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NCAA Basketball Rankings
Understanding the Ranking Systems
NCAA basketball rankings are primarily determined by two major polls: the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 and the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. These rankings provide weekly assessments of the top men's college basketball teams throughout the season and serve as important indicators of team performance and national standing.
AP Top 25 Poll
The AP Poll is conducted by sports writers and broadcasters across the United States. Each voter submits their own ranking of the top 25 teams, and the collective results determine the official rankings. This poll is known for its media perspective and often reflects public perception of team strength.
USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
The Coaches Poll is voted on by a panel of NCAA Division I head coaches. While similar in structure to the AP Poll, it provides insights from those directly involved in coaching the sport, offering a different perspective on team rankings.
Current Rankings (as of November 2025)
AP Top 25 Highlights
- Purdue reclaimed the No. 1 spot, receiving 44 of 61 first-place votes after impressive wins including a road victory over then-No. 8 Alabama
- Houston holds the No. 2 position with 12 first-place votes
- UConn remains at No. 3 with three first-place votes
- Arizona and Duke round out the top five
- Louisville and Illinois made significant six-spot leaps into the top 10
- N.C. State entered the poll at No. 25, replacing Creighton
- Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC lead with six teams each in the rankings
- ACC follows with four ranked teams
- San Diego State and Indiana lead teams outside the Top 25
- Georgetown (4-0) is drawing attention as a potential reentry after a decade-long poll absence
- Win-loss records
- Strength of schedule
- Quality wins against ranked opponents
- Recent performance trends
- Road and neutral site victories
- Game results from the previous week
- Upsets and unexpected outcomes
- Head-to-head matchups between ranked teams
- Injuries and roster changes
- Overall season trajectory
- Tournament seeding
- At-large bid considerations
- National perception and media coverage
- Recruiting advantages
- Early season rankings establish expectations and storylines
- Mid-season rankings reflect team development and conference play
- Final regular-season rankings help predict tournament success
- Post-season rankings evaluate overall season performance
Conference Representation
Factors Influencing Rankings
Performance Metrics
Teams are evaluated based on:
Weekly Movement
Rankings are dynamic and change weekly based on:
Importance of Rankings
Tournament Implications
While rankings don't directly determine NCAA Tournament selection, they strongly influence:
Mid-Season vs. Final Rankings
Historical Context
The ranking systems have evolved over decades, with the AP Poll dating back to 1949 and the Coaches Poll to 1950. These polls have become integral to college basketball culture, generating weekly discussion and debate among fans, analysts, and teams alike.
Regional Considerations
Teams from power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) typically dominate the rankings, though mid-major programs occasionally break through with strong performances, particularly during non-conference play and conference tournaments.
The fluid nature of college basketball ensures that rankings remain unpredictable throughout the season, with teams rising and falling based on their weekly performances and the competitive landscape of Division I basketball.
The prompt for this was: ncaa basketball rankings
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