1961–62 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

November 2025 August 2023 1961 image Ohio State Cincinnati The 1961–62 NCAA men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Legend   Increase in ranking   Decrease in ranking   New to rankings from previous week Italics   Number of first place votes (#–#)   Win–loss record т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol AP Poll All AP polls for the 1961–62 season included only 10 ranked teams. 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final  ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 697–698 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 Dec. 18 Dec. 25 Jan. 1 Jan. 8 Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Mar. 5 Mar. 12 Ohio State Cincinnati Wake Forest 1961 men USC Trojans USC 1961 men Providence Friars Providence 1961 men Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Duke 1961 men Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State St. John's 1961 men Seattle Chieftains Seattle Ohio State (5–0) Cincinnati (5–0) Providence (5–0) u Kansas State (5–0) u 1961 men West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia (6–0) npr USC (5–1) d 1961 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (5–0) npr Purdue (3–1) d 1961 men St. Bonaventure Brown Indians St. Bonaventure (6–0) npr 1961 men Arizona State Sun Devils Arizona State (5–0)Seattle (5–0) npr Wake Forest (3–3) Duke (5–1) St. John's (3–1) Ohio State (7–0) Cincinnati (6–1) Duquesne (6–0) u USC (7–1) u Kansas State (7–1) d 1961 men Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky (6–1) npr West Virginia (6–1) d 1961 men Wichita Shockers Wichita (7–1) npr Purdue (5–1) d Duke (7–1) npr Providence (5–2) St. Bonaventure (6–1) Arizona State (6–1) Seattle (5–0) Ohio State (10–0) Cincinnati (10–1) Kentucky (8–1) u Kansas State (10–1) u Villanova (11–0) npr USC (9–2) d Duquesne (9–1) d Duke (8–1) u Mississippi State (9–0) npr Bowling Green (8–1) npr Wichita (9–2) Purdue (7–2) West Virginia (7–3) Ohio State (11–0) Cincinnati (11–1) Kentucky (10–1) USC (11–2) u Kansas State (10–2) d Villanova (12–1) d Mississippi State (10–0) u Duquesne (9–1) d Bowling Green (10–1) u Duke (9–2) d Ohio State (12–0) Kentucky (12–1) u Cincinnati (11–2) d Kansas State (12–2) u Duquesne (11–1) u USC (12–3) d Duke (11–2) u Bowling Green (12–1) u 1961 men Bradley Braves Bradley (10–2) npr Mississippi State (11–1) d Villanova (13–2) Ohio State (13–0) Kentucky (13–1) Cincinnati (13–2) Kansas State (13–2) USC (12–3) u Duquesne (12–2) d Duke (11–2) Bowling Green (14–1) Bradley (11–3) Mississippi State (13–1) Ohio State (14–0) Kentucky (13–1) Cincinnati (14–2) Kansas State (14–2) USC (12–3) Duke (12–2) u Duquesne (14–2) d Bowling Green (16–1) Bradley (12–3) Mississippi State (16–1) Ohio State (16–0) Kentucky (16–1) Cincinnati (17–2) Kansas State (15–2) Duke (14–2) u Duquesne (16–2) u Bradley (14–3) u Bowling Green (16–1) Mississippi State (16–1) u 1961 men Oregon State Beavers Oregon State (16–1) npr USC (12–4) Ohio State (18–0) Kentucky (17–1) Cincinnati (19–2) Kansas State (17–2) Bradley (16–3) u Oregon State (17–1) u Duke (15–3) d Mississippi State (18–1) u Duquesne (16–3) d Bowling Green (16–2) d Ohio State (20–0) Cincinnati (21–2) u Kentucky (17–2) d Kansas State (18–2) Mississippi State (20–1) u Bradley (18–3) d Bowling Green (18–2) u Duke (17–4) d 1961 men Colorado Buffaloes Colorado (14–5) npr Oregon State (17–3) d Duquesne (16–5) Ohio State (21–0) Cincinnati (23–2) Kansas State (19–2) u Kentucky (19–2) d Mississippi State (22–1) Bradley (19–4) Bowling Green (20–2) Duke (19–4) Colorado (15–5) 1961 men Utah Utes Utah (21–3) npr Oregon State (18–4) Ohio State (22–1) Cincinnati (24–2) Kansas State (21–2) Kentucky (20–2) Mississippi State (24–1) Bradley (21–4) Utah (22–3) u Bowling Green (21–3) d Duke (20–5) d Loyola-Chicago (21–2) npr Colorado (16–6) Ohio State (23–1) Cincinnati (24–2) Kentucky (22–2) u Mississippi State (24–1) u Bradley (21–5) u Kansas State (22–3) d Utah (23–3) Bowling Green (21–3) Colorado (18–5) npr Duke (20–5) d Loyola-Chicago (21–3) UPI Poll The initial UPI poll for this season included only 10 ranked teams, while UPI polls for the remainder of the season included 20 ranked teams. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Jan. 2 Jan. 9 Jan. 16 Jan. 23 Jan. 30 Feb. 6 Feb. 13 Feb. 20 Feb. 27 Mar. 6 Mar. 13 Ohio State (4–0) Cincinnati (3–0) 1961 men Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State (3–0) 1961 men Providence Friars Providence (3–0) Duke (3–0) 1961 men Purdue Boilermakers Purdue (2–0) 1961 men USC Trojans USC (3–1) 1961 men Arizona State Sun Devils Arizona State (3–0) 1961 men West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia (4–0) Wake Forest (2–1)   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   Ohio State (5–0) Cincinnati (5–0) Kansas State (5–0) Providence (5–0) USC (5–1) u West Virginia (6–0) u Arizona State (5–0) u Duke (6–1) d Purdue (3–1) d 1961 men Wichita Shockers Wichita (5–1) npr 1961 men Utah Utes Utah (5–1) npr 1961 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (5–0) npr St. John's (3–1) npr 1961 men Kentucky Wildcats Utah (3–1) npr 1961 men St. Bonaventure Brown Indians St. Bonaventure (6–0) npr 1961 men Drake Bulldogs Drake (3–1) npr 1961 men Dayton Flyers Dayton (5–0) npr 1961 men NYU Violets NYU (5–0) npr Texas Tech (3–1) npr Illinois (5–0) npr Wake Forest (2–2) Ohio State (7–0) Cincinnati (6–1) Kansas State (7–1) USC (7–1) u Wichita (7–1) u Kentucky (6–1) u Duquesne (6–0) u Duke (7–1) West Virginia (6–1) d Utah (8–1) u Providence (5–2) d Purdue (5–1) d NYU (6–0) u St. John's (4–1) d Texas Tech (4–1) u 1961 men Seattle Chieftains Seattle (5–0) npr 1961 men Santa Clara Broncos Santa Clara (8–1) т tnpr 1961 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova (9–0) т npr 1961 men Mississippi State Bulldogs Mississippi State (7–0) npr Washington (5–1) npr Arizona State St. Bonaventure Drake Dayton Illinois Ohio State (10–0) Cincinnati (10–1) Kansas State (10–1) USC (9–2) Kentucky (8–1) u Villanova (11–0) u Duke (8–1) u Duquesne (9–1) d Wichita (9–2) d 1961 men Oregon State Beavers Oregon State (7–1) npr Purdue (7–2) u West Virginia (7–3) d Texas Tech (6–1) u Mississippi State (9–0) т tu 1961 men Bowling Green Falcons Bowling Green (8–1) т npr Utah (10–2) d Santa Clara (11–1) т t 1961 men Temple Owls Temple (7–1) т npr Illinois (7–1) т tnpr St. John's (6–2) т d Providence NYU Seattle Washington Ohio State (11–0) Cincinnati (11–1) USC (11–2) u Kentucky (10–1) u Kansas State (10–2) d Villanova (12–1) Duquesne (9–1) u Duke (9–2) d Oregon State (9–1) u West Virginia (9–3) u Mississippi State (10–0) u Utah (11–2) u 1961 men Bradley Braves Bradley (8–2) npr Wichita (11–3) d Santa Clara (12–1) u Bowling Green (10–1) d Illinois (8–1) u Purdue (7–3) т td Temple (9–1) т d 1961 men Colorado State Rams Colorado State (8–3) npr Texas Tech St. John's Ohio State (12–0) Cincinnati (11–2) Kentucky (12–1) u Kansas State (12–2) u USC (12–3) d Duquesne (11–1) u Bradley (10–2) u Duke (11–2) u Villanova (13–2) d Oregon State (11–1) td Wichita (13–3) u West Virginia (11–3) d Mississippi State (11–1) d Bowling Green (12–1) u Utah (13–2) d 1961 men Stanford Indians Stanford (7–2) npr Purdue (10–3) u St. John's (9–3) npr Illinois (9–2) d Santa Clara (12–3) d Temple Colorado State Ohio State (13–0) Cincinnati (13–2) Kentucky (13–1) USC (12–3) u Kansas State (13–2) d Duquesne (12–2) Bradley (11–3) Villanova (14–2) u Duke (11–2) Oregon State (13–1) Wichita (14–4) Bowling Green (14–1) u Mississippi State (13–1) West Virginia (13–3) d Utah (15–2) Stanford (8–2) 1961 men Colorado Buffaloes Colorado (8–5) npr St. John's (10–3) Arizona State (13–3) npr Santa Clara (12–3) d Purdue Illinois Ohio State (14–0) Cincinnati (14–2) Kentucky (13–1) Kansas State (14–2) u USC (12–3) d Duke (12–2) u Duquesne (14–2) d Bradley (12–3) d Oregon State (14–1) u Villanova (15–2) d Bowling Green (16–1) u West Virginia (14–3) u Mississippi State (16–1) Utah (15–2) u Loyola-Chicago (21–2) npr Colorado (9–5) u Arizona State (13–3) т tu Wichita (14–5) т d Houston (14–3) т tnpr North Carolina (6–2) тSanta Clara (14–3) т npr Stanford St. John's Ohio State (16–0) Cincinnati (17–2) Kentucky (16–1) Kansas State (15–2) Duke (14–2) u Duquesne (16–2) u USC (12–4) d Bradley (14–3) Oregon State (16–1) Bowling Green (16–1) u Mississippi State (16–1) u Villanova (15–4) d Colorado (10–5) т tu Utah (16–3) т tu West Virginia (16–4) т d Arizona State (14–3) u Loyola-Chicago (14–2) d St. John's (13–4) npr Stanford (10–4) npr 1961 men Loyola Marymount Lions Loyola Marymount (14–3) тUCLA (10–7) т1961 men Utah State Aggies Utah State (15–4) т npr Wichita Houston North Carolina Santa Clara Ohio State (18–0) Cincinnati (19–2) Kentucky (17–1) Kansas State (17–2) Bradley (16–3) u Oregon State (17–1) u Duke (15–3) d Mississippi State (18–1) u Duquesne (16–3) d USC (13–5) d Villanova (16–5) u Bowling Green (16–2) т td St. John's (15–4) т u Utah (17–3) d UCLA (11–7) u Loyola-Chicago (15–2) u Arizona State (18–3) d Colorado (12–5) d West Virginia (18–4) d Washington (11–8) npr Stanford Loyola Marymount Utah State Ohio State (20–0) Cincinnati (21–2) Kentucky (17–2) Kansas State (18–2) Mississippi State (20–1) u Bradley (18–3) d Duke (17–4) Oregon State (17–3) d St. John's (15–4) u Bowling Green (18–2) т t Loyola-Chicago (16–2) т tu USC (14–6) т Colorado (14–5) u Duquesne (16–5) т td Utah (19–3) т West Virginia (19–5) u Utah State (18–4) npr UCLA (12–8) d Wake Forest (13–8) npr Arizona State (20–3) т1961 men NC State Wolfpack NC State (11–4) т d Villanova Washington Ohio State (21–0) Cincinnati (23–2) Kansas State (19–2) u Kentucky (19–2) d Mississippi State (22–1) Duke (19–4) Bradley (19–4) Bowling Green (20–2) Loyola-Chicago (18–2) u Colorado (15–5) Oregon State (18–4) d UCLA (14–8) u St. John's (16–4) d Duquesne (18–5) Utah (21–3) d Houston (21–5) т tnpr Wake Forest (15–8) т u Arizona State (21–3) u Villanova (17–6) npr West Virginia (21–5) тUSC (14–8) т d Utah State NC State Ohio State (22–1) Cincinnati (24–2) Kansas State (21–2) Kentucky (20–2) Mississippi State (24–1) Bradley (21–4) u Utah (22–3) u Wake Forest (18–8) d Loyola-Chicago (21–2) Bowling Green (21–3) d Duke (20–5) d UCLA (15–8) Oregon State (20–4) d West Virginia (24–5) u St. John's (17–4) d Wisconsin (18–6) npr Arizona State (22–3) u Villanova (18–6) u Colorado (16–5) d NYU (17–3) npr Duquesne Houston USC Ohio State (23–1) Cincinnati (24–2) Kentucky (22–2) u Mississippi State (24–1) u Kansas State (22–3) d Bradley (21–5) Wake Forest (18–8) u Colorado (18–5) u Bowling Green (21–3) u Utah (23–3) d Oregon State (22–4) u St. John's (19–4) u Duke (20–5) т td Loyola-Chicago (21–3) т d Arizona State (22–3) u West Virginia (24–5) d UCLA (16–9) d Duquesne (22–5) npr Utah State (21–5) npr Villanova (19–6) d Wisconsin (17–7) NYU (18–4) References Rankings Category:College men's basketball rankings in the United States