Helena Frye
In American college basketball, the Associated Press (AP) poll ranks the top 25 NCAA teams in men's and women's basketball. The rankings are determined by 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation, 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 is released every Monday, and the ballots of the voters are publicized. While the AP poll is widely recognized, it is not the only ranking system, and other polls, such as the Coaches Poll, are also used in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of voters | 62 sportswriters and broadcasters |
| Frequency of polls | Weekly |
| Day of release | Monday |
| Voting system | Each voter ranks the top 25 teams, with 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on |
| Publicity of ballots | Yes |
| Historical participation | Over 255 coaches have had a team represented in polls |
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What You'll Learn
Who votes in the AP Poll?
In American college sports, the Associated Press (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 largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the basketball season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Voters are selected based on their coverage of good competition, giving writers from smaller newspapers a chance to gain prestige. Voters are not given guidelines on how to rank teams, instead relying on their own judgment of strength.
Each voter provides their own 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. The ballots of the voting members in the AP poll are publicized each week, and the poll is released every Monday during the season. The AP Poll is separate from the Coaches Poll, which is voted on by FCS coaches and keeps the votes of its members confidential.
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How are the rankings decided?
In American college basketball, the rankings are decided by the Associated Press poll (AP poll), which provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams for men's and women's basketball. The AP poll is compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation, who each provide their own 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 down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. The ballots of the voting members are publicized, and the poll is usually released every Monday.
The AP poll began ranking the top men's college basketball teams during the 1948-1949 season and has been issued continuously since 1950-1951. The poll initially ranked the top 20 teams but was expanded to 25 teams starting with the 1989-1990 season. The women's basketball poll, on the other hand, began during the 1976-1977 season and was first compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It was originally a poll of coaches conducted via telephone, and the contributors remained coaches until 1994 when the AP took over administration of the poll and switched to a panel of writers.
It is important to note that the AP Poll is not the only ranking system in college basketball. There is also the Coaches Poll, which has been published by various organizations over the years, including the United Press, United Press International, USA Today, CNN, and ESPN. The existence of multiple polls has led to "split" national titles on several occasions, where the different polls disagree on the No. 1 team.
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History of the AP Poll
The AP Poll, or the Associated Press poll, has a long history in American college basketball. It provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I sports, including men's and women's basketball. The AP Poll is not just limited to basketball, as it also covers football.
The AP Poll's origins can be traced back to the 1930s when the news media first started running their own polls of sports writers to determine the best college football teams in the country. The AP Poll for college football has been published continuously since then. The basketball rankings began during the 1948-1949 season, with the AP compiling a ranking of the top 20 men's college basketball teams. The AP has issued this poll continuously since the 1950-1951 season.
The women's basketball poll started later, during the 1976-1977 season. It was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It began as a poll of coaches, who were asked to identify the top teams, and a list of the Top 20 teams was produced. The number of ranked teams was increased to 25 starting in 1990, and in 1994, the AP took over administration of the poll from Greenberg, switching to a panel of writers.
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 combined to produce the national ranking. Voters' ballots are publicized, and the poll is usually released every Monday. The AP Poll is used as a tool to compare schools, and generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
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Other college basketball polls
The AP Top 25 Basketball Poll is one of the most prominent college basketball rankings. AP, short for Associated Press, is a news agency that has been setting the industry standard for news coverage since 1846. The AP Poll is a ranking of the top 25 college basketball teams in the nation, receiving votes from sports journalists and media members across the country. The votes are tallied and published weekly during the college basketball season.
Another well-known college basketball poll is the Coaches Poll, which is a survey of coaches from across the country, conducted by the United Soccer Coaches association. The coaches cast their votes weekly during the college basketball season, ranking the top 25 teams in the nation. This poll is considered to be a more "insider" perspective on the teams' performances and takes into account factors such as player injuries and team strategies.
Other notable college basketball polls include the ESPN rankings, which are based on a combination of expert analysis and statistical models, and the NCAA's own rankings, which take into account various factors such as win-loss records, strength of schedule, and tournament results. Regional and local media outlets may also conduct their own polls, providing a more focused perspective on specific conferences or regions.
In addition to these polls, there are also awards and accolades that recognise outstanding players and teams in college basketball. For example, the Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, honours players who have demonstrated exceptional courage in the face of adversity, such as Fisk player Jeremiah Armstead, who overcame homelessness to reach the Final Four.
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How does the AP Poll compare to other polls?
The AP Poll, conducted by the Associated Press, is one of the most well-known and respected rankings in college basketball. It is a weekly ranking of the top 25 men's and women's college basketball teams in the US, voted on by a panel of 65 sportswriters and broadcasters. The AP Poll is often considered one of the most influential rankings in college basketball, with the ability to impact everything from public perception to tournament seeding.
Compared to other polls, the AP Poll stands out due to the expertise and diversity of its voting panel. The voters come from a range of media outlets across the country, bringing a wide range of perspectives and opinions to the rankings. This helps to ensure that the AP Poll is relatively unbiased and reflective of the overall sentiment within the college basketball community.
In addition, the AP Poll is known for its transparency. The Associated Press publicly lists the panel of voters and their affiliations, as well as providing detailed voting results. This level of transparency helps to hold voters accountable and allows for scrutiny and feedback from the public.
While the AP Poll is highly regarded, there are other notable polls in college basketball that may differ in methodology and scope. For example, the Coaches Poll is a ranking of the top 25 teams in men's and women's college basketball, voted on by a selection of coaches from across the country. This poll offers a different perspective, as the voters are active coaches with intimate knowledge of the game and the teams involved.
Another example is the ESPN/USA Today Poll, which is a collaboration between two major sports media outlets. This poll may differ from the AP Poll due to variations in the voting panel and the specific weighting given to different factors when ranking teams.
Overall, the AP Poll is characterised by its broad representation, transparency, and influence on the college basketball landscape. While other polls may offer valuable insights and perspectives, the AP Poll is often seen as a benchmark due to its longstanding reputation and the diversity of its voting panel.
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Frequently asked questions
The voting for basketball rankings is done by sportswriters and broadcasters for the Associated Press (AP) poll. The AP poll ranks the top 25 NCAA teams in men's and women's basketball.
Each voter provides their ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are combined to produce the national ranking. Teams are given 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for a second-place vote, and so on down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote.
The AP poll is usually released every Monday, and the voters' ballots are publicized.
