1950–51 NCAA men's basketball rankings

November 2025 August 2023 1950 image Kentucky The 1950–51 NCAA men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. This was the first season with both polls, as the Coaches Poll (UP) was introduced. 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final Dec. 18ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 600–601 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 Dec. 25 Jan. 3 Jan. 8 Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Mar. 6Chandler John Associated Press March 6, 1951 14 Kentucky Rated No. 1 in Final AP Poll https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-1950-1951ke/190734726/ Springfield Leader and Press The University of Kentucky Wildcats won No. 1 rating today as the nation's best college basketball team for 1951 in the final weekly Associated Press poll. Kentucky (5–0) 1950 men Bradley Braves Bradley (6–0) 1950 men NC State Wolfpack NC State (6–0) Indiana (4–0) Oklahoma A&M (5–0) 1950 men CCNY Beavers CCNY (4–1) 1950 men LIU Sharks Long Island (3–0) 1950 men Missouri Tigers Missouri (3–1) UCLA (4–1) 1950 men Toledo Rockets Toledo (7–0) Kansas (4–1) Washington (4–0) 1950 men St. John's Redmen St. John's (5–1) 1950 men Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame (4–0) 1950 men BYU Cougars BYU (5–1) 1950 men Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma (3–0) 1950 men Cincinnati Bearcats Cincinnati (3–0) 1950 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova (4–0) 1950 men Cornell Big Red Cornell (5–0) Kansas State (4–2) Kentucky (6–0) Bradley (9–0) Oklahoma A&M (9–0) u Long Island (6–0) u Indiana (6–0) d NC State (7–1) d Villanova (6–0) u 1950 men Columbia Lions Columbia (7–0) npr Missouri (4–1) d Kansas (5–1) u CCNY (6–2) d St. John's (7–2) u Toledo (8–1) d 1950 men Wyoming Cowboys Wyoming (9–0) npr Washington (6–0) d 1950 men La Salle Explorers La Salle (6–1) npr Cincinnati (5–0) Cornell (6–0) u 1950 men West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia (6–0) npr Illinois (5–1) npr UCLA (4–4) Notre Dame BYU (7–1) Oklahoma Kansas State (6–2) Bradley (13–0) u Oklahoma A&M (12–0) u Kentucky (7–1) d Long Island (8–0) 1950 men Saint Louis Billikens Saint Louis (9–2) npr Indiana (7–1) d NC State (11–1) d Villanova (8–0) d Kansas State (9–2) npr Wyoming (12–0) u St. John's (9–2) u Washington (7–0) u 1950 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (9–0) npr Columbia (7–0) d Cornell (9–0) u 1950 men Arizona Wildcats Arizona (8–2) npr Cincinnati (6–0) 1950 men Princeton Tigers Princeton (7–0) npr Toledo (9–1) d Kansas (7–2) d Missouri (5–3) CCNY (6–4) La Salle West Virginia Illinois (7–2) Bradley (15–0) Oklahoma A&M (13–0) Kentucky (9–1) Long Island (9–0) Saint Louis (11–2) Indiana (8–1) NC State (13–1) Columbia (8–0) u Kansas State (10–2) Wyoming (12–1) St. John's (10–2) Washington (9–0) 1950 men USC Trojans USC (10–1) npr Illinois (9–2) npr Duquesne (10–1) d Villanova (10–1) d Kansas (9–2) u Toledo (11–1) u La Salle (9–1) npr Princeton (8–0) d Cornell Arizona (9–2) Cincinnati (8–1) Oklahoma A&M (15–0) u Kentucky (10–1) u Bradley (16–2) d Long Island (11–0) St. John's (11–2) u Indiana (9–1) Columbia (10–0) u Saint Louis (12–3) d NC State (15–2) d Kansas State (11–2) d Villanova (12–1) u Toledo (12–2) u Wyoming (14–1) d Illinois (10–2) Washington (10–1) d Cincinnati (9–1) npr 1950 men St. Bonaventure Brown Indians St. Bonaventure (10–0) npr 1950 men Siena Saints Siena (13–1) npr USC (12–2) d Duquesne (11–1) d Kansas (10–2) La Salle Princeton Kentucky (13–1) u Long Island (15–0) u Oklahoma A&M (16–1) d Bradley (18–2) d Indiana (12–1) u St. John's (12–2) d Columbia (12–0) NC State (17–2) u Kansas State (12–2) u Saint Louis (13–4) d Villanova (13–1) USC (14–2) u Siena (13–1) u Arizona (13–2) npr Cincinnati (10–1) u Illinois (11–3) d La Salle (12–3) npr Oklahoma (9–5) npr BYU (14–4) npr Wyoming (15–4) d Toledo Washington St. Bonaventure Duquesne Kentucky (14–1) Oklahoma A&M (16–1) u Indiana (13–1) u Long Island (16–1) d Bradley (18–3) d Columbia (12–0) u Kansas State (13–2) u NC State (19–2) St. John's (13–2) d Saint Louis (14–4) Villanova (14–1) BYU (16–4) u USC (14–2) d Illinois (11–3) u Arizona (14–3) d Cincinnati (10–1) d Kansas (11–3) npr Oklahoma (9–6) UCLA (9–7) npr Toledo (14–3) npr Siena La Salle Wyoming Kentucky (18–1) Oklahoma A&M (19–1) Indiana (13–1) Kansas State (16–2) u Bradley (20–3) Columbia (12–0) St. John's (15–2) u Saint Louis (16–4) u Villanova (16–1) u NC State (19–4) d Cincinnati (11–1) u Long Island (16–4) d Arizona (16–3) u BYU (18–4) d USC (16–2) d Illinois (11–3) d 1950 men Louisville Cardinals Louisville (14–2) npr 1950 men Dayton Flyers Dayton (15–3) npr Siena (15–2) npr Kansas (11–5) d Oklahoma UCLA Toledo Kentucky (19–1) Oklahoma A&M (21–1) Kansas State (17–2) u Columbia (15–0) u Saint Louis (18–4) u Indiana (13–2) d St. John's (18–2) Bradley (21–4) d NC State (21–4) u Villanova (18–2) d Illinois (13–3) u BYU (20–4) u USC (18–2) u Louisville (17–2) u Cincinnati (12–2) d Arizona (18–3) d Dayton (18–4) u Beloit (14–3) npr Long Island (17–4) d 1950 men Seattle Chieftains Seattle (27–2) npr Siena Kansas Kentucky (22–1) Oklahoma A&M (23–1) Columbia (17–0) u Indiana (15–3) u Kansas State (17–3) d Saint Louis (19–5) d Bradley (24–4) u St. John's (19–3) d NC State (23–4) Illinois (16–3) u Arizona (21–4) u BYU (21–5) USC (19–3) Dayton (20–4) u Villanova (20–4) d Long Island (20–4) u Oklahoma (13–7) npr Cincinnati (13–2) d Washington (17–4) npr Beloit (15–3) d Louisville Seattle Kentucky (24–1) Oklahoma State (25–1) Columbia (19–0) Kansas State (18–3) u Bradley (26–4) u Illinois (17–3) u Indiana (16–3) d NC State (25–4) u St. John's (20–3) d Saint Louis (20–6) d BYU (23–5) u Arizona (22–4) d Toledo (20–6) npr Dayton (23–4) Villanova (22–4) Beloit (17–4) u UCLA (16–8) npr USC (20–4) d Washington (18–5) 1950 men Murray State Racers Murray State (21–6) npr Long Island Oklahoma Cincinnati Kentucky (27–2) Oklahoma A&M (26–3) Columbia (21–0) Kansas State (21–3) Illinois (19–3) u Bradley (28–4) d Indiana (19–3) NC State (28–4) St. John's (22–3) Saint Louis (21–7) BYU (24–7) Arizona (24–4) Dayton (23–4) u Toledo (23–6) d Washington (20–5) u Murray State (21–6) u Cincinnati (17–3) npr Siena (18–6) npr USC (21–5) d Villanova (23–5) d Beloit (18–5) UCLA (19–8) UP Poll December 2025 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final   Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Jan. 3 Jan. 9 Jan. 16 Jan. 23 Jan. 30 Feb. 6 Feb. 13 Feb. 20 Feb. 27 Mar. 6 Mar. 9Miller Norman United Press March 9, 1951 7 Kentucky Wildcats Rated No. 1 Cage Team in U.S. https://www.newspapers.com/article/alameda-times-star-1950-1951-kentucky-co/190735878/ Alameda Times Star The powerful Kentucky Wildcats were chosen the nation's No. 1 college basketball team for 1950–51 today by a margin of 36 points over Oklahoma A and M in the final ratings of the United Press Board of Coaches. 1950 men CCNY Beavers CCNY 1950 men Bradley Braves Bradley Kentucky 1950 men NC State Wolfpack NC State Kansas Oklahoma A&M 1950 men LIU Sharks Long Island 1950 men Iowa Hawkeyes Iowa 1950 men St. John's Redmen St. John's Indiana UCLA Kansas State 1950 men Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas т t 1950 men Syracuse Orangemen Syracuse т t 1950 men Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Western Kentucky т Washington 1950 men DePaul Blue Demons DePaul т t Illinois т 1950 men Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State 1950 men BYU Cougars BYU Kentucky (2–0) u Bradley (4–0) NC State (4–0) u Kansas (3–0) u Oklahoma A&M (3–0) u CCNY (3–1) d Long Island (2–0) St. John's (4–0) u Kansas State (3–1) u Indiana (2–0) 1950 men Missouri Tigers Missouri (2–1) npr BYU (5–1) u Washington (2–0) u UCLA (2–1) т td 1950 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota (2–1) т npr Syracuse (3–1) d DePaul (3–2) Iowa (1–2) d 1950 men Saint Louis Billikens Saint Louis (4–0) npr Illinois (2–1) т1950 men Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross (1–0) т d Arkansas Western Kentucky Ohio State Kentucky (5–0) Bradley (6–0) NC State (6–0) Oklahoma A&M (5–0) u Indiana (4–0) u CCNY (4–1) Long Island (3–0) St. John's (5–1) Missouri (3–1) u Kansas (4–1) d Washington (4–0) u 1950 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne (5–0) npr Saint Louis (6–0) u 1950 men Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma (3–0) npr BYU (5–1) d UCLA (4–1) т td 1950 men Toledo Rockets Toledo (7–0) т npr 1950 men Cincinnati Bearcats Cincinnati (3–0) npr Kansas State (4–2) d Illinois (3–1) d Minnesota Syracuse DePaul Iowa Holy Cross Kentucky (6–0) Bradley (9–0) Oklahoma A&M (9–0) u Long Island (6–0) u Indiana (6–0) NC State (7–1) d Missouri (4–1) u St. John's (7–2) CCNY (6–2) d Kansas (5–1) Washington (6–0) 1950 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova (6–0) npr BYU (7–1) u 1950 men Wyoming Cowboys Wyoming (9–0) npr Kansas State (6–2) u Duquesne (6–0) d Cincinnati (5–0) u Toledo (8–1) d Saint Louis (7–1) d 1950 men La Salle Explorers La Salle (6–1) npr UCLA (4–4) Oklahoma Illinois (5–1) Bradley (13–0) u Kentucky (7–1) d Oklahoma A&M (12–0) Long Island (8–0) Indiana (7–1) NC State (11–1) Saint Louis (9–2) u Kansas State (9–2) u St. John's (9–2) d Wyoming (12–0) u Villanova (8–0) т tu Washington (7–0) т Cincinnati (6–0) u 1950 men Columbia Lions Columbia (7–0) npr Kansas (7–2) d CCNY (6–4) d Oklahoma (4–3) npr 1950 men Arizona Wildcats Arizona (8–2) npr Duquesne (9–0) т td Missouri (5–3) т d BYU Toledo (9–1) La Salle Bradley (15–0) Oklahoma A&M (13–0) u Kentucky (9–1) d Long Island (9–0) Indiana (8–1) Saint Louis (11–2) u NC State (13–1) d Kansas State (10–2) Columbia (8–0) u St. John's (10–2) d Wyoming (12–1) d Washington (9–0) d Villanova (10–1) d Kansas (9–2) u Duquesne (10–1) u La Salle (9–1) т tnpr Arizona (9–2) т u Cincinnati (8–1) т d 1950 men USC Trojans USC (10–1) т tnpr Iowa (6–2) т npr CCNY Oklahoma Missouri Oklahoma A&M (15–0) u Kentucky (10–1) u Long Island (11–0) u Bradley (16–2) d Indiana (9–1) St. John's (11–2) u Kansas State (11–2) u Saint Louis (12–3) d NC State (15–2) d Columbia (10–0) d Villanova (12–1) т tu Illinois (10–2) т npr Wyoming (14–1) d Cincinnati (9–1) u Kansas (10–2) d Washington (10–1) d USC (12–2) u Duquesne (11–1) d Arizona (12–2) т td BYU (12–4) т npr La Salle Iowa Kentucky (13–1) u Long Island (15–0) u Oklahoma A&M (16–1) d Indiana (12–1) u Bradley (18–2) d St. John's (12–2) Kansas State (12–2) Columbia (12–0) u NC State (17–2) Saint Louis (13–4) d BYU (14–4) u Illinois (11–3) d Cincinnati (10–1) u Villanova (13–1) d USC (14–2) u Arizona (13–2) u 1950 men NYU Violets NYU (6–2) npr Wyoming (15–4) d Kansas (10–3) т td Washington State (13–8) т npr Washington Duquesne Kentucky (14–1) Oklahoma A&M (16–1) u Long Island (16–1) d Indiana (13–1) Kansas State (13–2) u Bradley (18–3) d St. John's (13–2) d Columbia (12–0) NC State (19–2) Saint Louis (14–4) BYU (16–4) Villanova (14–1) u USC (14–2) u Illinois (11–3) т td Cincinnati (10–1) т d Kansas (11–3) u Washington State (14–8) u UCLA (9–7) npr NYU (7–2) d Arizona (14–3) d Wyoming Kentucky (18–1) Oklahoma A&M (19–1) Indiana (13–1) u Kansas State (16–2) u Bradley (20–3) u Columbia (12–0) u St. John's (15–2) Saint Louis (16–4) u BYU (18–4) u NC State (19–4) d USC (16–2) u Villanova (16–1) Illinois (11–3) u Long Island (16–4) d Cincinnati (11–1) d Washington (13–4) npr Kansas (11–5) d Arizona (16–3) u NYU (9–2) Holy Cross (12–3) т1950 men Texas A&M Aggies Texas A&M (10–7) тWashington State (15–9) т npr UCLA Kentucky (19–1) Oklahoma A&M (21–1) Kansas State (17–2) u Columbia (15–0) u Indiana (13–2) d St. John's (18–2) u Saint Louis (18–4) u BYU (20–4) u Bradley (21–4) d NC State (21–4) USC (18–2) Illinois (13–3) u Villanova (18–2) d Cincinnati (12–2) u Long Island (17–4) d Washington (15–4) Arizona (18–3) u NYU (10–3) u Kansas (10–3) d Oklahoma (11–7) npr Holy Cross Texas A&M Washington State Kentucky (22–1) Oklahoma A&M (23–1) Indiana (15–3) u Columbia (17–0) u Kansas State (17–3) d Saint Louis (19–5) u Bradley (24–4) u NC State (23–4) u St. John's (19–3) d BYU (21–5) d Illinois (16–3) u Long Island (20–4) u USC (19–3) d Washington (17–4) u Cincinnati (13–2) d 1950 men Oregon Webfoots Oregon (16–11) npr Villanova (20–4) d Arizona (21–4) d Oklahoma (13–7) u Beloit (15–3) npr NYU Kansas Kentucky (24–1) Oklahoma State (25–1) Kansas State (18–3) u Columbia (19–0) Illinois (17–3) u Indiana (16–3) d St. John's (20–3) u Bradley (26–4) d NC State (25–4) d BYU (23–5) Saint Louis (20–6) d USC (20–4) u Arizona (22–4) т tu Washington (18–5) т u Villanova (22–4) u Oregon (17–12) Beloit (17–4) u Cincinnati (14–3) d 1950 men St. Bonaventure Brown Indians St. Bonaventure (17–4) npr Oklahoma Oklahoma A&M (26–3) u Kentucky (27–2) d Kansas State (21–3) Illinois (19–3) u Columbia (21–0) d NC State (28–4) u Bradley (28–4) u Indiana (19–3) d St. John's (22–3) d BYU (24–7) Saint Louis (21–7) Washington (20–5) u Arizona (24–4) Beloit (18–5) u USC (21–5) d 1950 men Vanderbilt Commodores Vanderbilt (19–8) npr 1950 men Siena Saints Siena (18–6) т tnpr Villanova (23–5) т d 1950 men Dayton Flyers Dayton (23–4) т tnpr St. Bonaventure (18–5) т Oregon Cincinnati (17–3) References Rankings Category:College men's basketball rankings in the United States