Amanda Knapp
The AP Poll, also known as the Associated Press poll, is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including men's and women's basketball. The AP Poll was first introduced in 1935 by AP sports editor Alan J. Gould, and has since become a prominent factor in determining the national champion for the season. In the context of basketball, the AP Poll typically includes rankings of college men's basketball teams, with the women's basketball poll being introduced later during the 1976-1977 season. The rankings are determined by polling sportswriters and broadcasters, with each voter providing their own ranking of the top 25 teams. The AP Poll is usually released every Monday, with voters' ballots publicized, and has become an important barometer for the performance and recognition of college basketball teams across the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sport | College basketball |
| Division | Division I |
| Teams | Top 25 |
| Team with most AP poll top 25 appearances | Kentucky |
| Date of results | Through Games APR. 7, 2025 |
| Number of voters | 62 |
| Voter occupation | Sportswriters and broadcasters |
| Number of teams that received votes but were not ranked | 13 |
| Number of teams that dropped from rankings | 2 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
AP Top 25 rankings for men's college basketball
The AP Top 25 rankings for men's college basketball are a widely followed set of rankings that receive a lot of attention from fans and the media. The rankings are decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who vote on the top teams in the nation. While the rankings are highly regarded, they are also often a topic of debate and discussion, with fans and analysts offering their opinions on the placement of teams.
As of the 2023-24 season, the AP Top 25 rankings for men's college basketball were as follows:
- Texas A&M
- Oregon
- Colorado
- Brigham Young
- Texas
- James Madison
- Seton Hall
- Grand Canyon
- Wisconsin
- Northwestern
- Texas Tech
- Indiana State
- Miami (Fla.)
- Michigan State
- Duquesne
- Yale
- Arkansas
- New Mexico
- Maryland
- Colorado State
- Florida
- Rutgers
- Oakland
- Nevada
It's worth noting that these rankings can change frequently, and the AP releases updated rankings throughout the season as teams play their games and their performances are evaluated. The rankings are an important part of the college basketball landscape, as they help determine tournament seeding and often generate discussion about the top teams and players in the country.
In addition to the AP Top 25 rankings, there are also other notable rankings and polls for men's college basketball, such as the Coaches Poll, which is voted on by a separate group of coaches and basketball experts. The Coaches Poll can sometimes differ from the AP rankings, providing an alternative perspective on the top teams in the nation.
Basketball Wives Star Indicted: What Did Brittish Do?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
NCAA women's basketball rankings
NCAA women's basketball is a thrilling spectacle, with the 2024-25 season seeing some impressive performances and results.
The University of South Carolina women's basketball team were the 2024 NCAA women's basketball champions, an achievement that saw them celebrated by President Joe Biden at the White House. The University of Connecticut's men's team also had a successful year, winning their second consecutive NCAA championship.
Iowa's Caitlin Clark was named AP Player of the Year, an honour that was also recognised by President Biden.
Looking at the rankings, Louisville tops the AP Poll, with Richmond and Oregon close behind. Michigan State, Iowa, and Creighton occupy the middle rankings, with Illinois, Vanderbilt, and Harvard towards the bottom of the table.
The women's game is also seeing the emergence of a new 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, which is set to showcase top WNBA talent like Brittney Griner and Angel Reese. This league will play over an 8-week season in Miami and is expected to be a game-changer for the women's game.
The Birth of Basketball: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
History of the AP poll
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including men's and women's basketball. The history of the AP Poll in basketball goes back several decades and has evolved over time.
The AP Poll for men's college basketball was first introduced during the 1948-1949 season, initially ranking the top 20 teams. The AP has continuously issued this poll since the 1950-1951 season, and it was expanded to include 25 teams beginning with the 1989-1990 season. Kentucky has the highest percentage of appearances in the AP Poll's top 25, top 10, and top 5 rankings.
The women's basketball AP Poll began later, during the 1976-1977 season. It was first compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The early polls were conducted by reaching out to coaches over the phone, and the rankings were based on their input. The women's poll also started as a top 20 ranking but was expanded to 25 teams starting in 1990. In 1994, the AP took over administration of the women's poll from Greenberg, transitioning to a panel of writers instead of coaches.
Over the years, the AP Poll has been a significant tool for comparing schools and their basketball programs. The rankings are determined by polling sportswriters and broadcasters, with each voter providing their own ranking of the top teams. The individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking, with points assigned for each place. The AP Poll has had some influence on the BCS rankings in college football, but it is not the only factor considered.
Warren Easton Girls Basketball: Champions or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How AP poll rankings are decided
In American college sports, the Associated Press (AP) poll ranks the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The rankings are based on the weekly votes of 62 or 63 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter submits their ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking. A team receives 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 points for a second-place vote, and so on, down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth-place vote. The rankings are typically released every Monday, and the ballots of the voting members are made public.
The AP poll for men's basketball was first introduced during the 1948-1949 season, initially ranking the top 20 teams. Since the 1989-1990 season, the poll has expanded to include the top 25 teams. The AP also releases preseason and end-of-season Top 25 polls for men's and women's basketball following the NCAA Tournament.
The women's basketball poll began during the 1976-1977 season and was originally 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 did not include Pat Summitt, who joined the group to stay informed about the top teams outside of her schedule. The poll was a top 20 poll until 1990 when it was expanded to include 25 teams. The AP took over administration of the poll from Greenberg in 1994 and switched to a panel of writers.
While the AP poll is used to spark debate and compare schools during the season, it does not impact postseason play. The AP also recognizes the best players and coaches in men's and women's basketball, selecting Players of the Year and Coaches of the Year.
Will Eisner's Basketball Legacy: A Creative Visionary's Passion
You may want to see also
Explore related products
AP Player of the Year
The AP Player of the Year is an award given by the Associated Press that recognizes the best men's and women's college basketball players of the year in the United States. The men's award began in 1961, while the women's award began in 1995. The voting panel for the men's award is made up of 62 media members, while the women's panel consists of 35 media members.
In 2025, Duke's Cooper Flagg was named the AP men's basketball Player of the Year. He is only the fourth freshman to win the award in its 64-year history. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Newport, Maine, won a two-man race with Auburn star Johni Broome, receiving 41 of the 61 votes. Flagg is the eighth Duke player to win the award, joining Art Heyman (1963), Christian Laettner (1992), Elton Brand (1999), Shane Battier (2001), Jason Williams (2002), JJ Redick (2006), and Zion Williamson.
Flagg led the Blue Devils to the Final Four and an ACC regular-season championship. He is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg is known for his hard work, competitiveness, and ability to drown out the noise, as he doesn't get rattled easily. He is also comfortable with the spotlight, featuring in ads and commercials and gracefully handling requests for autographs and selfies.
The only two players to be named the AP Player of the Year three times are Ralph Sampson of Virginia (1981-1983) and an unnamed woman.
Doubling Up: Strategies for Doubling Your Basketball Score
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The AP Poll, or Associated Press 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.
Each of the 62 sportswriters and broadcasters polled provides their ranking of the top 25 teams. The individual rankings are then 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.
The football poll is released on Sundays at 2 pm Eastern Time during the season. The basketball poll is usually released every Monday.
The voters are 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation.
