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In American college sports, the Associated Press (AP) releases weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including men's and women's basketball. The AP Poll provides an overview of the best college basketball teams in the country, based on popular opinion. New rankings are released every Monday during the season, usually in the early afternoon for those on the East Coast. The AP Poll is a useful tool for comparing schools and sparking debate, but it has no impact on the postseason tournament, often referred to as March Madness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| AP Poll release day | Every Monday during the season |
| Time of release | Around 1 p.m. (Eastern time) |
| Number of teams ranked | 364 Division I teams |
| Number of teams in the top 25 | 25 |
| Number of contributors | 62 sportswriters and broadcasters |
| Previous No. 1 teams | Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Tennessee, Connecticut |
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What You'll Learn
AP Poll results are released every Monday
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 rankings are based on the opinions of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter ranks their top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce a national ranking, with a first-place vote earning a team 25 points, a second-place vote earning 24 points, and so on.
The AP Poll results for college basketball are released every Monday during the season, typically in the early afternoon (around 1 p.m. Eastern Time). The poll has no impact on the postseason, as 68 teams are included in the Division I postseason tournament, with seeding determined by on-court results. However, it provides a tool to compare schools and spark debate.
The AP Poll has a long history in college basketball, with the women's basketball poll beginning during the 1976-1977 season. Initially, it was a coaches' poll conducted via telephone, and it has evolved over time, with the AP taking over administration of the poll from Greenberg in 1994 and switching to a panel of writers.
The AP Poll is not the only ranking in college basketball, as the Coaches Poll is another prominent ranking published by organizations like USA Today and ESPN. Differences in rankings between these polls have led to \"split\" national titles on several occasions.
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AP Poll rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press Poll, provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The AP Poll rankings are 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, down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth-place vote. The ballots of the voting members are made public.
The AP Poll has a long history in college sports. The news media initially ran their own polls of sportswriters to determine, by popular opinion, the best college football teams in the country at the end of each season. The AP College Football Poll was first run in 1934 and then continuously from 1936. From 1936 to 1988, the wire service ranked 20 teams, except from 1961 to 1967, when only ten teams were recognized. The AP Poll expanded to the current 25 teams in 1989.
The AP 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. The women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It was first a poll of coaches conducted via telephone, where coaches identified the top teams, and a list of the Top 20 teams was produced.
New AP Poll results are released every Monday during the season, often in the early afternoon (around 1 p.m.) for those on East Coast time. Unlike college football, the poll results have virtually no effect on the sport.
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The AP Poll is not the only college basketball poll
The AP Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I sports: football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The rankings are 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 a 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 released every Monday, and voters' ballots are publicized.
While the AP Poll is a well-known and respected ranking system, it is not the only college basketball poll. The other major poll is the Coaches Poll, which has been published by several organizations over the years, including the United Press, United Press International, USA Today, CNN, and ESPN. Having two major polls has led to "split" national titles on eleven different occasions where the two polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.
The AP Poll began ranking the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948-1949 season and has been issued continuously since 1950-1951. The poll expanded to 25 teams beginning in 1989-1990. The women's basketball poll started during the 1976-1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is primarily a tool for comparing schools throughout the season and sparking debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. All top 25 teams in the poll are typically invited to the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament (March Madness), but seasonal on-court results determine seeding.
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The AP Poll has no impact on the postseason
The postseason in college basketball includes 68 teams in the Division I tournament, with seeding based on seasonal on-court results rather than poll rankings. This lack of influence on the postseason is a distinct feature of college basketball's AP Poll.
In contrast, the AP Poll historically played a role in determining the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings in college football. The BCS aimed to unify poll results by selecting two teams for a national championship game. However, due to controversies, the AP Poll demanded its exclusion from BCS rankings after the 2004 season.
While the AP Poll no longer factors into BCS standings, it continues to provide valuable insights into the perception and performance of college football teams. Preseason polls, in particular, spark debates and predictions, contributing to the sport's culture of discussion.
The AP Poll's accuracy has been a topic of discussion, with some arguing that it holds predictive value for the season ahead. Since 1989, 21 of 33 national champions have started the season ranked in the top five in the preseason AP Poll, indicating a potential correlation between preseason rankings and championship outcomes.
Despite this, the impact of the AP Poll on the postseason in college basketball remains non-existent. The poll serves as a popular reference point for fans and analysts, but it does not influence the tournament's structure or team selections.
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The women's basketball poll began in 1976
The history of the AP Poll for women's basketball dates back to the 1976-1977 season, marking the beginning of dedicated rankings for women's teams. This inaugural women's basketball poll was compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer, taking a significant step towards recognizing and promoting women's sports.
The AP Poll, conducted by the Associated Press, has played a pivotal role in college sports, providing weekly rankings of the top NCAA teams across various sports, including women's basketball. The poll is compiled by surveying 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from diverse regions of the nation, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of team performances.
The inclusion of women's basketball in the AP Poll was a groundbreaking development, offering much-needed visibility and recognition to women's athletic achievements. By establishing a formal ranking system, the AP Poll created a platform for comparing the performances of women's college basketball teams throughout the season, fostering competition and elevating the profile of the sport.
While the AP Poll has traditionally focused on men's college basketball, with its first men's poll dating back to the 1948–1949 season, the integration of women's basketball demonstrated a growing acknowledgment of the significance and popularity of women's sports. The expansion of the poll to include women's basketball was a pivotal step toward gender inclusivity and representation in sports media and culture.
The AP Poll for women's basketball is typically released every Monday during the season, mirroring the release schedule for men's basketball polls. This weekly update provides fans, coaches, and analysts with insights into the rankings and performances of the top 25 teams, contributing to ongoing discussions and debates surrounding women's college basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The AP Poll results are released every Monday during the season, usually in the afternoon around 1 pm ET.
The women's basketball poll began during the 1976-1977 season. It was initially a poll of coaches conducted via telephone, where coaches identified the top teams, resulting in a list of the Top 20 teams.
The voters in the AP Poll consist of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter provides their ranking of the top 25 teams, which are then combined to produce the national ranking.
No, the AP Poll has no impact on the postseason of college basketball. This is because 68 teams are included in the Division I postseason tournament, with seasonal on-court results dictating seeding.
Another major poll is the Coaches Poll, which has been published by various organizations, including USA Today, CNN, and ESPN.
