2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings


Two human polls made up the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.

Legend

AP poll

The Associated Press preseason poll was released on November 2, 2009. This poll is compiled by sportswriters across the nation. In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. Generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

The Coaches Poll is the second oldest poll still in use after the AP Poll. It is compiled by a rotating group of 31 college Division I head coaches. The Poll operates by Borda count. Each voting member ranks teams from 1 to 25. Each team then receives points for their ranking in reverse order: Number 1 earns 25 points, number 2 earns 24 points, and so forth. The points are then combined and the team with the highest points is then ranked #1; second highest is ranked #2 and so forth. Only the top 25 teams with points are ranked, with teams receiving first place votes noted the quantity next to their name. Any team receiving votes after the top 25 are listed after the top 25 by their point totals. However, these are not real rankings: They are not considered #26, #27, etc. The maximum points a single team can earn is 775. The preseason poll was released on November 2, 2009.

Preseason polls

Various publications and news sources release their preseason top 25 months before the season commences.
AthlonLindy'sSporting NewsFox SportsCBS SportsSI.comSports IllustratedRivals.comBlue Ribbon Yearbook
1.KansasKansasKansasKansasKansasKansasKansasKansasKansas
2.Michigan StateTexasKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyMichigan StateMichigan StateKentuckyMichigan State
3.TexasMichigan StateMichigan StateTexasMichigan StateConnecticutVillanovaMichigan StateTexas
4.PurdueVillanovaNorth CarolinaMichigan StateTexasVillanovaTexasVillanovaVillanova
5.North CarolinaNorth CarolinaWest VirginiaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaKentuckyKentuckyPurdueNorth Carolina
6.KentuckyPurdueTexasWest VirginiaVillanovaTexasPurdueTexasPurdue
7.VillanovaButlerPurdueVillanovaConnecticutPurdueNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaKentucky
8.TennesseeKentuckyDukeCaliforniaPurdueWest VirginiaWest VirginiaDukeCalifornia
9.OklahomaMichiganVillanovaWashingtonWest VirginiaNorth CarolinaWashingtonWest VirginiaDuke
10.West VirginiaCaliforniaMississippi StatePurdueDukeButlerConnecticutCaliforniaTennessee
11.ConnecticutDukeGeorgetownTennesseeButlerWashingtonCaliforniaButlerButler
12.ButlerTennesseeTennesseeConnecticutWashingtonDukeDukeConnecticutWest Virginia
13.Georgia TechGeorgia TechWashingtonDukeClemsonTennesseeTennesseeOhio StateGeorgia Tech
14.CaliforniaOklahomaButlerButlerTennesseeCaliforniaButlerMichiganMinnesota
15.Mississippi StateLouisvilleConnecticutOhio StateOklahomaOhio StateMichiganWashingtonSyracuse
16.VanderbiltWashingtonCaliforniaMichiganMinnesotaMichiganOhio StateOklahomaOhio State
17.WashingtonDaytonClemsonGeorgia TechDaytonClemsonLouisvilleTennesseeOklahoma
18.DukeWest VirginiaWake ForestIllinoisOhio StateGeorgetownMississippi StateGeorgetownConnecticut
19.LouisvilleTulsaOhio StateGeorgetownMichiganDaytonGeorgetownOklahoma StateDayton
20.BYUMarylandMarylandMinnesotaCaliforniaSienaSienaLouisvilleMaryland
21.GeorgetownMississippi StIllinoisOklahomaSienaMississippi StGeorgia TechSienaOklahoma St
22.MarylandOhio StateNotre DameSienaLouisvilleSouth CarolinaDaytonDaytonMichigan
23.MichiganUCLADaytonVanderbiltIllinoisGeorgia TechMarylandClemsonWashington
24.ClemsonSouth CarolinaMichiganXavierGeorgetownOklahomaOklahomaIllinoisGeorgetown
25.DaytonIllinoisFlorida StateMississippiGonzagaGonzagaIllinoisGeorgia TechSiena/Illinois