginia (24–5) | 16. |
| 17. | | Dayton (5–0) | Santa Clara (8–1) т | Santa Clara (11–1) т | Illinois (8–1) | Purdue (10–3) | Colorado (8–5) | Arizona State (13–3) т | Loyola-Chicago (14–2) | Arizona State (18–3) | Utah State (18–4) | Wake Forest (15–8) т | Arizona State (22–3) | UCLA (16–9) | 17. |
| 18. | | NYU (5–0) | Villanova (9–0) т | Temple (7–1) т | Purdue (7–3) т | St. John's (9–3) | St. John's (10–3) | Wichita (14–5) т | St. John's (13–4) | Colorado (12–5) | UCLA (12–8) | Arizona State (21–3) | Villanova (18–6) | Duquesne (22–5) | 18. |
| 19. | | Texas Tech (3–1) | Mississippi State (7–0) | Illinois (7–1) т | Temple (9–1) т | Illinois (9–2) | Arizona State (13–3) | Houston (14–3) т | Stanford (10–4) | West Virginia (18–4) | Wake Forest (13–8) | Villanova (17–6) | Colorado (16–5) | Utah State (21–5) | 19. |
| 20. | | Illinois (5–0) | Washington (5–1) | St. John's (6–2) т | Colorado State (8–3) | Santa Clara (12–3) | Santa Clara (12–3) | North Carolina (6–2) т Santa Clara (14–3) т | Loyola Marymount (14–3) т UCLA (10–7) т Utah State (15–4) т | Washington (11–8) | Arizona State (20–3) т NC State (11–4) т | West Virginia (21–5) т USC (14–8) т | NYU (17–3) | Villanova (19–6) | 20. |
| | Week 1 Dec. 12 | Week 2 Dec. 19 | Week 3 Dec. 26 | Week 4 Jan. 2 | Week 5 Jan. 9 | Week 6 Jan. 16 | Week 7 Jan. 23 | Week 8 Jan. 30 | Week 9 Feb. 6 | Week 10 Feb. 13 | Week 11 Feb. 20 | Week 12 Feb. 27 | Week 13 Mar. 6 | Final Mar. 13 | |
| | | Dropped: Wake Forest (2–2) | Dropped: Arizona StateSt. BonaventureDrakeDaytonIllinois | Dropped: ProvidenceNYUSeattleWashington | Dropped: Texas TechSt. John's | Dropped: TempleColorado State | Dropped: PurdueIllinois | Dropped: StanfordSt. John's | Dropped: WichitaHoustonNorth CarolinaSanta Clara | Dropped: StanfordLoyola MarymountUtah State | Dropped: VillanovaWashington | Dropped: Utah StateNC State | Dropped: DuquesneHoustonUSC | Dropped: Wisconsin (17–7)NYU (18–4) | |