Ayrton Oneill
In American college sports, the Associated Press (AP) poll ranks the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I men's and women's basketball. The AP poll is compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters, who each provide their own ranking of the top 25 teams. The individual rankings are then combined to produce a national ranking, with a team receiving 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on. The AP poll has been criticised for being too heavily influenced by the previous week's rankings and preseason expectations, with some arguing that it does not accurately reflect the on-court reality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of teams ranked | 25 |
| Ranking criteria | Number of points, with 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on |
| Voters | 62 sportswriters and broadcasters |
| Frequency of release | Weekly, every Monday |
| History | The AP Poll began ranking the top 20 men's college basketball teams in 1948-1949, expanding to 25 teams in 1989-1990. The women's basketball poll began in 1976-1977 and was initially a top 20 poll until 1990. |
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What You'll Learn
The AP Poll's history in college basketball
In American college sports, the Associated Press (AP) poll provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA Division I teams across football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The AP poll has its origins in the 1930s, when news media outlets began conducting their own polls of sports writers to determine the top college football teams in the country. The AP college football poll was introduced in 1936 and has been running continuously since.
The AP began ranking the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948-1949 season and has issued polls every season since 1950-1951. The poll was expanded to include 25 teams starting in 1989-1990. In men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is primarily used as a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it does not factor into postseason play. Typically, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
The AP poll rankings are determined by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter submits their ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are combined to produce the national ranking, with a team receiving 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, and the poll is usually released every Monday.
The women's basketball poll was introduced during the 1976-1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Over the history of the poll, more than 255 coaches have had a team represented in the rankings. In 1994, the AP took over administration of the poll from Greenberg and transitioned to a panel of writers.
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How AP Poll rankings are calculated
In American college sports, the Associated Press (AP) poll provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including men's and women's basketball. The rankings are based on the opinions of 61 to 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter ranks their top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking. A team is awarded 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 points for a second-place vote, and so on, down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. The AP basketball poll is typically released every Monday, and the ballots of the voting members are publicized.
The AP college basketball poll began during the 1948–1949 season as a ranking of the top 20 men's college basketball teams. It has been issued continuously since the 1950–1951 season and was expanded to include 25 teams starting with the 1989–1990 season. The women's basketball poll, on the other hand, started during the 1976–1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It was a poll of coaches conducted via telephone, and the initial list of coaches included Pat Summitt, who joined to stay informed about the top teams outside of her schedule. The women's poll was also a top 20 poll until 1990 when it was expanded to 25 teams. In 1994, the AP took over administration of the women's poll from Greenberg and switched to a panel of writers for voting.
While the AP Poll is widely recognized, it is largely just a tool to compare schools and spark debate during the season, and it does not impact postseason play. However, generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, often known as March Madness.
The AP also has a history in college football polls, dating back to the 1930s. The AP college football poll was created after AP sports editor Alan J. Gould declared a three-way tie for the national championship, leading to a suggestion by his colleagues to implement a poll of sports editors instead of relying solely on his list. The weekly AP college football poll has been running continuously since 1936.
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The AP Poll's influence on postseason play
In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate. 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.
The AP Poll is the oldest tradition in college basketball, dating back to 1936. It is the document of record for the season, even though the CFP committee now determines who plays for the national title. The AP Poll is compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter ranks their 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.
The AP Poll is not the only poll that ranks college basketball teams. The Coaches Poll is another popular poll, and there are thousands of other polls. The CFP committee has shown that they are not afraid to deviate from the AP and Coaches Polls when ranking teams. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was developed in 1997 to unify the poll results by selecting two teams for a national championship game. The AP Poll was a factor in determining the BCS rankings, but due to a series of controversies, the AP demanded that its poll no longer be used for this purpose.
The AP Poll is a significant part of college basketball culture, providing fans with a way to compare teams and fueling debates about the top teams in the nation. While it does not directly impact postseason play, it does provide a historical record of the season and influences public perception.
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Criticisms of the AP Poll's voting system
The AP Poll's voting system has faced criticism for its heavy reliance on the previous week's rankings and preseason expectations. This has led to a disconnect between the rankings and the teams' actual performance on the court. For example, a team that loses may still move up in the rankings if other teams also lose, with little regard for the strength of their opponents or the circumstances of their loss. Additionally, the system has been criticised for its formulaic approach, where teams are often ranked based solely on whether they won or lost, rather than the quality of their play.
The voters in the AP Poll, often journalists, have also been criticised. They are frequently overworked and may not have the time or resources to thoroughly evaluate all 363 college basketball teams. This can lead to seemingly careless decisions, such as ranking a team higher after a losing streak or ranking a team significantly lower than their performance would warrant.
The AP Poll has also been criticised for its disconnect from more analytical rankings, such as TRACR (Team Rating Adjusted for Conference and Roster). TRACR uses analytics to rank teams based on their performance, rewarding teams that do well against strong opponents and punishing those that struggle against weaker teams. The AP Poll, on the other hand, has been accused of relying heavily on name recognition and record rather than actual performance. For example, Arizona is ranked 6th in the AP Poll but 36th in TRACR, while New Mexico is ranked 25th in the AP Poll but is a more competitive 42nd in TRACR.
These criticisms highlight the limitations of the AP Poll's voting system and the need for a more comprehensive and analytical approach to ranking college basketball teams.
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The future of the AP Poll
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, has been a staple of college basketball since the 1948–1949 season for men's basketball and the 1976–1977 season for women's basketball. The poll provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I men's and women's basketball.
One area of potential evolution for the AP Poll is the inclusion of more teams. The poll currently ranks the top 25 teams, but there may be a case for expanding this number to allow for a broader representation of schools and a more diverse ranking. This could be especially relevant in the women's game, where the sport continues to grow and develop, and more teams are competing at a high level.
The AP Poll has also been influential in football, where it has been used to determine the national champion in the absence of a postseason tournament. The football poll is released on Sundays at 2 pm Eastern time during the season. With the growth of women's basketball and the increasing popularity of the sport, it is possible that the AP Poll could play a similar role in determining a national champion if a postseason tournament is not held.
The AP Poll is an important tool for recognizing the top teams in college basketball and football, and its long history and widespread recognition suggest that it will continue to play a significant role in the future. The poll may adapt to include more teams and could potentially be used in a similar capacity for women's basketball as it has been for football. Overall, the AP Poll is likely to remain an influential part of college sports for the foreseeable future.
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Frequently asked questions
In American college sports, the Associated Press poll (AP poll) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball.
The AP Poll is compiled by polling 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.
The AP Poll rankings are usually released every Monday for basketball and every Sunday at 2 pm Eastern Time for football.
No, the AP Poll is just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate. However, generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
The AP Poll for college football began in 1936, while the AP Poll for men's basketball started during the 1948-1949 season. The women's basketball poll began during the 1976-1977 season and was initially conducted by polling coaches via telephone.
