25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25

In order to satisfy my epistemic curiosity and to augment your knowledge database, I have compiled a considerable amount of historical information for those of you interested in such things.  It follows a logical sequence: (1) Raw Data, (2) Compilations and Analyses, and (3) Observations. If scanning hundreds of lines of numbers does NOT interest you, please give this thread a miss. Note that each season, the AP voting for their penultimate Top 25 Poll is prior to the NCAA Tournament, while voting for the Final Top 25 Poll is after the NCAA Tournament's completion, thus reflecting the newly-crowned National Champion and the results of various upsets during the course of the Tournament.

Marquette Golden Eagles – Wikipedia • Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball – Wikipedia

Independent • 1916–17 to 1988–89
Midwestern Collegiate • 1989–90 to 1990–91
Great Midwest • 1991–92 to 1994–95
Conference USA • 1995–96 to 2004–05
Big East • 2005–06 to Present

=========================================================================     
   
25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25: PART 1: RAW DATA

2001 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  7. Boston College • Big East      
17. Syracuse • Big East      
21. Georgetown • Big East

2002 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

10. Connecticut • Big East         
12.  Marquette • CUSA         
22. Xavier • Atlantic 10

2003 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  9. Marquette • CUSA              
12. Xavier • Atlantic 10            
13. Syracuse • Big East      
15. Creighton • MVC         
16. Dayton • Atlantic 10

2004 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  7. Connecticut • Big East      
20. Syracuse • Big East      
21. Providence • Big East         
25. Boston College • Big East

2005 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

11. Syracuse • Big East         
13. Connecticut • Big East      
14. Boston College • Big East      
19. Villanova • Big East

2006 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  2. Connecticut • Big East      
  3. Villanova • Big East         
21. Syracuse • Big East            
23. Georgetown • Big East

2007 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  8. Georgetown • Big East      
20. Marquette • Big East            
21. Butler • Horizon

2008 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  8. Georgetown • Big East      
11. Butler • Horizon         
12. Xavier • Atlantic 10            
16. Connecticut • Big East      
25. Marquette • Big East

2009 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  5. Connecticut • Big East
11. Villanova • Big East
13. Syracuse • Big East
20. Xavier • Atlantic 10   
22. Butler • Horizon   
23. Marquette • Big East

2010 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  4. Syracuse • Big East
  6. West Virginia • Big East
  9. Villanova • Big East
11. Butler • Horizon
14. Georgetown • Big East 
18. Pittsburgh • Big East
25. Xavier • Atlantic 10

2011 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  4. Pittsburgh • Big East    
  5. Notre Dame • Big East     
  9. Connecticut • Big East    
12. Syracuse • Big East       
14. Louisville • Big East    
18. St. John's • Big East    
20. Xavier • Atlantic 10

2012 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  2. Syracuse • Big East    
11. Marquette • Big East    
15. Georgetown • Big East       
17. Louisville • Big East    
19. Creighton • Missouri Valley

2013 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

  2. Louisville • Big East    
  8. Georgetown    • Big East    
13. Saint Louis • Atlantic 10   
15. Marquette • Big East    
16. Syracuse • Big East    
22. Creighton • Missouri Valley   
23. Notre Dame • Big East

Old Big East Conference 1979–2013 – Wikipedia • New Big East Conference 2014–Present – Wikipedia

2014 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Villanova • Big East
16. Creighton • Big East      
18. Connecticut • American   
24. VCU • Atlantic 10
25. Saint Louis • Atlantic 10

2015 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

2. Villanova • Big East
22. Georgetown • Big East
24.  Butler • Big East
25. VCU • Atlantic 10

2016 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Villanova • Big East
 9. Xavier • Big East
20. Seton Hall • Big East

2017 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

1. Villanova • Big East
21. Butler • Big East

2018 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

2. Villanova • Big East
 3. Xavier • Big East

2019 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

23. Villanova • Big East

2020 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

3. Dayton • Atlantic 10
7. Creighton • Big East
10. Villanova • Big East
15. Seton Hall • Big East
23. Butler • Big East

2021 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

18. Villanova • Big East
19. Creighton • Big East

2022 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Villanova • Big East
13. Providence • Big East
21. Connecticut • Big East

2023 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Marquette • Big East
10. Connecticut • Big East
13. Xavier • Big East

2024 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

1. Connecticut • Big East
11. Marquette • Big East
13. Creighton • Big East
24. Dayton • Atlantic 10

2025 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

11. St. John's • Big East

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25: PART 2: COMPILATIONS AND ANALYSES
   
2.1 Compilation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams by Conference
2.2 Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other
2.3 Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages
2.4 Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances
2.5 Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final Poll Ranking
2.6 Analysis No. 2 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2001-2013
2.7 Analysis No. 3 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2014-2025
2.8 Analysis No. 4 – Top 25 Teams that Fared the Same
2.9 Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools 

2.1 Compilation No. 1 – Top 25 teams by Conference

2001 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 4   
Big Ten • 5    
Pac-10 • 3
Big East • 3
Other • 2

2002 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 2
SEC • 5
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 2
Pac-10 • 4
Big East • 1
Other • 8

2003 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 4
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 2
Pac-10 • 2
Big East • 2
Other • 8

2004 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 6
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 2
Pac-10 • 2
Big East • 4
Other • 6

2005 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 4
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 3
Pac-10 • 2
Big East • 3
Other • 6

2006 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 3
Pac-10 • 2
Big East • 3
Other • 8

 2007 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 2
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 2
Pac-10 • 4
Big East • 1
Other • 11

 2008 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 2
Big Ten • 3
Pac-10 • 3
Big East • 2
Other • 10

2009 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 1
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 2
Pac-10 • 3
Big East • 2
Other • 9

2010 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 2
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 4
Pac-10 • 0
Big East • 5
Other • 7

2011 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 2
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 3
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 7
Other • 4

2012 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 3
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 5
Pac-10 • 0
Big East • 4
Other • 7

2013 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 2
SEC • 1
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 5
Pac-12 • 3
Big East • 6
Other • 5

Old Big East Conference 1979–2013 – Wikipedia • New Big East Conference 2014–Present – Wikipedia

2014 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 4
SEC • 1
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 4
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 2
Other • 8

2015 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 5
Big Ten • 3
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 3
Other • 5

2016 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 5
Big Ten • 5
Pac-12 • 4
Big East • 3
Other • 1

2017 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 6
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 3
Pac-12 • 3
Big East • 2
Other • 5

2018 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 4
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 4
Pac-12 • 1
Big East • 2
Other • 6

2019 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 5
SEC • 4
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 4
Pac-12 • 0
Big East • 1
Other • 7

2020 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 4
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 3
Big Ten • 6
Pac-12 • 1
Big East • 4
Other • 5

 2021 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 2
Big 12 • 6
Big Ten • 5
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 2
Other • 5

2022 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 1
SEC • 4
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 4
Pac-12 • 3
Big East • 3
Other • 6

2023 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 3
SEC • 4
Big 12 • 5
Big Ten • 2
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 3
Other • 6

2024 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

ACC • 4
SEC • 5
Big 12 • 4
Big Ten • 2
Pac-12 • 2
Big East • 3
Other • 5

2025 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - Conference Breakdown

SEC • 8
Big 12 • 5
Big Ten • 5
ACC • 3
Pac-12 • 0
Big East • 1
Other • 3

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25: PART 2: COMPILATIONS AND ANALYSES
   
2.1 Compilation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams by Conference
2.2 Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other
2.3 Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages
2.4 Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances
2.5 Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final Poll Ranking
2.6 Analysis No. 2 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2001-2013
2.7 Analysis No. 3 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2014-2025
2.8 Analysis No. 4 – Top 25 Teams that Fared the Same
2.9 Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools 


2.2 Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other

2001: 'Big School' Conferences 20 • Big East 3 • Other 2
2002: 'Big School' Conferences 16 • Big East 1 • Other 8
2003: 'Big School' Conferences 15 • Big East 2 • Other 8
2004: 'Big School' Conferences 15 • Big East 4 • Other 6
2005: 'Big School' Conferences 16 • Big East 3 • Other 6
2006: 'Big School' Conferences 14 • Big East 3 • Other 8
2007: 'Big School' Conferences 13 • Big East 1 • Other 11
2008: 'Big School' Conferences 13 • Big East 2 • Other 10
2009: 'Big School' Conferences 14 • Big East 2 • Other 9
2010: 'Big School' Conferences 13 • Big East 5 • Other 7
2011: 'Big School' Conferences 14 • Big East 7 • Other 4
2012: 'Big School' Conferences 14 • Big East 4 • Other 7
2013: 'Big School' Conferences 14 • Big East 6 • Other 5

2014: 'Big School' Conferences 15 • Big East 2 • Other 8
2015: 'Big School' Conferences 17 • Big East 3 • Other 5
2016: 'Big School' Conferences 21 • Big East 3 • Other 1
2017: 'Big School' Conferences 18 • Big East 2 • Other 5
2018: 'Big School' Conferences 17 • Big East 2 • Other 6
2019: 'Big School' Conferences 17 • Big East 1 • Other 7
2020: 'Big School' Conferences 16 • Big East 4 • Other 5   
2021: 'Big School' Conferences 18 • Big East 2 • Other 5
2022: 'Big School' Conferences 16 • Big East 3 • Other 6
2023: 'Big School' Conferences 16 • Big East 3 • Other 6
2024: 'Big School' Conferences 17 • Big East 3 • Other 5
2025: 'Big School' Conferences 21 • Big East 1 • Other 3

2.3 Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages

13-Year Subtotals 2001-2013: 'Big School' Conferences 191 • Big East 43 • Other 91
13-Year Averages 2001-2013: 'Big School' Conferences  14.7 • Big East 3.3 • Other 7.0

12-Year Subtotals 2014-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 209 • Big East 29 • Other 62
12-Year Averages 2014-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 17.4 • Big East 2.4 • Other 5.2

25-Year Totals 2001-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 400 • Big East 72 • Other 153
25-Year Averages 2001-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 16.0 • Big East 2.9 • Other 6.1

Summary of Average Number of Top 25 Teams Per Season:

13-Year Averages 2001-2013: 'Big School' Conferences  14.7 • Big East 3.3 • Other 7.0
12-Year Averages 2014-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 17.4 • Big East 2.4 • Other 5.2
25-Year Averages 2001-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 16.0 • Big East 2.9 • Other 6.1


2.4 Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances

13 • (4 + 9) • Villanova • #19 (2005), #3 (2006), #11 (2009), #9 (2010)  •  #6 (2014), #2 (2015), #6 (2016), #1 (2017), #2 (2018), #23 (2019), #10 (2020), #18 (2021), #6 (2022)

12 • (8 + 4) • UConn • #10 (2002), #23 (2002), #7 (2004), #13 (2005), #2 (2006), #16 (2008), #5 (2009), #9 (2011)  •  #18 (2014), #21 (2022), #10 (2023), #1 (2024)

9 • (7 + 2) • Marquette • #12 (2002), #9 (2003), #20 (2007), #25 (2008), #23 (2009), #11 (2012), #15 (20130  •  #6 (2023), #11 (2024)

9 • (6 + 3) • Xavier • #22 (2002), #12 (2003), #12 (2008), #20 (2009), #25 (2010), #20 (2011)  •  #9 (2016), #3 (2018), #13 (2023)

8 • (7 + 1) • Georgetown • #21 (2001), #23 (2006), #8 (2007), #8 (2008), #14 (2010), #15 (2012), #8 (2013)  •  #22 (2015)

7 • (4 + 3) • Butler • #21 (2007), #11 (2008), #22 (2009), #11 (2010)  •  #24 (2015), #21 (2017), #23 (2020)

7 • (3 + 4) • Creighton • #15 (2003), #19 (2012), #22 (2013)  •  #16 (2014), #7 (2020), #19 (2021), #13 (2024)

3 • (1 + 2) • Dayton
2 • (1 + 1) • Providence
2 • (1 + 1) • Saint Louis
2 • (1 + 1) • St. John's
2 • (0 + 2) • Seton Hall
2 • (0 + 2) • VCU
0 • (0 + 0) • DePaul


2.5 Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final AP Poll Ranking

#1 • Villanova • #3 (2006), #2 (2015), #1 (2017), #2 (2018)
#1 • UConn • #2 (2006), #1 (2024)
#3 • Dayton • #3 (2020)
#3 • Xavier • #3(2018)

#6 • Marquette • #6 (2023)
#7 • Creighton • #7 (2020)
#8 • Georgetown • #8 (2007), #8 (2008), #8 (2013)

#11 • Butler • #11 (2008), #11 (2010)
#11 • St. John's • #11 (2025)
#12 • Providence • #12 (2022)
#13 • Saint Louis • #13 (2013)
#15 • Seton Hall • #15 (2020)
#24 •   VCU • #24 (2014)
NR • DePaul


2.6 Analysis No. 2 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2001-2013

12 • (8 + 4) • UConn
9 • (7 + 2) • Marquette
9 • (6 + 3) • Xavier
8 • (7 + 1) • Georgetown
7 • (4 + 3) • Butler

2.7 Analysis No. 3 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2014-2025

13 • (4 + 9) • Villanova
7 • (3 + 4) • Creighton
3 • (1 + 2) • Dayton
2 • (0 + 2) • Seton Hall
2 • (0 + 2) • VCU

2.8 Analysis No. 4 – Top 25 Teams that Fared the Same

2 • (1 + 1) • Saint Louis
2 • (1 + 1) • Providence
2 • (1 + 1) • St. John's
0 • (0 + 0) • DePaul


2.9 Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools 

Butler, Creighton, Xavier to join 'Catholic 7' schools in Big East – Los Angeles Times – March 19, 2013

9 • (6 + 3) • Xavier
7 • (4 + 3) • Butler
7 • (3 + 4) • Creighton

3 • (1 + 2) • Dayton
2 • (1 + 1) • Saint Louis
2 • (0 + 2) • VCU

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25: PART 3: OBSERVATIONS
   

2.1 Compilation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams by Conference
2.2 Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other
2.3 Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages
2.4 Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances
2.5 Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final Poll Ranking
2.6 Analysis No. 2 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2001-2013
2.7 Analysis No. 3 – Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2014-2025
2.8 Analysis No. 4 – Top 25 Teams that Fared the Same
2.9 Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools

3.1 Concerning Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other
3.2 Concerning Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages
3.3 Concerning Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances
3.4 Concerning Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final Poll Ranking
3.5 Concerning Analyses Nos. 2, 3, and 4 – How Top 25 Teams Fared
3.6 Concerning Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools
3.7 Links


3.1 Concerning Distillation No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – 'Big School' Conferences, Big East, and Other

It is self-evident that Compilation No. 1 contains far too much information to easily be viewed and absorbed, so in order to be useful, it was necessary to distil the Compilation by (1) combining the yearly totals for the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 into a single entry entitled 'Big School' Conferences, and (2) display the information in a one-line-per-year format.

The Distillation shows that in 2011, the Big East put a record 7 schools in the Final Top 25, with 6 Top 25 finishes in 2013, and 5 Top 25 schools in 2010.  In 9 of the last 12 years, the New Big East has two or three teams in in the Final Top 25, with 4 Top 25 schools in 2020, and only one Top 25 school in 2019 (#23. Villanova) and in 2025 (#11 St. John's). 


3.2 Concerning Analysis No. 1 – Top 25 Teams – Subtotals, Totals and Averages

Summary of Average Number of Top 25 Teams Per Season:

13-Year Averages 2001-2013: 'Big School' Conferences 14.7 • Big East 3.3 • Other 7.0
12-Year Averages 2014-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 17.4 • Big East 2.4 • Other 5.2
25-Year Averages 2001-2025: 'Big School' Conferences 16.0 • Big East 2.9 • Other 6.1

It can be seen that that the 'Big School' Conferences increased their average number of ranked teams from 14.7 to 17.4 teams per season – an increase of 2.7 ranked schools per year. Consequently, the Big East dropped from 3.3 to 2.4 – a loss of 0.9 ranked schools per year, while Other schools dropped from 7.0 ranked schools per season to 5.2 per season – a loss of 1.8 ranked schools per season.


3.3 Concerning Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances

2.4 Compilation No. 2 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Number of Appearances

13 • (4 + 9) • Villanova
12 • (8 + 4) • UConn
9 • (7 + 2) • Marquette
9 • (6 + 3) • Xavier
8 • (7 + 1) • Georgetown
7 • (4 + 3) • Butler
7 • (3 + 4) • Creighton
   
3 • (1 + 2) • Dayton
2 • (1 + 1) • Providence
2 • (1 + 1) • Saint Louis
2 • (1 + 1) • St. John's
2 • (0 + 2) • Seton Hall
2 • (0 + 2) • VCU
0 • (0 + 0) • DePaul

Compilation No. 2 examines the frequency of schools appearing in the AP Final Top 25 – one metric of basketball program quality. The data sorts itself into two tiers - the seven schools with 7 or more appearances, and the seven schools with 3 or fewer Top 25 appearances.


3.4 Concerning Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final Poll Ranking

Compilation No. 3 examines the ceiling of schools appearing in the AP Final Top 25 – another metric of basketball program quality. The data sorts itself into three tiers - the four schools with a best ranking in the Top 3, the three middle schools with best rankings of #6. #7, and #8, and the seven schools with a best ranking of #11 or worse in the last 25 years.

2.5 Compilation No. 3 – Top 25 Teams by School, Sorted by Highest Final AP Poll Ranking

#1 • Villanova • #3 (2006), #2 (2015), #1 (2017), #2 (2018)
#1 • UConn • #2 (2006), #1 (2024)
#3 • Dayton • #3 (2020)
#3 • Xavier • #3(2018)

#6 • Marquette • #6 (2023)
#7 • Creighton • #7 (2020)
#8 • Georgetown • #8 (2007), #8 (2008), #8 (2013)

#11 • Butler • #11 (2008), #11 (2010)
#11 • St. John's • #11(2025)
#12 • Providence • #12 (2022)
#13 • Saint Louis • #13(2013)
#15 • Seton Hall • #15(2020)
#24 • VCU • #24 (2014)
NR • DePaul

3.5 Concerning Analyses Nos. 2, 3, and 4 – How Top 25 Teams Fared

Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2001-2013: UConn, Marquette, Xavier, Georgetown, and Butler.

Top 25 Teams that Fared Better in 2014-2025: Villanova, Creighton, Dayton, Seton Hall, and VCU.

Top 25 Teams that Fared the Same: Saint Louis, Providence, St. John's and DePaul .

This analysis satisfies one's curiosity, but not much more, as there are too many factors in play to glean any useful information or to determine the possible causes for the teams falling into each of the three categories.


3.6 Concerning Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools

Back in the winter of 2013 when the Catholic 7 basketball schools decided to part ways with the football schools, Xavier was always going to be Team #8, simply because the Musketeers were the best expansion team available. The icing on the cake was that Xavier was a perfect fit for the New Big East – in terms of institutional fit, geographic fit, and a strong 'basketball-centric' ethos, as well as an excellent basketball program since the 1950's.

That left only two questions to be answered: (1) How many expansion teams are optimal? and (2) Who should they be?

Analysis No. 5 gave the answer to both questions.

2.9 Analysis No. 5 – Top 25 Teams 2001-2013 – Expansion Candidate Schools 

Butler, Creighton, Xavier to join 'Catholic 7' schools in Big East – Los Angeles Times – March 19, 2013

9 • (6 + 3) • Xavier
7 • (4 + 3) • Butler
7 • (3 + 4) • Creighton

3 • (1 + 2) • Dayton
2 • (1 + 1) • Saint Louis
2 • (0 + 2) • VCU

The data sorted itself into two tiers, indicating that a 10-team conference was optimal, and that the 9th and 10th teams should be Butler and Creighton. Two other favorable reasons for a 10-team conference are that it allows round-robin regular-season scheduling, and that it avoids the appearance of a Catholic 7 / A10 merger – something the presidents of the Catholic 7 schools strenuously wanted to avoid.

As much as I would have liked Dayton to join the Big East in 2013, it is evident that the presidents of the Catholic 7 schools made the correct decision back in 2013. Dayton was a better institutional fit than Butler, and Dayton was a better geographic fit than Creighton, but Butler and Creighton had better basketball teams than Dayton in the years leading up to the Big East split and expansion.


3.7  Links:

Men's Basketball AP Top 25 Poll – Wikipedia

AP Top 25 Men's College Basketball Poll – Associated Press official website

College Poll Tracker – 2025 Final AP Poll – Listing View – collegepolltracker.com

College Poll Tracker – 2025 Final AP Poll – Ballot Grid View – collegepolltracker.com

College Poll Archive – Men's Basketball homepage – collegepollarchive.com

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25 – PART 4: A LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2025-26 SEASON
25 YEARS OF THE AP TOP 25 – PART 5: PRESENT BIG EAST – PRESEASON vs. FINAL AP RANKINGS

PART 4: A LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2025-26 SEASON

Dates of AP Preseason Polls – collegepollarchive.com

SEASON • AP PRESEASON POLL DATE

2025 • October 14
2024 • October 16
2023 • October 17
2022 • October 18
2021 • November 9
2020 • October 21
2019 • October 22
2018 • November 1
2017 • October 31
2016 • November 2
2015 • October 31
2014 • October 31

CBS Sports Early Top 25 And 1 – Gary Parrish, CBS Sports – June 2, 2025

#1. St. John's
#5. UConn

ESPN's Bracketology – Joe Lunardi, ESPN – June 24, 2025

#2 seed (Top 8): UConn
#2 seed (Top 8): St. John's
#9 seed (Top 36): Creighton

ON THE BUBBLE
First Four Out: Marquette
Next Four Out: Villanova

ESPN's Early NCAA Top 25 Rankings – Jeff Borzello – July 1, 2025

#4. UConn
 #5. St. John's
#22. Creighton

The information above suggests that the next Preseason AP Top 25 Poll will be published around October 15, 2025, with St. John's and UConn listed as Top 10 teams.   

But how reliable are the AP Poll Preseason Rankings? We'll look at that in PART 5

=========================================================================     

PART 5: PRESENT BIG EAST – PRESEASON vs. FINAL AP RANKINGS

Part 5 will only consider data since the present 11-team Big East began play in the 2020-2021 season.

UConn officially rejoins Big East after seven-year absence – Jeff Borzello, ESPN - July 1, 2020


2020-2021 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

3. Villanova • Big East
11. Creighton • Big East

2021 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

18. Villanova • Big East
19. Creighton • Big East

Not bad. Villanova and Creighton turned out to be overrated in the Preseason AP Poll, but the Poll correctly picked these two Big East teams that made the Final Top 25, and in the correct order.


2021-2022 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

4. Villanova • Big East
24. Connecticut • Big East

2022 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Villanova • Big East
13. Providence • Big East
21. Connecticut • Big East

The Preseason AP Poll again did a good job with Villanova and Creighton, but completely missed Providence.


 2022-2023 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

9. Creighton • Big East
16. Villanova • Big East

2023 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Marquette • Big East
10. Connecticut • Big East
13. Xavier • Big East

The AP Poll voters went with Creighton and Villanova in the Preseason, but they disappeared and were replaced by Marquette, Connecticut, and Xavier in the Final Poll. That's about as bad as it gets.


2023-2024 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

6. Connecticut • Big East
5. Marquette • Big East
8. Creighton • Big East
22. Villanova • Big East

2024 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

1. Connecticut • Big East
11. Marquette • Big East
13. Creighton • Big East

After a disastrous 2022-23 Preseason Poll, the voter's recovered credibility in their 2023-24 Preseason Poll, getting three teams right, and in the correct order.  For the second consecutive season, Villanova was listed in the Preseason Poll, but not in the Final Poll.


2024-2025 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

3. Connecticut • Big East
15. Creighton • Big East
18. Marquette • Big East

2025 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

11. St. John's • Big East

Another very bad Preseason Poll for the AP voters.

On every college basketball message board in the country, you can find posters saying "Preseason Polls don't mean anything." The 2019-20 Preseason Poll illustrates that axiom quite well.

2019-2020 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

10. Villanova • Big East (1048 points)
12. Seton Hall • Big East (863 points)
19. Xavier • Big East (356 points)
25. VCU • Atlantic 10 (193 points)
RV (29.) Marquette • Big East (68 points)
RV (36.) Georgetown • Big East  (11 points)
RV (40.) Creighton • Big East (4 points)
RV (T48.) Dayton • Atlantic 10 (1 point)
RV (T48.) Providence • Big East (1 point)
--------- Butler • Big East (0 points)

2020 Final AP Men's Basketball Poll - collegepollarchive.com

3. Dayton • Atlantic 10 (1505 points)
7. Creighton • Big East (1154 points)
10. Villanova • Big East (1011 points)
15. Seton Hall • Big East 727 points)
23. Butler • Big East (165 points)
RV (28.) Providence • Big East (63 points)
--------- Xavier • Big East (0 points)
--------- VCU • Atlantic 10 (0 points)

The Preseason voters did well with Villanova and Seton Hall, but missed the boat with everyone else. Preseason Top 25 teams Xavier and VCU didn't get any votes in the Final 2020 AP Poll. Butler didn't get any votes in the Preseason Poll, but finished the season in the Top 25 with 165 points.

Creighton and Dayton were largely overlooked in the 2019-2020 Preseason Poll, but both garnered more than 1100 points in the Final Poll of the Covid-shortened season which ended during the post-season Conference Tournaments.

College Poll Tracker – 2020 Final AP Poll – Ballot Grid View – collegepolltracker.com

 NCAA Tournament simulation: Dayton wins first title as SportsLine simulates entire Big Dance – David Cobb, CBS Sports – April 6, 2020

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     
   
One of the many enjoyable aspects of epistemic curiosity is that you never know in advance where it will lead you. This post turned out to be significantly longer than I had expected, but I wanted to eliminate some of the information gaps which existed in the common knowledge database (which is what epistemic curiosity is all about). Hence, this treatise the first detailed analysis of AP Top 25 Polls I have ever seen in print.

I'll conclude by thanking the good folks at collegepollarchive.com and collegepolltracker.com.

[wadesworld]

Happy Fifth to you too!

[Uncle Rico]

That's a lot of words to say what everyone already knows, Dayton sucks

[The Sultan]

Still less embarassing than a dentist...

[Scoop Snoop]

Still less embarassing than a dentist...

Yeah, but.... it's close!

[cheebs09]

Imagine having such a boring holiday weekend that this is what you compile.

[Jay Bee]

One of the stranger posts you'll find on this site... and that's saying something!

[mug644]

TL;DR. As such, I'll agree with Rico, with emphasis added...

That's a lot of words to say what everyone already knows, Dayton sucks

[brewcity77]

please give this thread a miss.

This is literally all you should ever write on this site. These 5 words sum up the entirety of your existence here. Go away, no one cares.

[MUEng92]

I strained my thumb scrolling to the end of this thread to see if the whole thread was just going to be the original poster having a conversation with himself