In its 75th year, the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll is still driving discussion across the sport
In its 75th year, the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll is still driving discussion across the sport
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, right, celebrates with the team and fans after the team’s win over Marquette in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Mideast regionals in Baton Rouge, La., in March 1976. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo, File)
St. Louis University was ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press basketball poll in the Bridgeport Telegram, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1949. The 75th anniversary of the first AP college basketball Top 25 poll is Jan. 17, 2024. (Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp and his team admire the NCAA basketball title cup which they won at Seattle, March 26, 1949, by defeating Oklahoma A&M, 46-36. Front row, left to right: Jim Line, Walter Hirsch, Coach Rupp; Ralph Beard, and Clifford Barker. Star center Alex Groza looks over Rupp’s shoulder. Others are unidentified. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/Paul Wagner, File)
FILE - Bob Cousy, Holy Cross forward, second from right, intercepts a pass intended for Tony Lavelli, (8) of Yale, left, in first period of an NCAA college basketball game Feb. 19, 1949, in New Haven, Conn. Rob McMullen of Holy Cross, left, comes in on the play. Art Fizgerald, (7) of Yale is at right. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - San Francisco forward Don Lofgran, center, and Pete Newell, coach of the University of San Francisco basketball team, embrace after San Francisco won the National Invitation Basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York, March 19, 1949. San Francisco defeated Loyola of Chicago 48-47. Lofgran holds the trophy awarded him as most valuable player and Newell the Kelleher Memorial Trophy as coach of the winning team. Person at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Associated Press Personnel Manager Alan Gould is shown in Newark, N.J., Jan. 27, 1942. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The poll did exactly what was intended, and what it has continued to do for 75 years: It sparked debate. “It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest,” Alan J. Gould, then the sports editor for The Associated Press, explained years later. (AP Photo/L.G. Johrden, File)
FILE - Kentucky forward Jim Line, left, and St. John’s Dick McGuire chase a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Dec. 24, 1947. Kentucky won the game 52-40. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The notion of subjectivity always has been essential to the Top 25. Voters understand there is no room for biases, and given that individual ballots are made public each week, they also know full-well that their opinions may come under intense scrutiny. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky’s Ralph Beard (12) takes off for a shot at the basket as Hayden Riley (99) of Alabama defends, in Lexington, Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1948. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win in the Sugar Bowl Championship game a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - DePaul University basketball coach Ray Meyer, listens in as Oklahoma A&M coach Henry Iba outlines a play for the Aggie team during a practice session in New York, March 19, 1944, in preparation for the National Invitational Tournament. Players are, left to right: Tom Jaquet, kneeling; Danny Doyle; Floyd Burdette kneeling; Bill Crowe; and Bob Kurland. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo/File)
This undated photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis University NCAA college basketball coach Eddie Hickey and unidentified players. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans.(Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
This photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis forward Joe Ossola grabbing a rebound over Kentucky’s Dale Barnstable (18) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Sugar Bowl tournament in New Orleans, Dec. 30, 1948. Saint Louis beat Kentucky 42-40. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, right, celebrates with the team and fans after the team’s win over Marquette in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Mideast regionals in Baton Rouge, La., in March 1976. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, right, celebrates with the team and fans after the team’s win over Marquette in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Mideast regionals in Baton Rouge, La., in March 1976. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo, File)
St. Louis University was ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press basketball poll in the Bridgeport Telegram, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1949. The 75th anniversary of the first AP college basketball Top 25 poll is Jan. 17, 2024. (Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)
St. Louis University was ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press basketball poll in the Bridgeport Telegram, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1949. The 75th anniversary of the first AP college basketball Top 25 poll is Jan. 17, 2024. (Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp and his team admire the NCAA basketball title cup which they won at Seattle, March 26, 1949, by defeating Oklahoma A&M, 46-36. Front row, left to right: Jim Line, Walter Hirsch, Coach Rupp; Ralph Beard, and Clifford Barker. Star center Alex Groza looks over Rupp’s shoulder. Others are unidentified. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/Paul Wagner, File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp and his team admire the NCAA basketball title cup which they won at Seattle, March 26, 1949, by defeating Oklahoma A&M, 46-36. Front row, left to right: Jim Line, Walter Hirsch, Coach Rupp; Ralph Beard, and Clifford Barker. Star center Alex Groza looks over Rupp’s shoulder. Others are unidentified. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/Paul Wagner, File)
FILE - Bob Cousy, Holy Cross forward, second from right, intercepts a pass intended for Tony Lavelli, (8) of Yale, left, in first period of an NCAA college basketball game Feb. 19, 1949, in New Haven, Conn. Rob McMullen of Holy Cross, left, comes in on the play. Art Fizgerald, (7) of Yale is at right. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Bob Cousy, Holy Cross forward, second from right, intercepts a pass intended for Tony Lavelli, (8) of Yale, left, in first period of an NCAA college basketball game Feb. 19, 1949, in New Haven, Conn. Rob McMullen of Holy Cross, left, comes in on the play. Art Fizgerald, (7) of Yale is at right. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - San Francisco forward Don Lofgran, center, and Pete Newell, coach of the University of San Francisco basketball team, embrace after San Francisco won the National Invitation Basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York, March 19, 1949. San Francisco defeated Loyola of Chicago 48-47. Lofgran holds the trophy awarded him as most valuable player and Newell the Kelleher Memorial Trophy as coach of the winning team. Person at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)
FILE - San Francisco forward Don Lofgran, center, and Pete Newell, coach of the University of San Francisco basketball team, embrace after San Francisco won the National Invitation Basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York, March 19, 1949. San Francisco defeated Loyola of Chicago 48-47. Lofgran holds the trophy awarded him as most valuable player and Newell the Kelleher Memorial Trophy as coach of the winning team. Person at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Associated Press Personnel Manager Alan Gould is shown in Newark, N.J., Jan. 27, 1942. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The poll did exactly what was intended, and what it has continued to do for 75 years: It sparked debate. “It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest,” Alan J. Gould, then the sports editor for The Associated Press, explained years later. (AP Photo/L.G. Johrden, File)
FILE - Associated Press Personnel Manager Alan Gould is shown in Newark, N.J., Jan. 27, 1942. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The poll did exactly what was intended, and what it has continued to do for 75 years: It sparked debate. “It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest,” Alan J. Gould, then the sports editor for The Associated Press, explained years later. (AP Photo/L.G. Johrden, File)
FILE - Kentucky forward Jim Line, left, and St. John’s Dick McGuire chase a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Dec. 24, 1947. Kentucky won the game 52-40. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The notion of subjectivity always has been essential to the Top 25. Voters understand there is no room for biases, and given that individual ballots are made public each week, they also know full-well that their opinions may come under intense scrutiny. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Kentucky forward Jim Line, left, and St. John’s Dick McGuire chase a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Dec. 24, 1947. Kentucky won the game 52-40. The first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published on Jan. 17, 1949. The notion of subjectivity always has been essential to the Top 25. Voters understand there is no room for biases, and given that individual ballots are made public each week, they also know full-well that their opinions may come under intense scrutiny. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky’s Ralph Beard (12) takes off for a shot at the basket as Hayden Riley (99) of Alabama defends, in Lexington, Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1948. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win in the Sugar Bowl Championship game a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky’s Ralph Beard (12) takes off for a shot at the basket as Hayden Riley (99) of Alabama defends, in Lexington, Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1948. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win in the Sugar Bowl Championship game a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - DePaul University basketball coach Ray Meyer, listens in as Oklahoma A&M coach Henry Iba outlines a play for the Aggie team during a practice session in New York, March 19, 1944, in preparation for the National Invitational Tournament. Players are, left to right: Tom Jaquet, kneeling; Danny Doyle; Floyd Burdette kneeling; Bill Crowe; and Bob Kurland. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - DePaul University basketball coach Ray Meyer, listens in as Oklahoma A&M coach Henry Iba outlines a play for the Aggie team during a practice session in New York, March 19, 1944, in preparation for the National Invitational Tournament. Players are, left to right: Tom Jaquet, kneeling; Danny Doyle; Floyd Burdette kneeling; Bill Crowe; and Bob Kurland. When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. (AP Photo/File)
This undated photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis University NCAA college basketball coach Eddie Hickey and unidentified players. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans.(Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
This undated photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis University NCAA college basketball coach Eddie Hickey and unidentified players. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans.(Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
This photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis forward Joe Ossola grabbing a rebound over Kentucky’s Dale Barnstable (18) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Sugar Bowl tournament in New Orleans, Dec. 30, 1948. Saint Louis beat Kentucky 42-40. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
This photo provided by Saint Louis University Archives shows Saint Louis forward Joe Ossola grabbing a rebound over Kentucky’s Dale Barnstable (18) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Sugar Bowl tournament in New Orleans, Dec. 30, 1948. Saint Louis beat Kentucky 42-40. When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans. (Photo Courtesy of Saint Louis University Archives via AP)
When the first AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was published in January 1949, Saint Louis was installed at No. 1 ahead of mighty Kentucky, thanks to a head-to-head win a few weeks earlier in New Orleans.
The poll did exactly what was intended, and what it has continued to do for 75 years: It sparked debate.
Were the Billikens of coach Eddie Hickey — the defending NIT champions at a time when that tournament was more prestigious than the NCAA Tournament — really deserving of the top spot? Would the Wildcats of Adolph Rupp win a rematch? And what of Western Kentucky, Minnesota and Oklahoma A&M, some of the other powerhouse programs of the era?
“It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest,” Alan J. Gould, then the sports editor for The Associated Press, explained years later. “Sports was then living off controversy, opinion, whatever. This was just another exercise in hoopla.”
Gould had dreamed up the AP college football poll in 1936, when he asked newspaper editors across the country to rank teams each week. But it wasn’t until 1949 that the AP followed suit by ranking the top 20 teams in men’s basketball (it would be another 28 years before the AP had a women’s basketball poll).
The poll has evolved over the years, contracting to 10 for a period in the 1960s before expanding to its now-familiar Top 25 for the 1989-90 season. The panel of newspaper editors that voted on it has likewise expanded to include digital outlet beat writers along with radio and TV personalities. And these days, box scores and game stories are supplemented by the fact that nearly every game is broadcast, whether that be on television, a streaming service or somewhere else across the internet.
Some things have not changed, though, including the nuts-and-bolts of how the poll works.
Each season, the AP selects a panel of more than 60 college basketball experts from across the country to vote on the Top 25. Four are considered “national writers” while the rest are chosen to represent each state, and much like the Electoral College, states that have the most Division I programs have the largest share of voters. The goal is geographic diversity so good teams everywhere get the attention they deserve.
The poll is not a factor in determining a champion. The final ballots are released the day after Selection Sunday, on the eve of the NCAA Tournament that settles the ultimate question of which team is the best in the land.
On each ballot, teams receive an inverted number of points based on position: The top team on a ballot gets 25 points, the second-ranked team receives 24 and so on. The cumulated point total determines the Top 25, which is released on Mondays.
“It’s a lot more art than science,” explained Seth Davis, a college basketball analyst for CBS and longtime AP voter. “It’s our job to watch as much as we can, keep track of all the scores, consume all the data and make our best subjective assessment.”
The notion of subjectivity is essential to the Top 25. Voters understand there is no room for biases, and given that individual ballots are made public each week, they also know their opinions may come under intense scrutiny.
In fact, one longtime voter remembers a time that he was certain West Virginia fans had organized “a letter-writing campaign” against him for his placement of the Mountaineers. Another said, almost certainly tongue-in-cheek, that he receives “nothing but effusive praise for each and every one of the decisions I make each week.”
Social media, for better or worse, has made it even easier for fans to interact with AP voters, taking their spirited conversations from water coolers to the internet. But the poll still drives discussion, just like it was intended to do 75 years ago.
“The poll has always been a fun talking point,” said Jerry Tipton, who retired in 2022 after more than four decades of covering Kentucky for the Lexington Herald-Leader. “It puts the sport out there, helps to promote it. And it gets people talking.”
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