Kristian Ferrell
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I men's and women's basketball. It was first introduced during the 1948–1949 season, with the AP publishing an article in 2024 highlighting the most successful programs in terms of rankings over the previous 75 years. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation, with each voter providing their own ranking of the top 25 teams. 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2023-24 |
| Poll | AP Poll |
| Votes | Drake 122, Oregon 105, Illinois 80, UConn 76, Creighton 60, Colorado State 49, UCLA 36, McNeese 17, Missouri 16, New Mexico 10, UC San Diego 6, Kansas 5, Marquette 2 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
AP Poll history
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, has a long history in American college sports. It provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The AP Poll's origins can be traced back to the 1930s when the news media began running their own polls of sports writers to determine the best college football teams in the country. One of the earliest such polls was conducted by the AP in November 1934, and in 1935, AP sports editor Alan J. Gould declared a three-way tie for the national championship in football. The weekly AP college football poll was officially born in 1936 and has run continuously since.
In the 1948–1949 season, the AP began compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams, expanding to a top 25 poll beginning with the 1989-1990 season. The women's basketball poll started later, during the 1976–1977 season, and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The AP took over administration of the poll in 1994, switching to a panel of writers.
The AP Poll is not the only college basketball poll, and its rankings are largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate. The other major poll is the Coaches Poll, which has been published by various organizations over the years, including United Press, United Press International, USA Today, CNN, and ESPN. The existence of two major polls has led to several "split" national titles, where the polls disagree on the No. 1 team.
The AP Poll rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter provides their own ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking using a points system. The ballots of the voting members are publicized, and the poll is usually released every Monday.
Understanding Basketball's Knockout: Strategies and Techniques
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How rankings are decided
The AP Poll, or Associated Press poll, provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The rankings are decided by polling sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter ranks the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking by giving a team 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth-place vote. The ballots of the voting members are publicized.
The AP Poll began compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948–1949 season and has issued this poll continuously since the 1950–1951 season. Beginning with the 1989-1990 season, the poll expanded to include 25 teams. The women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The AP Poll is not the only college basketball poll. The other major poll is the Coaches Poll, which has been published by several organizations, including the United Press, United Press International, USA Today, CNN, and ESPN. Having two major polls has led to numerous "split" national titles, where the two polls disagree on the No. 1 team.
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 men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
DC Shoes: Good Choice for Basketball?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
AP Poll release schedule
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The AP Poll is released every Monday for basketball and every Sunday at 2 pm Eastern Time for football during the season (unless ranked teams have not finished their games). The AP Poll has been conducted since the 1948–1949 season for men's basketball and the 1976–1977 season for women's basketball.
The AP Poll is compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter provides their ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking by giving a team 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth-place vote. Voters are not obligated to rank the CFP winner No. 1. The ballots of the voting members are publicized.
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. However, generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
The AP also releases a preseason poll, which has been conducted since 1950.
Mastering the Art of High-Percentage Shooting in Basketball
You may want to see also
Explore related products
AP Poll vs Coaches Poll
The AP Poll and the Coaches Poll are both used to rank college football teams. The AP Poll represents a consensus opinion from top sportswriters in America, while the Coaches Poll polls a panel of 62 to 65 FBS head coaches to produce a list of the top 25 teams. Both polls start with a preseason top 25 and continue weekly on Sundays during the season and after the bowl games. The polls give teams points on a scale from 1 to 25 (25 for ranking a team No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.).
The AP Poll voters are not obligated to rank the CFP winner No. 1, and the same goes for the Coaches Poll. The last time the two polls had different No. 1 teams at the end of the season was in 2003, during the BCS era. That year, the AP ranked Southern California No. 1, while LSU was ranked No. 1 in the Coaches Poll.
The Coaches Poll has come under criticism for being inaccurate, with some arguing that coaches are biased towards their own teams and conferences, that they don't actually complete their own ballots, and that they are unfamiliar with the basics about the teams they are voting on. For example, in 2012, USC Trojans coach Lane Kiffin resigned as a voter after just one vote amid controversy over his preseason selection of his school as No. 1.
The CFP selection committee does not take other polls like the AP Poll or Coaches Poll into consideration when building their rankings. However, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) used to determine who played in the national championship game by aggregating the results of the Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, and different computer-ranking systems to calculate the top two teams in the nation.
The Truth Behind Jennifer's Eye-Catching Look in Basketball Wives
You may want to see also
Explore related products
AP Poll's influence on postseason play
The AP Poll, which started in 1936, is a consistent feature in the history of college football. It is a record of the season, even though the CFP committee determines who plays for the national title. The public and the media acknowledge the leading vote-getter in the final AP poll as the national champion for that season. The AP Poll is also a useful tool for examining how the public and media felt about the quality of a particular team at a particular time. It provides context to upsets, schedule strength, and win-loss records.
The AP Poll has been influential in postseason play, with the public and media acknowledging the leading vote-getter as the national champion. While the AP Poll does not decide the national title winner, it does provide a historical record of the season and the relative quality of teams. The AP Poll has been running continuously since 1936, making it the oldest tradition in college football.
The AP Poll is also used by fans and programs to compare the performance of their teams. For example, the last time Alabama finished outside the top 10 was in 2007, which was Nick Saban's first season as head coach. This final ranking will be another mark on Kalen DeBoer's first year as Saban's successor.
In addition to its influence on public perception and historical context, the AP Poll can also have financial implications for coaches and athletic departments. According to a 2020 article, four different coaches earned financial bonuses based on their team's ranking in the final polls, amounting to nearly $300,000 in combined bonus money. Athletic departments may also have poll-related incentives in their apparel contracts. For example, Adidas agreed to pay FAU's athletic department $25,000 in cash if the football team finished in the "Top 25 in the Final Rankings".
The AP Poll has evolved over the years, with the number of ranked teams expanding from 20 to 25 in 1989. The AP also started conducting a preseason poll in 1950 and has since become a consistent feature of college football, providing valuable insights and context to the sport.
The Future of High School Basketball: Shot Clock Revolution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The AP Basketball Poll, or the Associated Press poll, is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I men's and women's basketball.
The AP Basketball Poll is decided by a points system. 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation each provide their ranking of the top 25 teams. The individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking by giving a team 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth-place vote.
The AP Basketball Poll is usually released every Monday during the season. The football poll is released on Sundays at 2 pm Eastern Time.
The AP Poll began as a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948-1949 season and has been issued continuously since the 1950-1951 season. The poll expanded to 25 teams beginning with the 1989-1990 season. The women's basketball poll began during the 1976-1977 season.
