# 1968–69 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1968–69 NCAA University Division 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

This was the first season since 1959–60 that AP polls throughout the season included 20 ranked teams.
| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 2 | Week 3 Dec. 9 | Week 4 Dec. 16 | Week 5 Dec. 23 | Week 6 Dec. 30 | Week 7 Jan. 6 | Week 8 Jan. 13 | Week 9 Jan. 20 | Week 10 Jan. 27 | Week 11 Feb. 3 | Week 12 Feb. 10 | Week 13 Feb. 17 | Week 14 Feb. 24 | Final Mar. 3 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (1–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (5–0) | UCLA (7–0) | UCLA (9–0) | UCLA (11–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (18–0) | UCLA (19–0) | UCLA (22–0) | UCLA (24–0) | 1. |
| 2. | North Carolina | North Carolina (0–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) | Davidson (7–0) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | North Carolina (13–1) | North Carolina (13–1) | North Carolina (14–1) | North Carolina (17–1) | Santa Clara (21–0) | North Carolina (21–2) | La Salle (23–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Kentucky | Kentucky (1–0) | Davidson (3–0) | Davidson (3–0) | Davidson (5–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Santa Clara (12–0) | Santa Clara (14–0) | Santa Clara (16–0) | Santa Clara (16–0) | Santa Clara (17–0) | Santa Clara (20–0) | North Carolina (19–2) | La Salle (22–1) | Santa Clara (24–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Notre Dame | Kansas (1–0) | Kentucky (2–1) | Kentucky (3–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | Illinois (10–0) | Davidson (10–1) | Davidson (12–1) | Davidson (14–1) | Kentucky (14–2) | Kentucky (16–2) | La Salle (20–1) | Santa Clara (22–1) | North Carolina (22–3) | 4. |
| 5. | Kansas | Notre Dame (0–0) | New Mexico (3–0) | New Mexico (5–0) | Villanova (5–0) | Kansas (10–1) | Kansas (12–1) | Kentucky (9–2) | Kentucky (11–2) | Kentucky (12–2) | St. John's (13–2) | La Salle (18–1) | Davidson (20–2) | Davidson (22–2) | Davidson (24–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Davidson | Houston (1–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Cincinnati (4–0) | New Mexico (8–1) | Santa Clara (9–0) | Davidson (8–1) | St. John's (9–2) | St. John's (11–2) | St. John's (12–2) | Davidson (15–2) | Davidson (18–2) | Kentucky (17–3) | Kentucky (19–3) | Purdue (18–4) | 6. |
| 7. | St. Bonaventure | Davidson (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Detroit (10–0) | Kentucky (7–2) | New Mexico State (14–0) | New Mexico State (15–0) | Illinois (12–1) | La Salle (16–1) | Tulsa (18–2) | St. John's (18–3) | St. John's (20–3) | Kentucky (20–4) | 7. |
| 8. | Houston | New Mexico (1–0) | Villanova (3–0) | Villanova (4–0) | Kansas (8–1) | Illinois (9–0) | St. John's (8–2) | Illinois (11–1) | Illinois (11–1) | New Mexico State (16–0) | Villanova (15–2) | Purdue (13–3) | Duquesne (16–2) | South Carolina (19–3) | St. John's (22–4) | 8. |
| 9. | New Mexico | Cincinnati (1–0) | Duke (3–0) | St. Bonaventure (4–0) | Santa Clara (6–0) | Villanova (6–1) | Villanova (8–1) | Villanova (10–1) | La Salle (12–1) | La Salle (14–1) | Purdue (11–3) | St. John's (16–3) | Purdue (14–4) | Purdue (16–4) | Duquesne (17–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Purdue | Villanova (1–0) | St. Bonaventure (2–0) | Santa Clara (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–1) | Cincinnati (7–1) | New Mexico State (11–0) | Kansas (13–2) | Duquesne (11–1) | Villanova (13–2) | Illinois (13–2) | Illinois (14–2) | Ohio State (14–4) | Duquesne (17–3) | Villanova (17–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Villanova | St. Bonaventure (0–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Kansas (5–1) | Detroit (8–0) | La Salle (8–0) | La Salle (9–1) | La Salle (11–1) | Villanova (11–2) | Duquesne (11–1) | Tulsa (16–2) | Villanova (16–3) | Villanova (17–4) | Louisville (17–3) | Drake (21–4) | 11. |
| 12. | Ohio State | Vanderbilt (0–0) | Houston (3–1) | Purdue (4–1) | Illinois (7–0) | New Mexico State (9–0) | Northwestern (9–1) | Duquesne (10–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (11–2) | Ohio State (12–3) | Kansas (17–3) | South Carolina (17–3) | Villanova (19–4) | New Mexico State (23–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Vanderbilt | Ohio State (1–0) | Purdue (2–1) | Detroit (6–0) | St. Bonaventure (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Detroit (10–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Kansas (14–3) | Tulsa (14–2) | Kansas (15–3) | Duquesne (14–2) | Louisville (16–3) | Kansas (19–4) | South Carolina (19–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Cincinnati | Purdue (0–1) | Detroit (4–0) | New Mexico State (5–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Louisville (9–1) | Tulsa (11–2) | Tulsa (13–2) | Purdue (10–3) | Columbia (15–1) | Colorado (16–3) | Tulsa (18–4) | Ohio State (15–5) | Marquette (21–4) | 14. |
| 15. | Marquette | Detroit (1–0) | Western Kentucky (4–0) | California (3–0) | New Mexico State (7–0) | Duquesne (9–0) | Duquesne (9–1) | Marquette (11–2) | Notre Dame (12–2) | Kansas (14–3) | Duquesne (12–2) | New Mexico State (19–2) | New Mexico State (21–2) | Illinois (16–4) | Louisville (18–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Western Kentucky | Duke (1–0) | Santa Clara (3–0) | La Salle (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Ohio State (7–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Marquette (12–2) | Marquette (13–2) | New Mexico State (16–2) | Ohio State (12–4) | Kansas (18–4) | New Mexico State (21–3) | Boston College (20–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Duke | Western Kentucky (1–0) | Ohio State (1–1) | Ohio State (2–1) | La Salle (6–0) | St. John's (8–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Colorado (14–2) | Colorado (14–2) | Marquette (14–3) | Dayton (16–4) | Tennessee (15–3) | Tennessee (16–4) | Notre Dame (20–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Detroit | Santa Clara (1–0) | California (2–0) | Western Kentucky (6–1) | Purdue (5–2) | New Mexico (8–2) | Drake (10–1) | Baylor (9–2) | Purdue (9–3) | Columbia (13–1) | New Mexico (13–6) | Marquette (16–3) | Colorado (17–4) | Marquette (19–4) | Colorado (19–6) | 18. |
| 19. | Florida | California (0–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Louisville (5–0) | Wyoming (7–0) | Northwestern (8–1) | Cincinnati (7–3) | Cincinnati (9–3) | Columbia (13–1) | South Carolina (10–2) | Dayton (15–3) | Baylor (14–3) | Illinois (14–4) | Tulsa (18–5) | Kansas (20–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Tennessee | Iowa (1–0) Marquette (0–0) Tennessee (1–0) | La Salle (1–0) | Houston (4–2) | Tennessee (5–1) | St. Bonaventure (6–2) | Marquette (8–2) | Colorado (13–2) | Dayton (12–2) | Dayton (13–3) | Colorado (14–3) | Louisville (14–3) | Marquette (17–4) | Boston College (19–3) | Illinois (17–5) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 2 | Week 3 Dec. 9 | Week 4 Dec. 16 | Week 5 Dec. 23 | Week 6 Dec. 30 | Week 7 Jan. 6 | Week 8 Jan. 13 | Week 9 Jan. 20 | Week 10 Jan. 27 | Week 11 Feb. 3 | Week 12 Feb. 10 | Week 13 Feb. 17 | Week 14 Feb. 24 | Final Mar. 3 | |
| | | Dropped: Florida | Dropped: VanderbiltMarquetteTennessee | Dropped: DukeIowa (3–2) | Dropped: CaliforniaWestern KentuckyHouston | Dropped: Purdue (7–3)Wyoming (8–1)Tennessee | Dropped: New MexicoSt. Bonaventure | Dropped: DetroitLouisvilleDrake (11–2) | Dropped: NorthwesternBaylorCincinnati | Dropped: Notre Dame | Dropped: South Carolina | Dropped: ColumbiaNew Mexico | Dropped: DaytonBaylor | Dropped: Colorado | Dropped: Ohio StateTennesseeTulsa (18–6) | |

## UPI Poll

| | Preseason Dec. 3 | Week 2 Dec. 10 | Week 3 Dec. 17 | Week 4 Dec. 24 | Week 5 Dec. 31 | Week 6 Jan. 7 | Week 7 Jan. 14 | Week 8 Jan. 21 | Week 9 Jan. 28 | Week 10 Feb. 4 | Week 11 Feb. 11 | Week 12 Feb. 18 | Week 13 Feb. 25 | Week 14 Mar. 4 | Final Mar. 11 | |
| 1. | UCLA (1–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (5–0) | UCLA (7–0) | UCLA (9–0) | UCLA (11–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (18–0) | UCLA (19–0) | UCLA (22–0) | UCLA (24–0) | UCLA (25–1) | 1. |
| 2. | North Carolina (0–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) | North Carolina (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | North Carolina (13–1) | North Carolina (13–1) | North Carolina (14–1) | North Carolina (17–1) | Santa Clara (21–0) | North Carolina (21–2) | Santa Clara (24–1) | North Carolina (25–3) | 2. |
| 3. | Kentucky (1–0) | Davidson (3–0) | Davidson (3–0) | Davidson (5–0) | Davidson (7–0) | Santa Clara (12–0) | Santa Clara (14–0) | Santa Clara (16–0) | Santa Clara (16–0) | Santa Clara (17–0) | Santa Clara (20–0) | North Carolina (19–2) | Santa Clara (22–1) | North Carolina (22–3) | Davidson (26–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Notre Dame (0–0) | Kentucky (2–1) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Kentucky (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Davidson (8–1) | Davidson (10–1) | Davidson (12–1) | Davidson (14–1) | Kentucky (14–2) | Kentucky (16–2) | Davidson (20–2) | La Salle (22–1) | Davidson (24–2) | Santa Clara (26–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Kansas (1–0) | New Mexico (3–0) | Kentucky (3–1) | Villanova (5–0) | Santa Clara (9–0) | Illinois (10–0) | Illinois (11–1) | Kentucky (11–2) | Kentucky (12–2) | St. John's (13–2) | Davidson (18–2) | La Salle (20–1) | Davidson (22–2) | La Salle (23–1) | Kentucky (22–4) | 5. |
| 6. | Houston (1–0) | Villanova (3–0) | New Mexico (5–0) | Santa Clara (6–0) | Kansas (10–1) | Kansas (12–1) | Kentucky (9–2) | New Mexico State (15–0) | New Mexico State (16–0) | Davidson (15–2) | St. John's (16–3) | Kentucky (17–3) | Kentucky (19–3) | Purdue (18–4) | La Salle (23–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Davidson (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Villanova (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Villanova (6–1) | Kentucky (7–2) | New Mexico State (14–0) | St. John's (11–2) | St. John's (12–2) | Villanova (15–2) | La Salle (18–1) | St. John's (18–3) | Purdue (16–4) | Kentucky (20–4) | Purdue (20–4) | 7. |
| 8. | New Mexico (1–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | New Mexico (8–1) | Illinois (9–0) | St. John's (8–2) | St. John's (9–2) | Illinois (11–1) | Illinois (12–1) | Illinois (13–2) | Purdue (13–3) | Purdue (14–4) | St. John's (20–3) | St. John's (22–4) | St. John's (23–5) | 8. |
| 9. | Villanova (1–0) | Purdue (2–1) | Kansas (5–1) | Kansas (8–1) | Cincinnati (7–1) | Villanova (8–1) | Kansas (13–2) | Villanova (11–2) | Villanova (13–2) | La Salle (16–1) | Illinois (14–2) | Villanova (17–4) | Villanova (19–4) | Duquesne (19–3) | New Mexico State (24–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Cincinnati (1–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Santa Clara (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–1) | St. John's (8–1) | New Mexico State (11–0) | Villanova (10–1) | Tulsa (13–2) | La Salle (14–1) | Kansas (15–3) | Villanova (16–3) | Duquesne (16–2) | Duquesne (17–3) | Villanova (21–4) | Duquesne (17–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Purdue (0–1) | St. Bonaventure (2–0) | St. Bonaventure (4–0) | Illinois (7–0) | Duquesne (9–0) | New Mexico (10–3) | Tulsa (11–2) | Kansas (14–3) | Duquesne (11–1) | Tulsa (16–2) | Tulsa (18–2) | South Carolina (17–3) | Louisville (17–3) | Drake (21–4) | Drake (22–4) | 11. |
| 12. | St. Bonaventure (0–0) | Duke (3–0) | Purdue (4–1) | New Mexico State (7–0) | New Mexico (8–2) | Notre Dame (7–2) | New Mexico (11–4) | Colorado (14–2) | Tulsa (14–2) | Purdue (11–3) | Kansas (17–3) | Tulsa (18–4) | South Carolina (19–3) | New Mexico State (23–3) т | Colorado (20–6) | 12. |
| 13. | New Mexico State (1–0) | Houston (3–1) | New Mexico State (5–0) | St. Bonaventure (5–1) | Detroit (10–0) | Purdue (8–3) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Duquesne (11–1) т | Kansas (14–3) | New Mexico State (16–2) | Colorado (16–3) | New Mexico State (21–2) | New Mexico State (21–3) | Wyoming (19–7) т | Louisville (20–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Ohio State (1–0) | Western Kentucky (4–0) | La Salle (4–0) | Wyoming (7–0) | Columbia (8–0) | Duquesne (9–1) | Duquesne (10–1) | Notre Dame (12–2) т | Colorado (14–2) | Columbia (15–1) | New Mexico (13–7) | Louisville (16–3) | Kansas (19–4) | Notre Dame (20–5) т | Marquette (23–4) | 14. |
| 15. | Duke (1–0) т | Santa Clara (3–0) | Houston (4–2) | Detroit (8–0) | New Mexico State (9–0) | Columbia (9–1) | Wyoming (9–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Columbia (13–1) | New Mexico (13–6) | Duquesne (14–2) | Ohio State (14–4) | Ohio State (15–5) | Colorado (19–6) т | Boston College (21–3) т | 15. |
| 16. | Western Kentucky (1–0) т | New Mexico State (3–0) | Illinois (4–0) | Louisville (7–0) | La Salle (8–0) | Louisville (9–1) | Purdue (9–3) | La Salle (12–1) | Notre Dame (13–3) | Duquesne (12–2) | Louisville (14–3) т | Illinois (14–4) | Wyoming (16–8) | South Carolina (19–5) | Villanova (21–5) т | 16. |
| 17. | Santa Clara (1–0) | Detroit (3–0) | Columbia (4–0) | Dayton (6–1) | Purdue (7–3) | Drake (10–1) | Colorado (13–2) т | Columbia (13–1) | Ohio State (11–2) | Iowa (10–4) | Wyoming (14–5) т | New Mexico (15–7) т | Drake (19–4) | Marquette (21–4) | Weber State (26–2) т | 17. |
| 18. | USC (0–2) | Ohio State (1–1) т | Tulsa (5–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Louisville (7–0) т | Tulsa (10–2) | St. Bonaventure (7–5) т | St. Bonaventure (7–5) | Dayton (13–3) т | Ohio State (12–3) т | Columbia (15–3) т | Wyoming (15–5) т | Boston College (19–3) т | Kansas (20–5) | Wyoming (19–8) т | 18. |
| 19. | Florida (0–0) | Dayton (4–0) т | Western Kentucky (6–1) | Purdue (5–2) | Vanderbilt (6–2) т | Northwestern (9–1) т | Cincinnati (9–3) т | Dayton (12–2) т | New Mexico (11–6) т | Lamar (15–0) т | South Carolina (14–3) т | Kansas (18–4) т | New Mexico (16–8) т | Boston College (20–3) | Colorado State (17–6) | 19. |
| 20. | California (0–0) | USC (2–2) | USC (4–2) | USC (5–3) | Wyoming (8–1) т | Detroit (10–2) т | Columbia (11–1) т Louisville (10–2) т | New Mexico (11–6) т | Purdue (10–3) т Wyoming (10–3) т | Colorado (14–3) | Notre Dame (15–4) т Boston College (15–3) т | Columbia (17–3) т | Illinois (16–4) | Princeton (19–6) | Kansas (20–6) т South Carolina (21–6) т | 20. |
| | Preseason Dec. 3 | Week 2 Dec. 10 | Week 3 Dec. 17 | Week 4 Dec. 24 | Week 5 Dec. 31 | Week 6 Jan. 7 | Week 7 Jan. 14 | Week 8 Jan. 21 | Week 9 Jan. 28 | Week 10 Feb. 4 | Week 11 Feb. 11 | Week 12 Feb. 18 | Week 13 Feb. 25 | Week 14 Mar. 4 | Final Mar. 11 | |
| | | Dropped: California (2–0)Florida (0–0) | Dropped: DukeDetroit (6–0)Ohio State (2–1)Dayton | Dropped: La Salle (6–0)HoustonColumbiaTulsaWestern Kentucky | Dropped: Notre Dame (5–2)St. Bonaventure (6–2)DaytonOhio State (6–1)USC | Dropped: Cincinnati (7–3)La Salle (9–1)WyomingVanderbilt | Dropped: DrakeNorthwestern (9–2)Detroit | Dropped: WyomingPurdue (9–3)CincinnatiLouisville | Dropped: St. Bonaventure | Dropped: Notre DameDayton (15–3)Wyoming | Dropped: New Mexico StateIowaOhio StateLamar | Dropped: ColoradoNotre DameBoston College | Dropped: TulsaColumbia | Dropped: LouisvilleOhio StateNew MexicoIllinois | Dropped: Notre Dame (20–6)Princeton (19–7) | |