1954–55 NCAA men's basketball rankings

November 2025 August 2023 1954 image La Salle San Francisco The 1954–55 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final Dec. 7ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 643–644 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 Dec. 14 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 Mar. 1 Mar. 8 La Salle (2–0) 1954 men Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky (1–0) 1954 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (1–0) Iowa (2–0) 1954 men Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross (1–0) Indiana (0–0) 1954 men Dayton Flyers Dayton (2–0) 1954 men Niagara Purple Eagles Niagara (3–0) 1954 men Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame (1–0) 1954 men NC State Wolfpack NC State (2–0) 1954 men Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma A&M (2–0) 1954 men Saint Louis Billikens Saint Louis (1–0) UCLA (1–0) Illinois (2–0) 1954 men Wichita Shockers Wichita (0–0) 1954 men Utah Utes Utah (2–0) Duke (1–0) т t 1954 men Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake Forest (2–0) т 1954 men Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State (1–0) 1954 men Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Western Kentucky (1–1) La Salle (4–0) Kentucky (2–0) Illinois (3–0) u NC State (3–0) u Dayton (4–0) u 1954 men Missouri Tigers Missouri (3–1) npr Indiana (2–2) d UCLA (3–0) u Duquesne (2–1) d Niagara (3–1) d 1954 men George Washington Colonials George Washington (3–0) npr 1954 men Louisville Cardinals Louisville (6–0) npr Iowa (4–1) d 1954 men Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State (3–0) npr Utah (6–0) u 1954 men St. John's Redmen St. John's (3–0) npr Wake Forest (4–1) Wichita (2–0) d Holy Cross (2–1) d Notre Dame (3–1) d Oklahoma A&M (3–1) Saint Louis (2–1) Duke (2–1) Penn State Western Kentucky Kentucky (3–0) u Utah (7–0) u Illinois (5–0) La Salle (5–1) d NC State (8–0) d Dayton (6–0) d Missouri (4–1) d George Washington (4–1) u Duquesne (4–1) Niagara (6–1) Ohio State (4–0) u 1954 men West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia (4–1) npr 1954 men USC Trojans USC (5–1) npr Louisville (7–1) d Wichita (3–0) u 1954 men Penn Quakers Penn (6–0) npr San Francisco (4–1) npr UCLA (5–1) d 1954 men Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama (4–1) npr Iowa (5–2) тKansas (4–0) т d Indiana (2–3) St. John's Wake Forest Holy Cross (4–1) Notre Dame Kentucky (5–0) NC State (10–0) u La Salle (6–2) u Dayton (7–0) u San Francisco (7–1) u Illinois (6–1) d Utah (7–2) d Duquesne (4–1) u George Washington (5–2) d Niagara (6–1) Missouri (4–2) d Alabama (5–1) u Louisville (8–1) u USC (6–3) d UCLA (6–1) u Kansas (4–0) u Penn (6–0) d Duke (5–1) npr Iowa (5–2) u Ohio State (4–2) d West Virginia Wichita Kentucky (7–0) (89) Duquesne (8–1) (14) u NC State (12–1) (3) d La Salle (9–3) (2) d San Francisco (8–1) (4) George Washington (8–2) u UCLA (1) (9–2) u Utah (7–2) d Missouri (7–2) (2) u Dayton (8–2) d 1954 men Maryland Terrapins Maryland (7–2) npr Illinois (6–2) d Minnesota (5–4) d Iowa (6–2) u Niagara (7–3) d Louisville (1) (10–2) d Duke (6–3) u 1954 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova (5–2) npr Penn (6–1) d Alabama (5–4) тNotre Dame (7–2) т1954 men Seton Hall Pirates Seton Hall (8–1) т d USC Kansas Ohio State Kentucky (7–1) (52) NC State (13–1) (22) u Duquesne (9–2) d La Salle (10–3) San Francisco (9–1) Missouri (9–2) u Illinois (7–2) u George Washington (9–3) d Utah (9–2) d UCLA (10–3) d Maryland (10–2) Dayton (8–3) d 1954 men Richmond Spiders Richmond (8–3) npr Minnesota (7–4) d Niagara (8–3) Alabama (9–2) u 1954 men Purdue Boilermakers Purdue (8–1) npr USC (9–4) npr Iowa (7–3) d Auburn (6–0) тLouisville (11–3) т npr Duke Villanova Penn Notre Dame Seton Hall Kentucky (9–1) NC State (15–2) San Francisco (12–1) u La Salle (12–3) Duquesne (10–3) d Maryland (12–2) u Illinois (9–2) Missouri (10–2) d George Washington (11–3) d UCLA (11–2) Utah (11–3) d Alabama (11–2) u Richmond (12–3) Minnesota (8–4) 1954 men Marquette Warriors Marquette (13–1) npr Holy Cross (10–2) npr 1954 men Vanderbilt Commodores Vanderbilt (8–1) npr Dayton (11–3) d Iowa (8–3) Niagara (11–3) т1954 men TCU Horned Frogs TCU (11–3) т d Purdue USC Auburn Louisville Kentucky (12–1) San Francisco (12–1) NC State (16–3) d Duquesne (11–3) u La Salle (13–4) d George Washington (13–3) u Utah (13–2) u Maryland (13–3) d UCLA (11–3) u Illinois (9–3) d Marquette (13–1) u Missouri (10–3) d Holy Cross (11–2) u Alabama (11–2) d Dayton (13–3) u 1954 men Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern (8–4) npr Richmond (12–3) d Vanderbilt (10–2) d Iowa (9–4) Niagara (12–3) Minnesota (8–5) TCU Kentucky (12–1) San Francisco (14–1) La Salle (14–4) Duquesne (11–3) Utah (14–2) u NC State (16–4) d George Washington (13–3) d UCLA (13–3) u Marquette (15–1) u Illinois (10–3) Minnesota (10–5) npr Maryland (13–3) d Alabama (12–2) u Holy Cross (11–2) d Dayton (14–3) Niagara (13–3) u Missouri (10–3) d Villanova (11–4) npr 1954 men Oregon State Beavers Oregon State (12–6) npr Vanderbilt (10–3) d Northwestern Richmond Iowa San Francisco (16–1) u Kentucky (14–2) d La Salle (16–4) Duquesne (12–3) Utah (17–2) George Washington (15–3) u NC State (18–4) d UCLA (15–3) Marquette (16–1) Illinois (11–3) Maryland (14–3) u Minnesota (11–5) d Alabama (13–3) Missouri (12–3) u Iowa (11–4) npr Dayton (16–3) d 1954 men Cincinnati Bearcats Cincinnati (17–3) npr Oregon State (14–6) u Villanova (12–4) d Vanderbilt (11–3) Holy Cross Niagara (15–3) San Francisco (18–1) Kentucky (16–2) La Salle (18–4) Duquesne (15–3) George Washington (18–3) u Marquette (18–1) u NC State (21–4) Minnesota (12–5) u UCLA (16–3) d Utah (18–3) d Maryland (15–4) Cincinnati (19–3) u Dayton (18–3) u Illinois (12–4) d Iowa (12–4) Oregon State (14–6) u Alabama (14–4) d 1954 men Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee (13–3) npr 1954 men Tulsa Golden Hurricane Tulsa (12–6) npr Vanderbilt (13–4) Missouri (12–4) Villanova San Francisco (20–1) Kentucky (18–2) La Salle (20–4) Duquesne (17–3) Marquette (20–1) u NC State (23–4) u Minnesota (14–5) u Utah (19–3) u UCLA (19–3) George Washington (19–4) d Dayton (20–3) u Alabama (16–4) u Illinois (14–4) u Vanderbilt (14–5) u 1954 men Memphis State Tigers Memphis State (17–3) npr Iowa (14–4) d Cincinnati (19–5) d Maryland (16–5) d Tulsa (17–6) Missouri (15–3) npr Oregon State (17–7) Tennessee San Francisco (21–1) Kentucky (20–2) La Salle (22–4) Marquette (22–1) u NC State (25–4) u Minnesota (15–6) u Utah (21–3) u Duquesne (19–4) d UCLA (21–4) Dayton (22–3) u Alabama (18–4) u Iowa (14–4) u George Washington (21–5) d Oregon State (19–7) npr Tulsa (14–6) u Vanderbilt (15–6) d Illinois (15–5) d Maryland (17–6) d Memphis State (18–3) d Missouri (15–4) Cincinnati (19–6) San Francisco (23–1) Kentucky (22–2) La Salle (22–4) NC State (28–4) u Iowa (17–4) u Duquesne (19–4) u Utah (23–3) Marquette (22–2) d Dayton (23–3) u Oregon State (21–7) u Minnesota (15–7) d Alabama (19–5) d UCLA (21–5) d George Washington (24–6) d Colorado (16–5) npr Tulsa (20–6) d Vanderbilt (16–6) d Illinois (17–5) d West Virginia (19–10) npr Saint Louis (19–7) npr Maryland (17–7) Memphis State (18–4) Missouri (15–5) UP Poll 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final Dec. 7 Dec. 14 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 Mar. 1 Mar. 8 La Salle (2–0) Iowa (2–0) 1954 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (1–0) 1954 men Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky (1–0) Indiana (0–0) Illinois (2–0) 1954 men NC State Wolfpack NC State (2–0) 1954 men Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross (1–0) UCLA (1–0) 1954 men Niagara Purple Eagles Niagara (3–0) 1954 men Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame (1–0) 1954 men Dayton Flyers Dayton (2–0) 1954 men Saint Louis Billikens Saint Louis (1–0) т t 1954 men Utah Utes Utah (2–0) т 1954 men USC Trojans USC (1–0) 1954 men DePaul Blue Demons DePaul (2–0) 1954 men Oklahoma A&M Aggies Oklahoma A&M (2–0) т t 1954 men Oregon State Beavers Oregon State (2–1) т 1954 men Cincinnati Bearcats Cincinnati (2–0) 1954 men Wichita Shockers Wichita (0–0) La Salle (4–0) Kentucky (2–0) u Illinois (3–0) u NC State (3–0) u Indiana (2–2) UCLA (3–0) u Duquesne (2–1) d Utah (6–0) u 1954 men Missouri Tigers Missouri (3–1) npr Niagara (3–1) т t Iowa (4–1) т d Dayton (4–0) 1954 men Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State (3–0) npr USC (3–1) u Notre Dame (3–1) d Holy Cross (2–1) d Saint Louis (2–1) d Oklahoma A&M (3–1) d 1954 men George Washington Colonials George Washington (3–0) т tnpr Cincinnati (4–0) т DePaul Oregon State Wichita (2–0) Illinois (5–0) u Utah (7–0) u Kentucky (3–0) d La Salle (5–1) d NC State (8–0) d Dayton (6–0) u Ohio State (4–0) u Missouri (4–1) u Niagara (6–1) u Duquesne (4–1) d UCLA (5–1) d USC (5–1) u Cincinnati (6–1) u Iowa (5–2) d 1954 men Wyoming Cowboys Wyoming (5–2) npr Kansas (4–0) npr 1954 men Louisville Cardinals Louisville (7–1) npr Holy Cross (4–1) d Wichita (3–0) т tnpr 1954 men Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama (4–1) т npr Indiana (2–3) Notre Dame Saint Louis Oklahoma A&M George Washington (4–1) Kentucky (5–0) u NC State (10–0) u La Salle (6–2) u Illinois (6–1) d Dayton (7–0) u San Francisco (7–1) npr Utah (7–2) d Duquesne (4–1) u UCLA (6–1) u Missouri (4–2) d Niagara (6–1) d USC (6–3) Cincinnati (7–1) Kansas (4–0) u 1954 men California Golden Bears California (7–1) npr Alabama (5–1) u 1954 men Seton Hall Pirates Seton Hall (7–0) npr Holy Cross (5–1) Iowa (5–2) d 1954 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota (4–2) npr Ohio State Wyoming Louisville Wichita Kentucky (7–0) Duquesne (8–1) u NC State (12–1) d La Salle (9–3) d San Francisco (8–1) u Missouri (7–2) u Utah (7–2) Illinois (6–2) d UCLA (9–2) Minnesota (5–4) u Dayton (8–2) d Niagara (7–3) d George Washington (8–2) npr 1954 men Maryland Terrapins Maryland (7–2) т tnpr Iowa (6–2) т u Notre Dame (5–4) npr Cincinnati (9–2) т td Holy Cross (6–2) т Wisconsin (5–4) npr Alabama (7–2) d USC Kansas California Seton Hall (8–1) Kentucky (7–1) Duquesne (9–2) La Salle (10–3) u NC State (13–1) d San Francisco (9–1) Illinois (7–2) u Utah (9–2) Missouri (9–2) d UCLA (10–3) Minnesota (7–4) Dayton (8–3) USC (9–4) npr Niagara (8–3) d Maryland (10–2) т t 1954 men Purdue Boilermakers Purdue (8–1) т npr Wichita (9–1) npr Iowa (7–3) т td 1954 men Xavier Musketeers Xavier (7–3) т npr George Washington (9–3) т td Louisville (11–3) т npr Notre Dame Cincinnati Holy Cross Wisconsin Alabama (9–2) Kentucky (9–1) La Salle (12–3) u Illinois (9–2) u San Francisco (12–1) u NC State (15–2) d Duquesne (10–3) d Utah (11–2) Missouri (10–2) Minnesota (8–4) u UCLA (11–3) d Maryland (12–2) u Iowa (8–3) u Holy Cross (10–2) npr 1954 men Marquette Warriors Marquette (13–1) npr Dayton (11–3) d Niagara (11–3) d Cincinnati (11–3) npr George Washington (11–3) u 1954 men TCU Horned Frogs TCU (13–1) т tnpr Oregon State (8–6) тSaint Louis (8–5) т npr USC Purdue Wichita Xavier Louisville Kentucky (11–1) NC State (16–3) u San Francisco (12–1) u Utah (13–2) u Duquesne (11–3) u La Salle (13–4) d UCLA (11–3) u George Washington (13–3) u Illinois (9–3) т td 1954 men Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern (8–4) т npr Missouri (10–3) d Maryland (13–3) d Marquette (13–1) u Holy Cross (11–2) т td Niagara (12–3) т tu Minnesota (8–5) т d Dayton (13–3) d Stanford (10–3) npr Oregon State (10–6) Saint Louis (9–5) d Iowa (9–4) Cincinnati TCU Kentucky (12–1) San Francisco (14–1) u Utah (14–2) u La Salle (14–4) u Duquesne (11–3) NC State (16–4) d UCLA (13–3) George Washington (13–3) Minnesota (10–5) u Marquette (15–1) u Illinois (10–3) d Missouri (10–3) d Niagara (13–3) u Maryland (13–3) d Holy Cross (11–2) т td Oregon State (12–6) т u Dayton (14–3) т t 1954 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova (11–4) т npr Saint Louis (10–5) u Cincinnati (15–3) npr Northwestern Stanford San Francisco (16–1) u Kentucky (14–2) d La Salle (16–4) u Utah (17–2) d Duquesne (12–3) NC State (18–4) UCLA (15–3) George Washington (15–3) Minnesota (11–5) Illinois (11–3) u Marquette (16–1) d Iowa (11–4) npr Missouri (12–3) d Dayton (16–3) u Oregon State (14–6) Villanova (12–4) u Cincinnati (17–3) u Maryland (14–3) т td Niagara (15–3) т d Stanford (14–4) npr Holy Cross Saint Louis San Francisco (18–1) Kentucky (16–2) La Salle (18–4) Duquesne (15–3) u Utah (18–3) d UCLA (16–3) u NC State (21–4) d Minnesota (12–5) u George Washington (18–3) d Marquette (18–1) u Illinois (12–4) d Missouri (12–4) u Iowa (12–4) d Oregon State (14–6) u Dayton (18–3) d Cincinnati (19–3) u Maryland (15–4) u Holy Cross (14–4) т tnpr Saint Louis (13–6) т npr Colorado (11–5) npr Villanova Niagara Stanford San Francisco (20–1) Kentucky (18–2) La Salle (20–4) Minnesota (14–5) u Duquesne (17–3) d UCLA (19–3) NC State (23–4) Utah (19–3) d Marquette (20–1) u George Washington (19–4) d Illinois (14–4) Iowa (14–4) u Dayton (20–3) u Oregon State (17–7) Missouri (15–3) d Saint Louis (16–6) u TCU (17–5) npr Colorado (12–5) т tu Wyoming (16–7) т npr Niagara (18–5) npr Cincinnati Maryland Holy Cross San Francisco (21–1) Kentucky (20–2) La Salle (22–4) NC State (25–4) т tu Minnesota (15–6) т Utah (21–3) u UCLA (21–4) d Marquette (22–1) u Duquesne (19–4) d Iowa (14–4) u Dayton (22–3) u Oregon State (19–7) u Missouri (15–4) u George Washington (21–5) d Colorado (14–5) u Illinois (15–5) d Tulsa (14–6) npr Niagara (19–5) u Alabama (18–4) npr Cincinnati (19–6) тHoly Cross (19–6) тLouisville (19–7) тVillanova (16–8) т npr Saint Louis TCU Wyoming San Francisco (23–1) Kentucky (22–2) La Salle (22–4) Utah (23–3) u Iowa (17–4) u NC State (28–4) d Duquesne (19–4) u Oregon State (21–7) u Marquette (22–2) d Dayton (23–3) u Colorado (16–5) u UCLA (21–5) d Minnesota (15–7) d Tulsa (20–6) u George Washington (24–6) d Illinois (17–5) Niagara (20–5) u Saint Louis (19–7) npr Holy Cross (19–6) u Cincinnati (19–7)SMU (15–8) Missouri (15–6) Alabama Louisville (19–8) Villanova (16–9) References Rankings Category:College men's basketball rankings in the United States