# 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Two human polls made up the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| Italics | Number of first place votes |
| (#-#) | Win–loss record |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## AP poll

The Associated Press (AP) preseason poll was released on November 2, 2009. This poll is compiled by sportswriters across the nation. In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. Generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
| | Preseason Nov 2 | Week 1 Nov 16 | Week 2 Nov 23 | Week 3 Nov 30 | Week 4 Dec 7 | Week 5 Dec 14 | Week 6 Dec 21 | Week 7 Dec 28 | Week 8 Jan 4 | Week 9 Jan 11 | Week 10 Jan 18 | Week 11 Jan 25 | Week 12 Feb 1 | Week 13 Feb 8 | Week 14 Feb 15 | Week 15 Feb 22 | Week 16 Mar 1 | Week 17 Mar 8 | Week 18 Mar 15 | |
| 1. | Kansas 55 | Kansas (1–0) 58 | Kansas (3–0) 56 | Kansas (5–0) 63 | Kansas (7–0) 62 | Kansas (9–0) 61 | Kansas (10–0) 55 | Kansas (11–0) 52 | Kansas (13–0) 56 | Texas (15–0) 56 | Texas (17–0) 57 | Kentucky (19–0) 65 | Kansas (20–1) 54 | Kansas (22–1) 55 | Kansas (24–1) 62 | Kansas (26–1) 61 | Syracuse (27–2) 59 | Kansas (29–2) 63 | Kansas (32–2) 65 | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan State 5 | Michigan St (1–0) 5 | Michigan St (4–0) 7 | Texas (5–0) 1 | Texas (6–0) 1 | Texas (8–0) 1 | Texas (10–0) 7 | Texas (11–0) 11 | Texas (14–0) 8 | Kentucky (16–0) 9 | Kentucky (18–0) 8 | Kansas (18–1) | Villanova (19–1) 4 | Syracuse (23–1) 8 | Kentucky (24–1) 3 | Kentucky (26–1) 4 | Kansas (27–2) 6 | Kentucky (29–2) 2 | Kentucky (32–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas 1 | Texas (1–0) 1 | Texas (2–0) 1 | Villanova (6–0) | Villanova (8–0) 1 | Kentucky (10–0) | Kentucky (11–0) 1 | Kentucky (13–0) 1 | Kentucky (15–0) 1 | Kansas (14–1) | Kansas (16–1) | Villanova (18–1) | Syracuse (21–1) 6 | Kentucky (22–1) 2 | Villanova (22–3) | Purdue (23–3) | Kentucky (27–2) | Syracuse (28–3) | Duke (29–5) | 3. |
| 4. | Kentucky 3 | Kentucky (1–0) 1 | Villanova (5–0) | Purdue (6–0) | Kentucky (8–0) | Purdue (9–0) | Purdue (10–0) | Purdue (11–0) | Purdue (14–0) | Villanova (14–1) | Villanova (16–1) | Syracuse (19–1) | Kentucky (20–1) 1 | Villanova (20–2) | Purdue (21–3) | Syracuse (25–2) | Duke (25–4) | Duke (26–5) | Syracuse (28–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Villanova | Villanova (1–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | Purdue (7–0) | Syracuse (10–0) 2 | Syracuse (11–0) 2 | Syracuse (12–0) | Duke (12–1) | Syracuse (15–1) | Syracuse (17–1) | Michigan State (17–3) | Michigan State (19–3) | West Virginia (19–3) | Syracuse (24–2) | Duke (23–4) | Kansas State (24–4) | Ohio State (24–7) | Ohio State (27–7) | 5. |
| 6. | North Carolina 1 | North Carolina (3–0) | Purdue (3–0) | Duke (6–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | West Virginia (7–0) | West Virginia (8–0) | West Virginia (10–0) | Villanova (12–1) | Purdue (14–1) | Michigan State (15–3) | Texas (17–2) | West Virginia (17–3) | Purdue (19–3) | Duke (21–4) | Kansas State (22–4) | Ohio State (23–7) | Purdue (26–4) | West Virginia (27–6) | 6. |
| 7. | Purdue | Purdue (1–0) | Duke (4–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Syracuse (8–0) 1 | Duke (7–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (9–1) | Syracuse (13–1) | Michigan State (13–3) | Duke (15–2) | Georgetown (15–3) | Georgetown (16–4) | Georgetown (17–5) | Kansas State (20–4) | Villanova (22–4) | Purdue (24–4) | West Virginia (24–6) | Kansas State (26–7) | 7. |
| 8. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | West Virginia (1–0) | Syracuse (7–0) 1 | Duke (7–1) | Villanova (9–1) | Villanova (10–1) | Villanova (11–1) | West Virginia (11–1) | Duke (13–2) | Tennessee (14–2) | Duke (16–3) | Purdue (18–3) | Duke (19–4) | West Virginia (19–5) | West Virginia (21–5) | New Mexico (27–3) | New Mexico (28–3) | New Mexico (29–4) | 8. |
| 9. | Duke | Duke (1–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Michigan St (5–2) | Tennessee (6–1) | Tennessee (7–1) | Michigan State (9–2) | North Carolina (9–3) | North Carolina (11–4) | Tennessee (12–2) | Pittsburgh (15–2) | West Virginia (15–3) | Texas (18–3) | Kansas State (19–4) | Ohio State (20–6) | Ohio State (21–7) | Villanova (23–5) | Kansas State (24–6) | Villanova (24–7) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Tennessee (1–0) | Syracuse (4–0) 1 | North Carolina (7–1) | Florida (8–0) | North Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (8–3) | Connecticut (9–2) | Michigan State (11–3) | West Virginia (12–2) | Kansas State (15–2) | Purdue (16–3) | Duke (17–4) т | Michigan State (19–5) | Georgetown (18–6) | New Mexico (25–3) | West Virginia (22–6) | Villanova (24–6) | Purdue (27–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Butler | Butler (1–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | North Carolina (7–2) | Georgetown (8–0) | Connecticut (7–2) | Michigan State (9–3) | Kansas State (13–1) | Georgetown (12–2) | West Virginia (13–3) | Kansas State (16–3) | Kansas State (17–4) т | Wisconsin (18–5) | Michigan State (20–6) | Georgetown (18–7) | Michigan State (22–7) | Michigan State (24–7) | Butler (28–4) | 11. |
| 12. | Connecticut | Connecticut (1–0) | Butler (3–0) | Washington (5–0) | Michigan State (6–2) | Michigan State (8–2) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | Georgetown (11–1) | North Carolina (12–4) | Georgetown (13–3) | BYU (20–1) | BYU (21–2) | Tennessee (18–4) | New Mexico (23–3) | Pittsburgh (21–6) | Butler (26–4) | Butler (26–4) | Temple (29–5) | 12. |
| 13. | California | California (2–0) | Connecticut (3–0) | Florida (7–0) | Ohio State (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | New Mexico (12–0) | Georgetown (9–1) | Connecticut (10–3) | Kansas State (13–2) т | Purdue (14–3) | Gonzaga (16–3) | Ohio State (16–6) | Ohio State (18–6) | Gonzaga (21–4) | BYU (25–3) | Vanderbilt (22–6) | Wisconsin (23–7) | Michigan State (24–8) | 13. |
| 14. | Washington | Washington (3–0) | Washington (4–0) | Connecticut (4–1) | Connecticut (6–1) | Connecticut (6–2) | Georgetown (8–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Mississippi (12–2) | Wisconsin (12–2) т | BYU (18–1) | Tennessee (15–3) | Tennessee (16–4) | Texas (19–4) | Wisconsin (19–6) | Michigan State (21–7) | BYU (26–4) | BYU (28–4) | Georgetown (23–10) | 14. |
| 15. | Michigan | Michigan (2–0) т | Michigan (2–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Georgetown (6–0) | Gonzaga (8–2) | Mississippi (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | New Mexico (14–2) | Connecticut (11–4) | Gonzaga (14–3) | Temple (16–4) | New Mexico (20–3) | New Mexico (21–3) | Texas (20–5) | Butler (25–4) | Wisconsin (21–7) | Tennessee (23–7) | Tennessee (25–8) | 15. |
| 16. | Ohio State | Ohio State (2–0) т | Louisville (3–0) | Georgetown (6–0) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas Tech (9–0) | Tennessee (8–2) | Mississippi (10–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | Pittsburgh (13–2) | Temple (15–3) | Wisconsin (15–4) | Wisconsin (16–5) | Gonzaga (19–4) | BYU (23–3) | Vanderbilt (20–6) | Tennessee (21–7) | Pittsburgh (24–7) | Wisconsin (23–8) | 16. |
| 17. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (1–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Gonzaga (6–2) | Washington (6–1) | Kansas State (9–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Wisconsin (12–2) | Gonzaga (12–3) | Clemson (15–3) | Pittsburgh (15–4) | Gonzaga (17–4) | BYU (22–3) | Vanderbilt (19–5) | Wisconsin (20–7) | Pittsburgh (22–7) | Temple (26–5) | BYU (29–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Mississippi State | Dayton (1–0) | Georgetown (3–0) | Clemson (7–2) | UNLV (7–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | Florida (8–2) | Temple (9–2) | Florida State (13–2) | BYU (16–1) | Wisconsin (14–4) | Mississippi (15–4) | Vanderbilt (16–4) | Butler (20–4) | Butler (23–4) | Gonzaga (22–5) | Gonzaga (24–5) | Gonzaga (25–5) | Pittsburgh (24–8) | 18. |
| 19. | Louisville | Georgetown (1–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Cincinnati (5–1) | New Mexico (10–0) | Texas A&M (9–2) | New Mexico (12–1) | Gonzaga (11–3) | Temple (13–3) | Georgia Tech (13–4) | Connecticut (13–6) | Temple (18–4) | Northern Iowa (21–2) | Pittsburgh (19–6) | Tennessee (20–6) | Georgetown (19–8) | Maryland (23–7) | Baylor (25–7) | 19. |
| 20. | Georgetown | Louisville (0–0) | Illinois (3–0) | Louisville (5–2) | Wisconsin (6–1) | Mississippi (8–1) | Butler (8–3) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Georgia Tech (11–3) | Georgia Tech (12–3) | Northern Iowa (16–1) | Ohio State (14–6) | Baylor (16–4) | Georgia Tech (17–6) | Tennessee (18–6) | Temple (22–5) | Temple (24–5) | Vanderbilt (23–7) | Maryland (23–8) | 20. |
| 21. | Dayton | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Florida State (7–2) | Gonzaga (6–2) | Butler (7–3) | Temple (9–2) | Clemson (11–2) | Temple (11–3) | Mississippi (12–3) | Ohio State (13–5) | Vanderbilt (15–3) | Georgia Tech (16–5) | Temple (19–5) | Temple (20–5) | Texas (21–6) | Baylor (22–6) | Baylor (24–6) | Vanderbilt (24–8) | 21. |
| 22. | Georgia Tech | Clemson (1–0) | Minnesota (3–0) | Cincinnati (5–1) | Butler (6–2) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Washington (7–2) | Florida State (11–2) | Texas Tech (12–2) | Baylor (13–1) | Mississippi (13–4) | Georgia Tech (14–5) | Pittsburgh (16–5) | Vanderbilt (17–5) | Baylor (19–5) | Texas A&M (19–7) | Maryland (21–7) | Georgetown (20–9) | Gonzaga (26–6) | 22. |
| 23. | Illinois | Illinois (1–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Butler (6–2) | Texas Tech (8–0) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Wisconsin (10–2) | Pittsburgh (13–2) | Miami (FL) (15–1) | Mississippi State (15–3) | New Mexico (18–3) | Butler (18–4) | UNLV (19–4) | Wake Forest (18–5) | Richmond (22–6) | Texas A&M (20–8) | Texas A&M (22–8) | Texas A&M (23–9) | 23. |
| 24. | Clemson | Minnesota (1–0) | Vanderbilt (2–0) | UNLV (7–0) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Washington (6–2) | Clemson (10–2) | UAB (11–1) | Washington (10–3) | Clemson (13–3) | North Carolina (12–6) | Baylor (15–3) | Northern Iowa (19–2) | Baylor (17–5) | Texas A&M (18–6) | Baylor (20–6) | UTEP (22–5) | Xavier (23–7) | Richmond (26–8) | 24. |
| 25. | Minnesota | Maryland (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Portland (5–2) | Mississippi (7–1) | Cincinnati (6–2) | Gonzaga (8–3) | Northwestern (10–1) | BYU (14–1) | Florida State (13–3) | Baylor (14–2) | UAB (17–2) | Mississippi (16–5) | Pittsburgh (17–6) | Richmond (20–6) | Northern Iowa (24–3) | Xavier (21–7) | UTEP (24–5) | Xavier (24–8) | 25. |
| | Preseason Nov 2 | Week 1 Nov 16 | Week 2 Nov 23 | Week 3 Nov 30 | Week 4 Dec 7 | Week 5 Dec 14 | Week 6 Dec 21 | Week 7 Dec 28 | Week 8 Jan 4 | Week 9 Jan 11 | Week 10 Jan 18 | Week 11 Jan 25 | Week 12 Feb 1 | Week 13 Feb 8 | Week 14 Feb 15 | Week 15 Feb 22 | Week 16 Mar 1 | Week 17 Mar 8 | Week 18 Mar 15 | |
| | | Dropped: Mississippi St (0–1) | Dropped: California (2–2)Dayton (2–2)Georgia Tech (3–1) | Dropped: Michigan (2–2)Illinois (4–2)Maryland (4–2)Minnesota (4–2)Notre Dame (6–1)Vanderbilt (4–1)Oklahoma (3–3) | Dropped: Clemson (7–2)Louisville (5–2)Florida State (7–2)Portland (5–3) | Dropped: UNLV (7–1)Wisconsin (7–2) | Dropped: Georgia Tech (8–2)Cincinnati (7–3) | Dropped: Florida (8–3)Texas A&M (9–3)Butler (8–4)Gonzaga (8–3) | Dropped: Ohio State (10–4)Clemson (12–3)UAB (12–2)Northwestern (10–3) | Dropped: New Mexico (14–3)Texas Tech (12–3)Washington (10–5) | Dropped: Connecticut (11–6)Miami (FL) (15–3)Florida State (14–4) | Dropped: Clemson (15–5)Northern Iowa (17–2)Mississippi State (15–4)North Carolina (12–7) | Dropped: Connecticut (13–8)UAB (18–3) | Dropped: Mississippi (17–6) | Dropped: Northern Iowa (22–3)Georgia Tech (17–8)UNLV (19–6) | Dropped: Wake Forest (18–7) | Dropped: Texas (22–7)Richmond (22–7)Northern Iowa (25–4) | None | Dropped: UTEP (26–6) | |

## ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

The Coaches Poll is the second oldest poll still in use after the AP Poll. It is compiled by a rotating group of 31 college Division I head coaches. The Poll operates by Borda count. Each voting member ranks teams from 1 to 25. Each team then receives points for their ranking in reverse order: Number 1 earns 25 points, number 2 earns 24 points, and so forth. The points are then combined and the team with the highest points is then ranked #1; second highest is ranked #2 and so forth. Only the top 25 teams with points are ranked, with teams receiving first place votes noted the quantity next to their name. Any team receiving votes after the top 25 are listed after the top 25 by their point totals. However, these are not real rankings: They are not considered #26, #27, etc. The maximum points a single team can earn is 775. The preseason poll was released on November 2, 2009.
| | Preseason Nov 2 | Week 1 Nov 16 | Week 2 Nov 23 | Week 3 Nov 30 | Week 4 Dec 7 | Week 5 Dec 14 | Week 6 Dec 21 | Week 7 Dec 28 | Week 8 Jan 4 | Week 9 Jan 11 | Week 10 Jan 18 | Week 11 Jan 25 | Week 12 Feb 1 | Week 13 Feb 8 | Week 14 Feb 15 | Week 15 Feb 22 | Week 16 Mar 1 | Week 17 Mar 8 | Week 18 Mar 14 | Week 19 Final | |
| 1. | Kansas 27 | Kansas (1–0)27 | Kansas (3–0) 28 | Kansas (5–0) 30 | Kansas (7–0) 31 | Kansas (9–0) 30 | Kansas (10–0) 31 | Kansas (11–0) 28 | Kansas (13–0) 30 | Texas (15–0) 30 | Texas (17–0) 30 | Kentucky (19–0) 31 | Kansas (20–1) 26 | Kansas (22–1) 29 | Kansas (25–1) 30 | Kansas (26–1) 30 | Syracuse (27–2) 23 | Kansas (29–2) 30 | Kansas (32–2) 31 | Duke (35–5) 31 | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan State 3 | Michigan St (1–0) 3 | Michigan St (4–0) 2 | Texas (5–0) | Texas (6–0) | Texas (8–0) | Texas (10–0) | Texas (11–0) 3 | Texas (14–0) 1 | Kentucky (16–0) 1 | Kentucky (18–0) 1 | Kansas (18–1) | Villanova (19–1) 4 | Kentucky (22–1) 1 | Kentucky (24–1) 1 | Kentucky (26–1) 1 | Kansas (27–2) 7 | Kentucky (29–2) | Kentucky (32–2) | Butler (33–5) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas | Texas (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Villanova (6–0) | Villanova (8–0) | Kentucky (10–0) 1 | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Kentucky (15–0) | Kansas (14–1) | Kansas (16–1) | Villanova (18–1) | Kentucky (20–1) 1 | Syracuse (23–1) 1 | Villanova (22–3) | Purdue (23–3) | Kentucky (27–2) | Syracuse (28–3) 1 | Duke (29–5) | West Virginia (31–7) | 3. |
| 4. | North Carolina 1 | North Carolina (3–0) 1 | Villanova (5–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (8–0) | Purdue (9–0) | Purdue (10–0) | Purdue (11–0) | Purdue (14–0) | Villanova (14–1) | Villanova (16–1) | Syracuse (19–1) | Syracuse (21–1) | West Virginia (19–3) | Purdue (21–3) | Syracuse (25–2) | Duke (25–4) 1 | Duke (26–5) | Syracuse (28–4) | Michigan State (28–9) | 4. |
| 5. | Kentucky | Kentucky (3–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Duke (6–0) 1 | Purdue (7–0) | Syracuse (10–0) | Syracuse (11–0) | Syracuse (12–0) | Duke (12–1) | Syracuse (15–1) | Syracuse (17–1) | Michigan State (17–3) | Michigan State (19–3) | Villanova (20–2) | Syracuse (24–2) | Duke (23–4) | Kansas State (24–4) | Purdue (26–4) | West Virginia (27–6) | Kentucky (35–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Villanova | Villanova (1–0) | Purdue (3–0) | Purdue (5–0) | Syracuse (8–0) | West Virginia (7–0) | West Virginia (8–0) | West Virginia (10–0) | Villanova (12–1) | Purdue (14–1) | Duke (15–2) | Texas (17–2) | West Virginia (17–3) | Purdue (19–3) | Duke (21–4) | Kansas State (22–4) | Purdue (24–4) | West Virginia (24–6) | Ohio State (27–7) | Kansas (33–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Purdue | Purdue (1–0) | Duke (4–0) 1 | Syracuse (6–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Duke (7–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (9–1) | Syracuse (13–1) | Duke (13–2) | Michigan State (15–3) | Duke (17–3) | Purdue (18–3) | Duke (19–4) | Kansas State (20–4) | West Virginia (21–5) | Ohio State (23–7) | Ohio State (24–7) | Kansas State (26–7) | Kansas State (29–8) | 7. |
| 8. | Duke | Duke (1–0) | West Virginia (1–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Duke (7–1) | Tennessee (7–1) | Villanova (10–1) | Villanova (11–1) | West Virginia (11–1) | Michigan State (13–3) | Tennessee (14–2) | Gonzaga (16–3) | Georgetown (16–4) | Georgetown (17–5) | West Virginia (19–5) | Villanova (22–4) | West Virginia (22–6) | New Mexico (28–3) | Butler (28–4) | Syracuse (30–5) | 8. |
| 9. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Syracuse (4–0) | Michigan State (5–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Villanova (9–1) | Michigan State (9–2) | North Carolina (9–3) | North Carolina (11–4) | West Virginia (12–2) | Kansas State (15–2) | West Virginia (15–3) | Duke (17–4) | Kansas State (19–4) | Gonzaga (21–4) | Ohio State (21–7) | Villanova (23–5) | Kansas State (24–6) | Villanova (24–7) | Tennessee (28–9) | 9. |
| 10. | Butler | Butler (1–0) | Butler (3–0) | Washington (5–0) | North Carolina (7–2) | North Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (8–3) | Connecticut (9–2) | Kansas State (13–1) | Tennessee (12–2) | Gonzaga (14–3) | BYU (20–1) | Texas (18–3) | Michigan State (19–5) | Georgetown (18–6) | Butler (25–4) | New Mexico (27–3) | Villanova (24–6) | New Mexico (29–4) | Baylor (28–8) | 10. |
| 11. | Tennessee | Tennessee (1–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | North Carolina (6–1) | Florida (8–0) | Georgetown (8–0) | Connecticut (7–2) | Michigan State (9–3) | Michigan State (11–3) | Georgetown (12–2) | Pittsburgh (15–2) | Georgetown (15–3) | Kansas State (17–4) | Gonzaga (19–4) | Michigan State (20–6) | BYU (25–3) | Butler (26–4) | Michigan State (24–7) | Purdue (27–5) | Ohio State (29–8) | 11. |
| 12. | California | California (2–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Connecticut (6–1) | Michigan State (8–2) | New Mexico (12–0) | Kansas State (11–1) | Georgetown (11–1) | Kansas State (13–2) | West Virginia (13–3) | Purdue (16–3) | BYU (21–2) | Tennessee (18–4) | Ohio State (20–6) | New Mexico (25–3) | Michigan State (22–7) | Butler (27–4) | Michigan State (24–8) | Purdue (29–6) | 12. |
| 13. | Washington | Connecticut (1–0) | Connecticut (3–0) | Connecticut (4–1) | Georgetown (6–0) | Florida (8–1) | Georgetown (8–1) | Georgetown (9–1) | Connecticut (10–3) | North Carolina (12–4) | BYU (18–1) | Kansas State (16–3) | Gonzaga (17–4) | Wisconsin (18–5) | Butler (23–4) | Georgetown (18–7) | Tennessee (21–7) | Tennessee (23–7) | Temple (29–5) | Northern Iowa (30–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Connecticut | Washington (3–0) | Washington (4–0) | Georgetown (4–0) | Michigan State (6–2) | Connecticut (6–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Tennessee (9–2) | New Mexico (14–2) | Gonzaga (12–3) | Georgetown (13–3) | Tennessee (15–3) | Tennessee (16–4) | Texas (19–4) | BYU (23–3) | Michigan State (21–7) | Gonzaga (24–5) | Gonzaga (26–5) | Tennessee (25–8) | Xavier (26–9) | 14. |
| 15. | Michigan | Ohio State (2–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Gonzaga (8–2) т | Kansas State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | Connecticut (11–4) | Purdue (14–3) | Temple (17–3) | Butler (18–4) | Butler (20–4) | New Mexico (23–3) | Gonzaga (22–5) | BYU (26–4) | BYU (28–4) | Georgetown (23–10) | Villanova (25–8) | 15. |
| 16. | Oklahoma | Michigan (1–0) | Louisville (3–0) т | Gonzaga (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Georgia Tech (6–1) т | Butler (8–3) | Washington (9–2) | Mississippi (12–2) | Wisconsin (12–2) | Clemson (15–3) | Wisconsin (16–4) | Wisconsin (16–5) | Ohio State (18–6) | Wisconsin (19–6) | Pittsburgh (21–6) | Temple (24–5) | Pittsburgh (24–7) | BYU (29–5) т | New Mexico (30–5) | 16. |
| 17. | Ohio State | Oklahoma (1–0) | Minnesota (3–0) т | Florida (6–0) | UNLV (7–0) | Butler (7–3) | Ohio State (9–2) | New Mexico (12–1) | Georgia Tech (11–3) | BYU (16–1) | Temple (15–3) | Pittsburgh (15–4) | Temple (18–4) | BYU (22–3) | Texas (20–5) | Tennessee (20–6) | Wisconsin (21–7) | Temple (26–5) | Pittsburgh (24–8) т | Cornell (29–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Minnesota | Minnesota (1–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Louisville (4–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Florida (8–2) | Clemson (11–2) | Gonzaga (11–3) | Georgia Tech (12–3) | Georgia Tech (13–4) | Butler (16–4) | Ohio State (16–6) | Northern Iowa (21–2) | Tennessee (18–6) | Temple (22–5) | Pittsburgh (22–7) | Wisconsin (23–7) | Gonzaga (26–6) | Maryland (24–9) | 18. |
| 19. | Mississippi State | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Georgetown (3–0) т | Clemson (6–1) | Cincinnati (5–1) | New Mexico (10–0) | Washington (7–2) | Temple (9–2) | Florida State (13–2) | Clemson (13–3) | Wisconsin (14–4) | Connecticut (13–6) | Georgia Tech (16–5) | New Mexico (21–3) | Vanderbilt (19–5) | Wisconsin (20–7) | Vanderbilt (22–6) | Maryland (23–7) | Wisconsin (23–8) | Saint Mary's (28–6) | 19. |
| 20. | Georgia Tech | Georgetown (1–0) | Clemson (3–0) т | Butler (4–2) | Butler (6–2) | Texas Tech (9–0) | UNLV (10–1) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Wisconsin (12–2) | Pittsburgh (13–2) | Butler (14–4) | Mississippi (15–4) | Vanderbilt (16–4) | Georgia Tech (17–6) | Temple (20–5) | Vanderbilt (20–6) | Georgetown (19–8) | Baylor (24–6) | Maryland (23–8) | Pittsburgh (25–9) | 20. |
| 21. | Georgetown | Dayton (1–0) | Illinois (3–0) | UNLV (5–0) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Washington (6–2) | Mississippi (10–1) | Mississippi (10–2) | Clemson (12–3) | Temple (13–3) | Connecticut (11–6) | Clemson (15–5) | Pittsburgh (16–5) | Temple (19–5) | Pittsburgh (19–6) | Texas (21–6) | UTEP (22–5) | UTEP (24–5) | Baylor (25–7) | Washington (26–10) | 21. |
| 22. | Dayton | Louisville (0–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Gonzaga (6–2) | Kansas State (9–1) | Georgia Tech (8–2) | Gonzaga (8–3) | Washington (10–3) | Butler (12–4) | Northern Iowa (16–1) | Georgia Tech (14–5) | Northern Iowa (19–2) | Cornell (20–3) | Baylor (19–5) | Northern Iowa (24–3) | Baylor (22–6) | Georgetown (20–9) | Vanderbilt (24–8) | BYU (30–6) | 22. |
| 23. | Louisville | Clemson (1–0) | California (2–2) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Wisconsin (6–1) | UNLV (7–1) | Clemson (10–2) | Butler (8–4) | BYU (14–1) | Mississippi (12–3) | North Carolina (12–6) | Vanderbilt (15–3) | New Mexico (20–3) | Pittsburgh (17–6) | Texas A&M (18–7) | Texas A&M (19–7) | Maryland (21–7) | Vanderbilt (23–7) | Texas A&M (23–9) | Gonzaga (27–7) | 23. |
| 24. | Clemson | Syracuse (2–0) | Vanderbilt (2–0) | Cincinnati (4–1) | Clemson (7–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Gonzaga (8–3) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Butler (10–4) | Baylor (13–1) | Mississippi (13–4) | Ohio State (14–6) | Baylor (16–4) | Vanderbilt (17–5) | Northern Iowa (22–3) | Richmond (22–6) | Texas A&M (20–8) | Texas A&M (22–8) | Northern Iowa (28–4) | Wisconsin (24–9) | 24. |
| 25. | Syracuse | Illinois (1–0) | Georgia Tech (3–1) | California (4–2) | Vanderbilt (6–1) | Mississippi (8–1) | Temple (9–2) | Florida State (11–2) | Temple (11–3) | Florida State (13–3) | Ohio State (13–5) | Northern Iowa (17–2) | Cornell (18–3) | UNLV (19–4) | Wake Forest (18–5) | UTEP (20–5) | Texas (22–7) | Northern Iowa (28–4) | UTEP (26–6) | Texas A&M (24–10) | 25. |
| | Preseason Nov 2 | Week 1 Nov 16 | Week 2 Nov 23 | Week 3 Nov 30 | Week 4 Dec 7 | Week 5 Dec 14 | Week 6 Dec 21 | Week 7 Dec 28 | Week 8 Jan 4 | Week 9 Jan 11 | Week 10 Jan 18 | Week 11 Jan 25 | Week 12 Feb 1 | Week 13 Feb 8 | Week 14 Feb 15 | Week 15 Feb 22 | Week 16 Mar 1 | Week 17 Mar 8 | Week 18 Mar 14 | Week 19 Final | |
| | | Dropped: Mississippi State (0–1) | Dropped: Oklahoma (2–1)Dayton (2–2) | Dropped: Michigan (3–2)Minnesota (4–2)Illinois (4–2)Maryland (4–2)Vanderbilt (4–1) | Dropped: Louisville (5–2)California (5–3) | Dropped: Texas A&M (8–2)Cincinnati (6–2)Wisconsin (7–2)Vanderbilt (6–3) | Dropped: Texas Tech (9–1) | Dropped: Florida (8–3)UNLV (12–2) | Dropped: Ohio State (10–4)Texas Tech (12–2) | Dropped: New Mexico (14–3)Washington (10–5) | Dropped: Baylor (14–2)Florida State (14–4) | Dropped: North Carolina (12–7) | Dropped: Connecticut (13–8)Mississippi (16–5)Clemson (16–6) | Dropped: Baylor (17–5) | Dropped: Georgia Tech (17–8)Cornell (21–4)UNLV (19–6) | None | Dropped: Northern Iowa (25–4)Richmond (22–7) | Dropped: Texas (24–8) | None | Dropped: Temple (29–6)Georgetown (23–11)Vanderbilt (24–9)UTEP (26–7) | |

## Preseason polls

Various publications and news sources release their preseason top 25 months before the season commences.
| | Athlon | Lindy's | Sporting News | Fox Sports | CBS Sports | SI.com | Sports Illustrated | Rivals.com | Blue Ribbon Yearbook |
| 1. | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas |
| 2. | Michigan State | Texas | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Michigan State | Michigan State | Kentucky | Michigan State |
| 3. | Texas | Michigan State | Michigan State | Texas | Michigan State | Connecticut | Villanova | Michigan State | Texas |
| 4. | Purdue | Villanova | North Carolina | Michigan State | Texas | Villanova | Texas | Villanova | Villanova |
| 5. | North Carolina | North Carolina | West Virginia | North Carolina | North Carolina | Kentucky | Kentucky | Purdue | North Carolina |
| 6. | Kentucky | Purdue | Texas | West Virginia | Villanova | Texas | Purdue | Texas | Purdue |
| 7. | Villanova | Butler | Purdue | Villanova | Connecticut | Purdue | North Carolina | North Carolina | Kentucky |
| 8. | Tennessee | Kentucky | Duke | California | Purdue | West Virginia | West Virginia | Duke | California |
| 9. | Oklahoma | Michigan | Villanova | Washington | West Virginia | North Carolina | Washington | West Virginia | Duke |
| 10. | West Virginia | California | Mississippi State | Purdue | Duke | Butler | Connecticut | California | Tennessee |
| 11. | Connecticut | Duke | Georgetown | Tennessee | Butler | Washington | California | Butler | Butler |
| 12. | Butler | Tennessee | Tennessee | Connecticut | Washington | Duke | Duke | Connecticut | West Virginia |
| 13. | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | Washington | Duke | Clemson | Tennessee | Tennessee | Ohio State | Georgia Tech |
| 14. | California | Oklahoma | Butler | Butler | Tennessee | California | Butler | Michigan | Minnesota |
| 15. | Mississippi State | Louisville | Connecticut | Ohio State | Oklahoma | Ohio State | Michigan | Washington | Syracuse |
| 16. | Vanderbilt | Washington | California | Michigan | Minnesota | Michigan | Ohio State | Oklahoma | Ohio State |
| 17. | Washington | Dayton | Clemson | Georgia Tech | Dayton | Clemson | Louisville | Tennessee | Oklahoma |
| 18. | Duke | West Virginia | Wake Forest | Illinois | Ohio State | Georgetown | Mississippi State | Georgetown | Connecticut |
| 19. | Louisville | Tulsa | Ohio State | Georgetown | Michigan | Dayton | Georgetown | Oklahoma State | Dayton |
| 20. | BYU | Maryland | Maryland | Minnesota | California | Siena | Siena | Louisville | Maryland |
| 21. | Georgetown | Mississippi St | Illinois | Oklahoma | Siena | Mississippi St | Georgia Tech | Siena | Oklahoma St |
| 22. | Maryland | Ohio State | Notre Dame | Siena | Louisville | South Carolina | Dayton | Dayton | Michigan |
| 23. | Michigan | UCLA | Dayton | Vanderbilt | Illinois | Georgia Tech | Maryland | Clemson | Washington |
| 24. | Clemson | South Carolina | Michigan | Xavier | Georgetown | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Illinois | Georgetown |
| 25. | Dayton | Illinois | Florida State | Mississippi | Gonzaga | Gonzaga | Illinois | Georgia Tech | Siena/Illinois |