# 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball rankings

The 1953–54 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

| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 15 | Week 2 Dec. 22 | Week 3 Dec. 29 | Week 4 Jan. 5 | Week 5 Jan. 12 | Week 6 Jan. 19 | Week 7 Jan. 26 | Week 8 Feb. 2 | Week 9 Feb. 9 | Week 10 Feb. 16 | Week 11 Feb. 23 | Week 12 Mar. 2 | Week 13 Mar. 9 | Final Mar. 16 | |
| 1. | Indiana | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (6–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (12–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Kentucky (16–0) | Duquesne (19–0) | Duquesne (21–0) | Kentucky (23–0) | Kentucky (24–0) | Kentucky (25–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Duquesne (8–0) | Duquesne (11–0) | Duquesne (13–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (17–0) | Duquesne (18–0) | Kentucky (18–0) | Kentucky (21–0) | Indiana (18–3) | Indiana (19–3) | La Salle (26–4) | 2. |
| 3. | Duquesne | Duquesne (4–0) | Duquesne (7–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (7–1) | Indiana (9–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (14–1) | Indiana (15–2) | Indiana (17–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Duquesne (24–2) | Holy Cross (26–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma A&M | Illinois (4–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma A&M (12–1) | Oklahoma A&M (13–1) | Western Kentucky (16–0) | Oklahoma A&M (16–1) | Western Kentucky (19–0) | Oklahoma A&M (18–1) | Western Kentucky (23–1) | Western Kentucky (25–1) | Duquesne (22–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Indiana (20–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Kansas | LSU (3–0) | Oklahoma A&M (8–1) | Oklahoma A&M (9–1) | Western Kentucky (12–0) | Western Kentucky (14–0) | Oklahoma A&M (15–1) | Western Kentucky (18–0) | Oklahoma A&M (17–1) | Western Kentucky (21–1) | Oklahoma A&M (20–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–2) | Notre Dame (19–2) | Oklahoma A&M (23–4) | Duquesne (26–3) | 5. |
| 6. | La Salle | Minnesota (3–0) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Minnesota (7–0) | Minnesota (8–1) | Holy Cross (10–0) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Seattle (20–1) | Notre Dame (12–2) | Notre Dame (13–2) | Notre Dame (16–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–4) | Notre Dame (20–2) | Notre Dame (22–3) | 6. |
| 7. | NC State | Oklahoma A&M (4–1) | Fordham (6–0) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Holy Cross (8–0) | George Washington (10–0) | Oklahoma City (11–1) | Holy Cross (13–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | La Salle (17–3) | Seattle (24–1) | Holy Cross (20–1) | LSU (19–2) | George Washington (23–2) | Bradley (19–13) | 7. |
| 8. | Kansas State | NC State (3–1) | Minnesota (5–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Duke (9–3) | Oklahoma City (9–1) | Holy Cross (12–1) | Minnesota (10–2) | Duke (13–4) | Seattle (23–1) | George Washington (16–1) | George Washington (18–1) | La Salle (21–4) | LSU (20–2) | Western Kentucky (29–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Illinois | Fordham (4–0) | NC State (6–1) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma City (8–1) | Duke (12–3) | Minnesota (9–2) | Oklahoma City (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | Holy Cross (16–1) | Holy Cross (17–1) | Seattle (24–1) | George Washington (20–2) | Holy Cross (23–2) | Penn State (18–6) | 9. |
| 10. | LSU | Western Kentucky (6–0) | Holy Cross (3–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Oregon State (7–3) | Minnesota (8–2) | George Washington (11–1) | George Washington (12–1) | Holy Cross (14–1) | George Washington (13–1) | Iowa (14–3) | Duke (19–5) | Seattle (26–1) | NC State (24–6) | Oklahoma A&M (24–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Western Kentucky | Oregon State (6–1) | Rice (6–0) | Oklahoma City (6–0) | Rice (10–0) | Kansas (6–2) | Wichita (15–1) | Seattle (16–1) | George Washington (12–1) | Maryland (17–4) | Maryland (20–4) | Maryland (21–5) | Duke (21–5) | Seattle (26–1) | USC (20–11) | 11. |
| 12. | Minnesota | Oklahoma City (4–0) | Oregon State (6–1) | Holy Cross (5–0) | Niagara (8–2) т | Wichita (14–1) | LSU (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | Minnesota (12–2) | Minnesota (13–2) | La Salle (18–4) | LSU (17–2) | Wichita (25–3) | La Salle (21–4) | George Washington (23–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Oregon State | Duke (3–1) | UCLA (6–1) | La Salle (7–2) | George Washington (6–0) т | Niagara (12–1) | Duke (12–4) | Maryland (13–4) | Maryland (15–4) | Oklahoma City (12–4) | LSU (15–2) | La Salle (20–4) | Holy Cross (22–2) | Kansas (16–4) | Iowa (17–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Wyoming | Holy Cross (2–0) | LSU (4–1) | UCLA (8–1) | Dayton (9–2) | Seattle (11–1) | Maryland (13–4) | California (14–2) | Wichita (19–2) | California (16–2) | Duke (16–5) | Wichita (23–3) | Dayton (24–6) | Maryland (23–7) | LSU (20–5) | 14. |
| 15. | Dayton | California (3–1) | Oklahoma City (5–0) | Seattle (8–1) | Illinois (6–2) | Rice (10–2) | California (14–2) | LSU (11–2) | California (16–2) | Duke (14–5) | Wichita (22–3) | Oklahoma City (14–5) | Kansas (15–4) | Dayton (25–6) | Duke (22–6) | 15. |
| 16. | Santa Clara | Notre Dame (3–1) | La Salle (6–1) т | Rice (7–0) | Kansas (4–2) | LSU (10–2) | Seattle (14–1) | Kansas (8–3) т | Oklahoma City (11–4) | Navy (14–4) | Oklahoma City (13–5) | Dayton (22–5) | Iowa (16–5) | Iowa (17–5) | Niagara (24–6) | 16. |
| 17. | California | UCLA (3–0) | Dayton (6–1) т | Idaho (5–0) | Seattle (9–1) | Dayton (11–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Wichita (16–2) т | LSU (13–2) | LSU (14–2) | Dayton (20–5) | Kansas (13–4) | Maryland (22–6) | Oregon State (18–10) | Seattle (26–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Saint Louis | Niagara (4–1) | Wisconsin (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Navy (7–2) | Colorado State (11–1) | Niagara (10–3) | Connecticut (14–0) | Bradley (11–5) | Wichita (20–3) | Minnesota (14–4) | Colorado State (20–4) | NC State (19–6) | Duke (22–6) | Kansas (16–5) | 18. |
| 19. | Holy Cross т | Siena (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | BYU (8–0) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Illinois (8–3) | La Salle (14–3) | Dayton (14–4) | Kansas (8–3) | NC State (15–5) | Colorado State (17–4) | UCLA (18–5) | Connecticut (21–2) | Colorado State (22–5) | Illinois (17–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Oklahoma City т | La Salle (3–1) | Idaho (5–0) т Vanderbilt (5–0) т | Wyoming (6–1) т Vanderbilt (5–1) т | NC State (9–3) | Idaho (8–3) | Illinois (9–4) | Duke (12–4) | Louisville (14–5) | Kansas (9–4) | Navy (15–5) | Illinois (16–4) т Iowa (16–5) т | Louisville (21–6) | Wichita (27–4) | Maryland (28–7) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 15 | Week 2 Dec. 22 | Week 3 Dec. 29 | Week 4 Jan. 5 | Week 5 Jan. 12 | Week 6 Jan. 19 | Week 7 Jan. 26 | Week 8 Feb. 2 | Week 9 Feb. 9 | Week 10 Feb. 16 | Week 11 Feb. 23 | Week 12 Mar. 2 | Week 13 Mar. 9 | Final Mar. 16 | |
| | | Dropped: Kansas (0–2)Kansas State (2–1)Wyoming (4–1)DaytonSanta ClaraSaint Louis (4–1) | Dropped: DukeCalifornia (5–1)NiagaraSiena | Dropped: DaytonWisconsinNotre Dame | Dropped: FordhamLa SalleUCLAIdahoLSUBYUWyoming | Dropped: Oregon StateNavyVanderbiltNC State | Dropped: RiceDaytonColorado StateIdaho | Dropped: NiagaraIllinois | Dropped: ConnecticutDayton | Dropped: BradleyLouisville | Dropped: CaliforniaNC StateKansas | Dropped: MinnesotaNavy | Dropped: Oklahoma CityColorado State (22–4)UCLA (18–7)Illinois (16–4) | Dropped: ConnecticutLouisville | Dropped: NC StateDaytonOregon StateColorado StateWichita | |

## UP Poll

All UP polls for this season included 20 teams, with the exception of the final poll (released on March 9, 1954) which included only 10 teams.
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 15 | Week 2 Dec. 22 | Week 3 Dec. 29 | Week 4 Jan. 5 | Week 5 Jan. 12 | Week 6 Jan. 19 | Week 7 Jan. 26 | Week 8 Feb. 2 | Week 9 Feb. 9 | Week 10 Feb. 16 | Week 11 Feb. 23 | Week 12 Mar. 2 | Final Mar. 9 | |
| 1. | Indiana | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (6–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (12–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Indiana (14–1) | Duquesne (19–0) | Duquesne (21–0) | Kentucky (23–0) | Indiana (19–3) | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (7–1) | Indiana (9–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Duquesne (18–0) | Kentucky (18–0) | Indiana (17–2) | Indiana (18–3) | Kentucky (24–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Duquesne | Duquesne (4–0) | Duquesne (7–0) | Duquesne (8–0) | Duquesne (11–0) | Duquesne (13–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (17–0) | Kentucky (16–0) | Indiana (15–2) | Kentucky (21–0) | Duquesne (22–2) | Duquesne (24–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Kansas | Illinois (4–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma A&M (12–1) | Oklahoma A&M (13–1) | Oklahoma A&M (15–1) | Oklahoma A&M (16–1) | Oklahoma A&M (17–1) | Oklahoma A&M (18–1) | Oklahoma A&M (20–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Oklahoma A&M (23–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma A&M | LSU (3–0) | Minnesota (5–0) | Oklahoma A&M (9–1) | Minnesota (8–1) | Holy Cross (10–0) | Western Kentucky (16–0) | Western Kentucky (18–0) | Western Kentucky (19–0) | Minnesota (13–2) | Western Kentucky (23–1) | Western Kentucky (25–1) | Oklahoma A&M (21–4) | Notre Dame (20–2) | 5. |
| 6. | La Salle | Minnesota (3–0) | Oklahoma A&M (8–1) | Minnesota (7–0) | Holy Cross (8–0) | Western Kentucky (14–0) | Minnesota (9–2) | Minnesota (10–2) | Minnesota (12–2) | Western Kentucky (21–1) | Holy Cross (17–1) | Holy Cross (20–1) | Notre Dame (19–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | 6. |
| 7. | LSU | Oklahoma A&M (4–1) | NC State (6–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Western Kentucky (12–0) | Kansas (6–2) | California (14–2) | California (14–2) | California (16–2) | California (16–2) | Iowa (14–3) | Notre Dame (16–2) | Kansas (15–4) | Kansas (16–4) | 7. |
| 8. | NC State | NC State (3–1) | UCLA (6–1) | NC State (7–1) | Kansas (4–2) | Minnesota (8–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Holy Cross (14–1) | Notre Dame (12–2) т | Notre Dame (13–2) | LSU (17–2) | Holy Cross (22–2) | LSU (20–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Minnesota | UCLA (3–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Illinois (6–2) | Duke (12–3) т | Notre Dame (9–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Holy Cross (16–1) т | LSU (15–2) | Kansas (13–4) | LSU (19–2) | Holy Cross (23–2) | 9. |
| 10. | California | Fordham (4–0) | La Salle (6–1) | BYU (8–0) | Rice (10–0) | California (12–1) т | LSU (11–2) | Holy Cross (13–1) | Kansas (8–3) | La Salle (17–3) | Kansas (12–4) | La Salle (20–4) | La Salle (21–4) | Iowa (17–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Illinois | La Salle (3–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Oregon State (7–3) | Niagara (10–2) | Duke (12–4) | La Salle (15–3) | LSU (13–2) | Kansas (9–4) | La Salle (18–4) | UCLA (18–5) т | Iowa (16–5) | | 11. |
| 12. | Kansas State | California (3–1) | LSU (4–1) т | La Salle (7–2) | LSU (6–2) | LSU (10–2) | Oklahoma City (11–1) т | LSU (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | LSU (14–2) | Minnesota (14–4) | Illinois (16–4) т | Duke (21–5) | | 12. |
| 13. | Saint Louis | Kansas (0–2) | California (5–1) т | LSU (5–1) | Duke (9–3) | La Salle (11–3) | Holy Cross (12–1) т | Wyoming (14–3) | Duke (13–4) | Duke (14–5) | Duke (16–5) т | George Washington (18–1) | Colorado State (22–4) | | 13. |
| 14. | Holy Cross | Notre Dame (3–1) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | UCLA (8–1) т | Niagara (8–2) | Rice (11–1) | Wichita (15–1) | Duke (12–4) | Iowa (11–3) т | Seattle (23–1) т | California (16–4) т | Duke (19–5) | Illinois (16–4) | | 14. |
| 15. | Oregon State | Oregon State (6–1) | Wisconsin (5–1) | Rice (7–0) т | UCLA (9–2) | Illinois (8–3) | NC State (11–4) | Iowa (10–3) | NC State (12–5) т | Iowa (12–3) т | George Washington (16–1) | Seattle (24–1) | Wichita (25–3) | | 15. |
| 16. | Dayton | Ohio State (3–0) | Wyoming (6–1) | Holy Cross (5–0) | NC State (9–3) т | NC State (10–3) | Illinois (9–4) т | Oklahoma City (11–2) | Wyoming (15–4) | NC State (15–5) | Seattle (24–1) | Colorado State (20–4) | Seattle (26–1) | | 16. |
| 17. | Wyoming | Holy Cross (2–0) | Rice (6–0) т | Wyoming (6–1) | La Salle (9–3) т | Notre Dame (7–2) | Oregon State (10–4) т | Oregon State (11–5) | Bradley (11–5) | Colorado State (15–4) т | UCLA (13–5) | Wichita (23–3) | NC State (19–6) | | 17. |
| 18. | Santa Clara | Western Kentucky (6–0) т | Kansas (1–2) т | California (9–1) | Navy (7–2) | Oklahoma City (9–1) | Niagara (10–3) | Texas (9–4) | Wichita (19–2) т | Oregon State (14–6) т | Colorado State (17–4) | Iowa (16–5) т | Dayton (24–6) т | | 18. |
| 19. | Notre Dame | Saint Louis (4–1) т | Holy Cross (3–0) | Kansas State (5–2) | Oklahoma City (8–1) | Wyoming (10–3) | La Salle (14–3) т | Bradley (11–4) | Louisville (14–5) т | Fordham (14–2) | Wichita (22–3) | Rice (18–3) т | Minnesota (16–5) т | | 19. |
| 20. | UCLA | Kansas State (2–1) т Wyoming (4–1) т | Notre Dame (4–1) | Navy (6–0) | California (9–1) | Wichita (14–1) т Oregon State (8–4) т | Wyoming (13–3) т | NC State (12–5) | Illinois (9–4) т | George Washington (13–1) | NC State (16–6) | NC State (16–6) | Oregon State (18–8) т UCLA (18–7) т Minnesota (15–11) т | | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 15 | Week 2 Dec. 22 | Week 3 Dec. 29 | Week 4 Jan. 5 | Week 5 Jan. 12 | Week 6 Jan. 19 | Week 7 Jan. 26 | Week 8 Feb. 2 | Week 9 Feb. 9 | Week 10 Feb. 16 | Week 11 Feb. 23 | Week 12 Mar. 2 | Final Mar. 9 | |
| | | Dropped: DaytonSanta Clara | Dropped: Ohio StateSaint LouisKansas State | Dropped: WisconsinKansasNotre Dame | Dropped: FordhamBYUWyomingKansas State | Dropped: UCLANavy | None | Dropped: WichitaIllinoisNiagara | Dropped: Oklahoma CityOregon StateTexas | Dropped: WyomingBradleyWichitaLouisvilleIllinois | Dropped: Oregon StateFordham | Dropped: MinnesotaCalifornia | Dropped: Rice | Dropped: La SalleDukeColorado StateIllinoisWichitaSeattleNC StateDaytonMinnesota (16–5)Oregon StateUCLAMinnesota | |