# 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Two human polls make up the 2011–12 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 October 28, 2011. 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 at the end of the regular season are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
| | Preseason Oct 28 | Week 1 Nov 14 | Week 2 Nov 21 | Week 3 Nov 28 | Week 4 Dec 5 | Week 5 Dec 12 | Week 6 Dec 19 | Week 7 Dec 26 | Week 8 Jan 2 | Week 9 Jan 9 | Week 10 Jan 16 | Week 11 Jan 23 | Week 12 Jan 30 | Week 13 Feb 6 | Week 14 Feb 13 | Week 15 Feb 20 | Week 16 Feb 27 | Week 17 Mar 5 | Week 18 Mar 12 | |
| 1. | North Carolina 62 | North Carolina (2–0) 62 | North Carolina (3–0) 62 | Kentucky (6–0) 46 | Kentucky (8–0) 47 | Syracuse (10–0) 51 | Syracuse (11–0) 53 | Syracuse (13–0) 54 | Syracuse (15–0) 60 | Syracuse (17–0) 60 | Syracuse (19–0) 60 | Kentucky (19–1) 61 | Kentucky (21–1) 63 | Kentucky (23–1) 63 | Kentucky (25–1) 63 | Kentucky (26–1) 63 | Kentucky (28–1) 63 | Kentucky (30–1) 63 | Kentucky (32–2) 61 | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | Kentucky (1–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Ohio State (6–0) 17 | Ohio State (8–0) 18 | Ohio State (8–1) 7 | Ohio State (10–1) 5 | Ohio State (12–1) 5 | Kentucky (13–1) 5 | Kentucky (15–1) 5 | Kentucky (17–1) 4 | Missouri (18–1) 2 | Syracuse (22–1) 2 | Syracuse (23–1) 2 | Syracuse (25–1) 2 | Syracuse (27–1) 2 | Syracuse (29–1) 2 | Syracuse (30–1) 2 | Syracuse (31–2) 1 | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State 1 | Ohio State (1–0) 1 | Ohio State (3–0) 1 | Duke (7–0) 2 | Syracuse (8–0) | Kentucky (8–1) 4 | Kentucky (9–1) 4 | Kentucky (11–1) 4 | North Carolina (13–2) | North Carolina (14–2) | Baylor (17–0) 1 | Syracuse (20–1) 2 | Ohio State (19–3) | Ohio State (20–3) | Missouri (23–2) | Missouri (25–2) | Kansas (24–5) | Kansas (26–5) | Missouri (30–4) 2 | 3. |
| 4. | Connecticut 2 | Connecticut (1–0) 2 | Connecticut (4–0) 2 | Syracuse (6–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | Louisville (9–0) 2 | Louisville (10–0) 2 | Louisville (12–0) 2 | Baylor (13–0) | Baylor (15–0) | Duke (15–2) | Ohio State (17–3) | Missouri (19–2) | Missouri (21–2) | Kansas (20–5) | Kansas (22–5) | Duke (25–4) | North Carolina (27–4) | North Carolina (29–5) 1 | 4. |
| 5. | Syracuse | Syracuse (1–0) | Syracuse (4–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | Louisville (7–0) | North Carolina (8–2) 1 | North Carolina (9–2) | North Carolina (11–2) | Duke (12–1) | Ohio State (15–2) | Missouri (16–1) | Kansas (16–3) | North Carolina (18–3) | North Carolina (20–3) | Duke (21–4) | Duke (23–4) | Michigan State (24–5) | Missouri (27–4) | Michigan State (27–7) | 5. |
| 6. | Duke | Duke (2–0) | Duke (4–0) | Louisville (5–0) | Baylor (7–0) | Baylor (7–0) | Baylor (9–0) | Baylor (12–0) | Ohio State (13–2) | Michigan State (14–2) | Ohio State (16–3) | Baylor (17–2) | Baylor (19–2) | Baylor (21–2) | Ohio State (21–4) | Michigan State (22–5) | North Carolina (25–4) | Duke (26–5) | Kansas (27–6) | 6. |
| 7. | Vanderbilt | Florida (1–0) | Louisville (3–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Duke (7–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (10–1) | Missouri (13–0) | Indiana (15–1) | Kansas (14–3) | North Carolina (16–3) | Duke (18–3) | Kansas (18–5) | Michigan State (20–5) | North Carolina (23–4) | Missouri (25–4) | Ohio State (25–6) | Ohio State (27–7) | 7. |
| 8. | Florida | Louisville (2–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Connecticut (6–1) | Xavier (6–0) | Xavier (8–0) | Connecticut (9–1) | Missouri (12–0) | Connecticut (12–1) | Duke (13–2) | North Carolina (15–3) | Duke (16–3) | Kansas (17–4) | Florida (19–4) | North Carolina (21–4) | Ohio State (22–5) | Marquette (24–5) | Michigan State (24–7) | Duke (27–6) | 8. |
| 9. | Louisville | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Baylor (3–0) | Wisconsin (6–0) | Connecticut (7–1) | Connecticut (8–1) | Missouri (11–0) | Connecticut (10–1) | Georgetown (12–1) | Missouri (14–1) | Michigan State (15–3) | Georgetown (16–3) | Michigan State (17–4) | Murray State (23–0) | Baylor (21–4) | Georgetown (20–5) | Baylor (24–5) | Marquette (25–6) | Baylor (27–7) | 9. |
| 10. | Pittsburgh | Memphis (0–0) | Florida (2–1) | Florida (4–1) | Missouri (7–0) | Missouri (9–0) | Marquette (10–0) | Florida (10–2) | Michigan State (13–2) | Kansas (12–3) | Georgetown (14–3) | Michigan State (16–4) | Murray State (21–0) | Duke (19–4) | Georgetown (19–5) | Marquette (22–5) | Ohio State (23–6) | Michigan (23–8) | Florida State (24–9) | 10. |
| 11. | Memphis | Baylor (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Xavier (4–0) | Marquette (7–0) | Marquette (9–0) | Florida (8–2) | Wisconsin (11–2) | Louisville (12–2) | Georgetown (13–2) | Indiana (15–3) | Murray State (20–0) | UNLV (20–3) | Michigan State (18–5) | UNLV (22–4) | Michigan (20–7) | Georgetown (21–6) | Murray State (30–1) | Marquette (25–7) | 11. |
| 12. | Baylor | Kansas (1–0) | Xavier (3–0) | Alabama (7–0) | Florida (5–2) | Kansas (7–2) | Kansas (7–2) | Georgetown (10–1) | Indiana (13–1) | UNLV (16–2) | Murray State (18–0) | UNLV (18–3) | Florida (17–4) | Georgetown (18–4) | Marquette (21–5) | Florida (21–6) | Murray State (28–1) | Baylor (25–6) | Murray State (30–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Kansas | Xavier (1–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Missouri (6–0) | Kansas (5–2) | Florida (7–2) | Wisconsin (10–2) | Indiana (12–0) | Florida (11–3) | Michigan (13–3) | Connecticut (14–3) | San Diego State (17–2) | Creighton (20–2) | San Diego State (20–3) | San Diego State (20–4) | Baylor (22–5) | Michigan (21–8) | Georgetown (22–7) | Michigan (24–9) | 13. |
| 14. | Xavier | Wisconsin (1–0) | Kansas (1–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Xavier (8–1) | Marquette (11–1) | Kansas (10–3) | Louisville (13–3) | UNLV (16–3) | Florida (15–4) | Georgetown (16–4) | UNLV (21–4) | Florida (19–6) | Murray State (26–1) | Wisconsin (21–8) | Wisconsin (23–8) | Wisconsin (24–9) | 14. |
| 15. | Wisconsin | Arizona (3–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Kansas (3–2) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) | Mississippi State (12–1) | Mississippi State (13–2) | Murray State (16–0) | Virginia (14–2) | Creighton (18–2) | Marquette (18–4) | Florida State (16–6) | Wisconsin (19–6) | Florida State (19–7) | Wichita State (26–4) | Indiana (24–7) | Georgetown (23–8) | 15. |
| 16. | Arizona | Alabama (1–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Georgetown (8–1) | Georgetown (9–1) | Michigan State (11–2) | Michigan (12–2) | Virginia (14–1) | San Diego State (16–2) | Indiana (16–4) | Virginia (17–3) | Saint Mary's (22–2) | Murray State (24–1) | Wisconsin (20–7) | Florida (22–7) | Wichita State (27–5) | Indiana (25–8) | 16. |
| 17. | UCLA | Michigan (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Mississippi State (8–1) | Mississippi State (9–1) | Indiana (10–0) | Kansas (8–3) | UNLV (15–2) | Connecticut (12–3) | Florida (14–4) | Marquette (16–4) | San Diego State (18–3) | Creighton (21–3) | Michigan (19–7) | Louisville (21–6) | UNLV (24–6) | Florida State (21–9) | Louisville (26–9) | 17. |
| 18. | Michigan | Vanderbilt (1–1) | Vanderbilt (3–1) | UNLV (7–0) | Georgetown (7–1) | Indiana (9–0) | Mississippi State (11–1) | Michigan (10–2) | Wisconsin (12–3) | Kansas State (12–2) | Mississippi State (15–3) | Mississippi State (16–4) | Saint Mary's (21–2) | Marquette (19–5) | Indiana (19–6) | New Mexico (22–4) | Indiana (22–7) | San Diego State (24–6) | Wichita State (27–5) | 18. |
| 19. | Alabama | Texas A&M (2–0) | Gonzaga (3–0) | Gonzaga (4–0) | Creighton (7–0) | Illinois (10–0) | Michigan State (9–2) | UNLV (13–2) | Murray State (14–0) | Florida (12–4) | Creighton (16–2) | Virginia (15–3) | Wisconsin (17–5) | Virginia (18–4) | Louisville (20–5) | Wichita State (24–4) | Louisville (22–7) | Creighton (28–5) | Creighton (28–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas A&M | Cincinnati (1–0) | California (3–0) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Murray State (13–0) | Marquette (12–2) | Mississippi State (13–3) | Michigan (14–4) | Michigan (15–5) | Indiana (17–5) | Mississippi State (18–5) | Florida State (17–7) | Notre Dame (19–8) | Notre Dame (20–9) | UNLV (25–7) | Vanderbilt (24–10) | 20. |
| 21. | Cincinnati | Marquette (1–0) | Missouri (3–0) | Mississippi State (7–1) | Memphis (4–2) | Michigan State (8–2) | UNLV (11–2) | Creighton (10–1) | Virginia (12–1) | Gonzaga (13–2) | Marquette (14–4) | Saint Mary's (19–2) | Florida State (14–6) | Wisconsin (18–6) | Saint Mary's (23–3) | UNLV (22–6) | San Diego State (22–6) | Temple (24–6) | New Mexico (27–6) | 21. |
| 22. | Marquette | Gonzaga (1–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Memphis (2–2) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Murray State (12–0) | Pittsburgh (11–2) | Harvard (12–1) | San Diego State (13–2) | Illinois (15–3) | Kansas State (14–4) | Mississippi State (17–5) | Michigan (17–7) | Virginia (19–5) | Temple (21–5) | Florida State (19–9) | Florida (22–9) | San Diego State (26–7) | 22. |
| 23. | Gonzaga | California (2–0) | Arizona (4–1) | Saint Louis (6–0) | Gonzaga (5–1) | Alabama (8–2) | Creighton (8–1) | Virginia (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | Creighton (13–2) | Louisville (14–4) | Florida State (13–6) | Michigan (16–6) | Indiana (18–6) | Notre Dame (17–8) | Indiana (20–7) | Temple (22–6) | Notre Dame (21–10) | UNLV (26–8) | 23. |
| 24. | California | Missouri (1–0) | Mississippi State (4–1) | California (5–1) | Illinois (8–0) | Murray State (10–0) | Virginia (9–1) | Harvard (10–1) | San Diego State (12–2) | Seton Hall (14–2) | Saint Mary's (17–2) | Connecticut (14–5) | Gonzaga (17–3) | Louisville (18–5) | Gonzaga (20–4) т | San Diego State (20–6) | Virginia (21–7) | Gonzaga (25–5) | Saint Mary's (27–5) | 24. |
| 25. | Missouri | Florida State (1–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Harvard (8–0) | Creighton (7–1) тVanderbilt (6–3) т | Illinois (10–1) | San Diego State (11–2) | Gonzaga (11–2) | Marquette (12–4) | Kansas State (12–4) | Wisconsin (16–5) | Vanderbilt (16–5) | Harvard (20–2) | Wichita State (22–4) т | Virginia (20–6) | Creighton (25–5) | Iowa State (22–9) | Florida (23–10) | 25. |
| | Preseason Oct 28 | Week 1 Nov 14 | Week 2 Nov 21 | Week 3 Nov 28 | Week 4 Dec 5 | Week 5 Dec 12 | Week 6 Dec 19 | Week 7 Dec 26 | Week 8 Jan 2 | Week 9 Jan 9 | Week 10 Jan 16 | Week 11 Jan 23 | Week 12 Jan 30 | Week 13 Feb 6 | Week 14 Feb 13 | Week 15 Feb 20 | Week 16 Feb 27 | Week 17 Mar 5 | Week 18 Mar 12 | |
| | | Dropped: UCLA (0–1) | Dropped: Cincinnati (2–1) | Dropped: Florida State (5–2)Arizona (4–2) | Dropped: UNLV (8–1)Vanderbilt (5–3)Saint Louis (7–1)California (6–2) | Dropped: Memphis (5–3)Gonzaga (5–2)Harvard (9–1) | Dropped: Texas A&M (8–2)Alabama (8–3)Vanderbilt (6–4) | Dropped: Xavier (9–3)Illinois (11–2) | Dropped: Creighton (11–2)Pittsburgh (11–4) | Dropped: Wisconsin (12–5)Harvard (13–2) | Dropped: Gonzaga (14–3)Seton Hall (15–3) | Dropped: Illinois (15–5)Louisville (15–5) | Dropped: Connecticut (14–6)Kansas State (15–5) | Dropped: Gonzaga (18–4)Vanderbilt (16–7) | Dropped: Creighton (21–5)Mississippi State (19–6)Harvard(21–3) | Dropped: Saint Mary's (23–5)Gonzaga (21–5) | Dropped: New Mexico (22–6) | Dropped: Louisville (22–9)Virginia (22–8) | Dropped: Temple (24–7)Notre Dame (22–11)Gonzaga (25–6)Iowa State (22–10) | |

## 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 October 20, 2011.
| | Preseason Oct 20 | Week 1 Nov 14 | Week 2 Nov 21 | Week 3 Nov 28 | Week 4 Dec 5 | Week 5 Dec 12 | Week 6 Dec 19 | Week 7 Dec 26 | Week 8 Jan 2 | Week 9 Jan 9 | Week 10 Jan 16 | Week 11 Jan 23 | Week 12 Jan 30 | Week 13 Feb 6 | Week 14 Feb 13 | Week 15 Feb 20 | Week 16 Feb 27 | Week 17 Mar 5 | Week 18 Mar 11 | Week 19 Apr 3 | |
| 1. | North Carolina 30 | North Carolina (2–0) 30 | North Carolina (3–0) 30 | Kentucky (6–0) 22 | Kentucky (8–0) 19 | Syracuse (10–0) 28 | Syracuse (11–0) 30 | Syracuse (13–0) 30 | Syracuse (15–0) 30 | Syracuse (17–0) 30 | Syracuse (19–0) 31 | Kentucky (19–1) 31 | Kentucky (21–1) 31 | Kentucky (23–1) 31 | Kentucky (25–1) 31 | Kentucky (26–1) 31 | Kentucky (28–1) 31 | Kentucky (30–1) 31 | Kentucky (32–2) 30 | Kentucky (38–2) 31 | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky 1 | Kentucky (1–0) 1 | Kentucky (4–0) 1 | Ohio State (6–0) 8 | Ohio State (8–0) 11 | Ohio State (8–1) 2 | Ohio State (10–1) 1 | Ohio State (12–1) 1 | Kentucky (13–1) 1 | Kentucky (15–1) 1 | Kentucky (17–1) | Missouri (18–1) | Syracuse (22–1) | Syracuse (23–1) | Syracuse (25–1) | Syracuse (27–1) | Syracuse (29–1) | Syracuse (30–1) | Syracuse (31–2) | Kansas (32–7) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Syracuse (6–0) 1 | Syracuse (8–0) 1 | Kentucky (8–1) | Kentucky (9–1) | Kentucky (11–1) | Duke (12–1) | North Carolina (14–2) | Baylor (17–0) | Ohio State (17–3) | Ohio State (19–3) | Ohio State (20–3) | Missouri (23–2) | Missouri (25–2) | Duke (25–4) | Kansas (26–5) | Missouri (30–4) 1 | Ohio State (31–8) | 3. |
| 4. | Connecticut | Connecticut (1–0) | Connecticut (4–0) | Duke (7–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Louisville (9–0) | Louisville (10–0) | Louisville (12–0) | North Carolina (13–2) | Baylor (15–0) | Duke (15–2) | Syracuse (20–1) | Missouri (19–2) | Missouri (21–2) | Duke (21–4) | Duke (23–4) | Kansas (24–5) | North Carolina (27–4) | Michigan State (27–7) | Louisville (30–10) | 4. |
| 5. | Syracuse | Syracuse (1–0) | Syracuse (4–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | Duke (7–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (9–1) | Duke (10–1) | Baylor (13–0) | Ohio State (15–2) | Missouri (16–1) | Kansas (16–3) | Duke (18–3) | North Carolina (20–3) | Kansas (20–5) | Kansas (22–5) | Michigan State (24–5) | Missouri (27–4) | North Carolina (29–5) | Syracuse (34–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Duke | Duke (2–0) | Duke (4–0) | Louisville (5–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | North Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | North Carolina (11–2) | Missouri (13–0) | Duke (13–2) | Ohio State (16–3) | Duke (16–3) | Baylor (19–2) т | Baylor (21–2) | Ohio State (21–4) | Michigan State (22–5) | North Carolina (25–4) | Duke (26–5) | Kansas (27–6) | North Carolina (32–6) | 6. |
| 7. | Vanderbilt | Louisville (2–0) | Louisville (3–0) | Wisconsin (6–0) | Baylor (7–0) | Baylor (7–0) | Baylor (9–0) | Baylor (12–0) | Ohio State (13–2) | Michigan State (14–2) | Kansas (14–3) | Baylor (17–2) | North Carolina (18–3) т | Florida (19–4) т | North Carolina (21–4) | North Carolina (23–4) | Marquette (24–5) | Ohio State (25–6) | Ohio State (27–7) | Michigan State (29–8) | 7. |
| 8. | Louisville | Florida (1–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Xavier (6–0) | Missouri (9–0) | Missouri (11–0) | Missouri (12–0) | Connecticut (12–1) | Indiana (15–1) | North Carolina (15–3) | North Carolina (16–3) | Kansas (17–4) | Murray State (23–0) т | Michigan State (20–5) | Georgetown (20–5) | Missouri (25–4) | Michigan State (24–7) | Duke (27–6) | Baylor (30–8) | 8. |
| 9. | Memphis | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Florida (4–1) | Connecticut (7–1) | Xavier (8–0) | Connecticut (9–1) | Connecticut (10–1) | Georgetown (12–1) | Missouri (14–1) | Michigan State (15–3) | Murray State (20–0) | Murray State (21–0) | Duke (19–4) | Georgetown (19–5) | Ohio State (22–5) | Murray State (28–1) | Marquette (25–6) | Murray State (30–1) | Florida (26–11) | 9. |
| 10. | Florida | Memphis (0–0) | Baylor (3–0) | Connecticut (6–1) | Missouri (7–0) | Connecticut (8–1) | Marquette (10–0) | Florida (10–2) | Louisville (12–2) | Kansas (12–3) | Murray State (18–0) | Georgetown (16–3) | Michigan State (17–4) | Kansas (18–5) | Baylor (21–4) | Marquette (22–5) | Baylor (24–5) | Murray State (30–1) | Baylor (27–7) | Marquette (27–8) | 10. |
| 11. | Pittsburgh | Kansas (1–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Xavier (4–0) | Marquette (7–0) | Marquette (9–0) | Kansas (7–2) | Wisconsin (11–2) | Michigan State (13–2) | Georgetown (13–2) | Connecticut (14–3) | Michigan State (16–4) | Florida (17–4) | Georgetown (18–4) | UNLV (22–4) | Florida (21–6) | Ohio State (23–6) | Baylor (25–6) | Marquette (25–7) | Missouri (30–5) | 11. |
| 12. | Baylor | Baylor (2–0) | Xavier (3–0) | Alabama (7–0) | Florida (5–2) | Kansas (7–2) | Florida (8–2) | Georgetown (10–1) | Indiana (13–1) | UNLV (16–2) | Georgetown (14–3) | San Diego State (17–2) | Creighton (20–2) | Michigan State (18–5) | Florida (19–6) | Murray State (26–1) | Georgetown (21–6) | Wisconsin (23–8) | Florida State (24–9) | Wisconsin (26–10) | 12. |
| 13. | Kansas | Wisconsin (1–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Missouri (6–0) | Kansas (5–2) | Florida (7–2) | Pittsburgh (10–1) | Marquette (11–1) | Michigan (12–2) | Michigan (13–3) | Indiana (15–3) | Florida (15–4) | UNLV (20–3) | Saint Mary's (22–2) | Marquette (21–5) | Michigan (20–7) | Florida (22–7) | Michigan (23–8) | Wisconsin (24–9) | Indiana (27–9) | 13. |
| 14. | Wisconsin | Xavier (1–0) | Kansas (1–1) | Kansas (3–2) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | Wisconsin (10–2) | Mississippi State (12–1) | Florida (11–3) | Murray State (16–0) | Florida (14–4) | Creighton (18–2) | Georgetown (16–4) | San Diego State (20–3) | Murray State (24–1) | Baylor (22–5) | Wichita State (26–4) | Georgetown (22–7) | Michigan (24–9) | Duke (27–7) | 14. |
| 15. | Xavier | Alabama (1–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Xavier (8–1) | Indiana (12–0) | Kansas (10–3) | Louisville (13–3) | Mississippi State (15–3) | UNLV (18–3) | Marquette (18–4) | Creighton (21–3) | San Diego State (20–4) | Wisconsin (20–7) | Wisconsin (21–8) | Indiana (24–7) | Georgetown (23–8) | Florida State (25–10) | 15. |
| 16. | Arizona | Arizona (3–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Marquette (5–0) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Mississippi State (9–1) | Georgetown (9–1) | Michigan (10–2) | Mississippi State (13–2) | Connecticut (12–3) | San Diego State (16–2) | Mississippi State (16–4) | Saint Mary's (21–2) | UNLV (21–4) | Saint Mary's (23–3) | Florida State (19–7) | Michigan (21–8) | Wichita State (27–5) | Saint Mary's (27–5) | Murray State (31–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Alabama | Michigan (1–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Creighton (7–0) | Georgetown (8–1) | Mississippi State (11–1) | Michigan State (11–2) | UNLV (15–2) | Virginia (14–1) | Virginia (14–2) | Indiana (16–4) | San Diego State (18–3) | Florida State (16–6) | Wisconsin (19–6) | Louisville (21–6) | UNLV (24–6) | Florida State (21–9) | Indiana (25–8) | Georgetown (24–9) | 17. |
| 18. | Michigan | Texas A&M (2–0) | California (3–0) | Gonzaga (4–0) | Mississippi State (8–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Indiana (10–0) | Kansas (8–3) | Murray State (14–0) | Kansas State (12–2) | Creighton (16–2) | Marquette (16–4) | Virginia (17–3) | Mississippi State (18–5) | Louisville (20–5) | Notre Dame (19–8) | Louisville (22–7) | St. Mary's (26–5) | Louisville (26–9) | Cincinnati (26–11) | 18. |
| 19. | Texas A&M | Marquette (1–0) | Gonzaga (3–0) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Illinois (10–0) | Michigan (9–2) | Creighton (10–1) | Wisconsin (12–3) | Florida (12–4) | Michigan (14–4) | Connecticut (14–5) | Mississippi State (17–5) | Marquette (19–5) | Michigan (19–7) | Wichita State (24–4) | Notre Dame (20–9) | Florida (22–9) | Wichita State (27–5) | Vanderbilt (25–11) | 19. |
| 20. | UCLA | Vanderbilt (1–1) т | Florida State (4–0) | UNLV (7–0) | Memphis (4–2) | Indiana (9–0) | Michigan State (9–2) | UNLV (13–2) | Marquette (12–2) | Mississippi State (13–3) | UNLV (16–3) | Saint Mary's (19–2) | Indiana (17–5) т | Virginia (18–4) | Indiana (19–6) | UNLV (22–6) | Indiana (22–7) | UNLV (25–7) | Creighton (28–5) | North Carolina State (24–13) | 20. |
| 21. | Marquette | Cincinnati (1–0) т | Missouri (3–0) | Memphis (2–2) | Georgetown (7–1) | Alabama (8–2) | Creighton (8–1) | Murray State (13–0) | Harvard (12–1) | Creighton (13–2) | Louisville (14–4) | Virginia (15–3) | Wisconsin (17–5) т | Harvard (20–2) | Florida State (17–7) | New Mexico (22–4) | Saint Mary's (25–5) | San Diego State (24–6) | Florida (23–10) | Creighton (29–6) | 21. |
| 22. | Cincinnati | California (2–0) | Vanderbilt (3–1) | Creighton (5–1) | Illinois (8–0) т | Texas A&M (8–1) | Murray State (12–0) | Pittsburgh (11–2) | Kansas State (11–1) | San Diego State (13–2) | Marquette (14–4) | Michigan (15–5) | Michigan (16–6) | Wisconsin (18–6) | Virginia (19–5) | Temple (21–5) | Florida State (19–9) | Creighton (28–5) | New Mexico (27–6) | Michigan (24–10) | 22. |
| 23. | Gonzaga | Gonzaga (1–0) | Arizona (4–1) | California (5–1) | Gonzaga (5–1) т | Michigan State (8–2) | UNLV (11–2) | Harvard (10–1) | Virginia (12–1) | Gonzaga (13–2) | Saint Mary's (17–2) | Harvard (16–2) | Harvard (18–2) | Indiana (18–6) т | Mississippi State (19–6) | Saint Mary's (23–5) | San Diego State (22–6) | Notre Dame (21–10) | San Diego State (26–7) | New Mexico (28–7) | 23. |
| 24. | California | Florida State (1–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Mississippi State (7–1) | Harvard (8–0) | Creighton (7–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Virginia (10–1) | Creighton (11–2) | Marquette (12–4) | Harvard (15–2) | Kansas State (14–4) | Florida State (14–6) | Louisville (18–5) т | Gonzaga (20–4) | Indiana (20–7) | Creighton (25–5) | Temple (24–6) | Vanderbilt (24–10) | Xavier (23–13) | 24. |
| 25. | Missouri | Missouri (1–0) | Creighton (4–0) | Saint Louis (6–0) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Vanderbilt (6–3) | Harvard (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | San Diego State (12–2) | Harvard (13–2) | Illinois (15–3) | Wisconsin (16–5) тLouisville (15–5) т | Louisville (17–5) | Michigan (17–7) | Notre Dame (17–-8) | San Diego State (20–6) | Temple (22–6) | Gonzaga (25–5) | UNLV (26–8) | Ohio (29–8) | 25. |
| | Preseason Oct 20 | Week 1 Nov 14 | Week 2 Nov 21 | Week 3 Nov 28 | Week 4 Dec 5 | Week 5 Dec 12 | Week 6 Dec 19 | Week 7 Dec 26 | Week 8 Jan 2 | Week 9 Jan 9 | Week 10 Jan 16 | Week 11 Jan 23 | Week 12 Jan 30 | Week 13 Feb 6 | Week 14 Feb 13 | Week 15 Feb 20 | Week 16 Feb 27 | Week 17 Mar 5 | Week 18 Mar 11 | Week 19 Apr 3 | |
| | | Dropped: UCLA (0–1) | Dropped: Cincinnati (2–1) | Dropped: Florida State (5–2)Arizona (4–2)Texas A&M (4–1) | Dropped: Vanderbilt (5–3)UNLV (8–1)California (6–2)Saint Louis (7–1) | Dropped: Memphis (5–3)Gonzaga (5–2)Harvard (9–1) | Dropped: Alabama (8–3)Texas A&M (8–2)Vanderbilt (6–4) | Dropped: Xavier (9–3)Illinois (11–2) | Dropped: Pittsburgh (11–4) | Dropped: Wisconsin (12–5) | Dropped: Kansas State (12–4)Gonzaga (14–3) | Dropped: Illinois (15–5) | Dropped: Connecticut (14–6)Kansas State (15–5) | None | Dropped: Creighton (21–5)Harvard (21–3) | Dropped: Virginia (20–6)Mississippi State (19–8)Gonzaga (21–5) | Dropped: New Mexico (22–6) | Dropped: Louisville (22–9) | Dropped: Temple (24–7)Notre Dame (22–11)Gonzaga (25–6) | Dropped: Saint Mary's (27–6)Wichita State (27–6)San Diego State (26–8)UNLV (26–9) | |

## 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 | Rivals.com | Blue Ribbon |
| 1. | North Carolina | Ohio State | North Carolina | North Carolina | North Carolina | North Carolina | North Carolina |
| 2. | Kentucky | North Carolina | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky |
| 3. | Ohio State | Kentucky | Ohio State | Ohio State | Connecticut | Connecticut | Ohio State |
| 4. | Connecticut | Vanderbilt | Connecticut | Connecticut | Syracuse | Ohio State | Syracuse |
| 5. | Syracuse | Duke | Duke | Syracuse | Ohio State | Duke | Connecticut |
| 6. | Duke | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | Duke | Duke | Syracuse | Duke |
| 7. | Vanderbilt | Michigan | Florida | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | Florida | Vanderbilt |
| 8. | Louisville | Connecticut | Memphis | Florida | Louisville | Vanderbilt | Pittsburgh |
| 9. | Florida | Syracuse | Baylor | Louisville | Memphis | Pittsburgh | Florida |
| 10. | Pittsburgh | Florida | Vanderbilt | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Baylor | Arizona |
| 11. | Baylor | California | Pittsburgh | Memphis | Florida | Memphis | Kansas |
| 12. | Memphis | Louisville | Arizona | Baylor | Baylor | Kansas | Memphis |
| 13. | Kansas | Memphis | Wisconsin | Kansas | Xavier | Wisconsin | Louisville |
| 14. | Wisconsin | Gonzaga | Kansas | Xavier | Kansas | Marquette | Xavier |
| 15. | Xavier | Washington | UCLA | Wisconsin | Arizona | Arizona | Wisconsin |
| 16. | Alabama | Michigan State | Louisville | Arizona | Cincinnati | Louisville | Texas A&M |
| 17. | Marquette | Baylor | Cincinnati | UCLA | Texas A&M | Xavier | Florida State |
| 18. | Cincinnati | Xavier | Xavier | Michigan | Gonzaga | Gonzaga | Alabama |
| 19. | Michigan State | New Mexico | Michigan | Alabama | Florida State | Alabama | Baylor |
| 20. | UCLA | UCLA | Gonzaga | Texas A&M | Michigan | Michigan | Michigan State |
| 21. | California | Missouri | Marquette | Cincinnati | UCLA | Texas A&M | California |
| 22. | Florida State | Arizona | California | Marquette | Alabama | California | Marquette |
| 23. | Texas A&M | Creighton | Alabama | Gonzaga | Missouri | Cincinnati | UCLA |
| 24. | Missouri | Butler | Washington | California | Wisconsin | Florida State | Missouri |
| 25. | Arizona | Alabama | Michigan State | Missouri | Villanova | Temple | Michigan |