| 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball rankings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 1953–54 | ||||
| NCAA Tournament | 1954 | ||||
| Preseason No. 1 | |||||
| NCAA Tournament Champions | La Salle | ||||
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The 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
| 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 |
| Preseason [1] | Week 1 Dec. 15[1] | Week 2 Dec. 22[1] | Week 3 Dec. 29[1] | Week 4 Jan. 5[1] | Week 5 Jan. 12[1] | Week 6 Jan. 19[1] | Week 7 Jan. 26[1] | Week 8 Feb. 2[1] | Week 9 Feb. 9[1] | Week 10 Feb. 16[1] | Week 11 Feb. 23[1] | Week 12 Mar. 2[2] | Week 13 Mar. 9[2] | Final Mar. 16[3] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indiana | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (6–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (12–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Kentucky (16–0) | Duquesne (19–0) | Duquesne (21–0) | Kentucky (23–0) | Kentucky (24–0) | Kentucky (25–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Duquesne (8–0) | Duquesne (11–0) | Duquesne (13–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (17–0) | Duquesne (18–0) | Kentucky (18–0) | Kentucky (21–0) | Indiana (18–3) | Indiana (19–3) | La Salle (26–4) | 2. |
| 3. | Duquesne | Duquesne (4–0) | Duquesne (7–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (7–1) | Indiana (9–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (14–1) | Indiana (15–2) | Indiana (17–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Duquesne (24–2) | Holy Cross (26–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma A&M | Illinois (4–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma A&M (12–1) | Oklahoma A&M (13–1) | Western Kentucky (16–0) | Oklahoma A&M (16–1) | Western Kentucky (19–0) | Oklahoma A&M (18–1) | Western Kentucky (23–1) | Western Kentucky (25–1) | Duquesne (22–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Indiana (20–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Kansas | LSU (3–0) | Oklahoma A&M (8–1) | Oklahoma A&M (9–1) | Western Kentucky (12–0) | Western Kentucky (14–0) | Oklahoma A&M (15–1) | Western Kentucky (18–0) | Oklahoma A&M (17–1) | Western Kentucky (21–1) | Oklahoma A&M (20–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–2) | Notre Dame (19–2) | Oklahoma A&M (23–4) | Duquesne (26–3) | 5. |
| 6. | La Salle | Minnesota (3–0) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Minnesota (7–0) | Minnesota (8–1) | Holy Cross (10–0) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Seattle (20–1) | Notre Dame (12–2) | Notre Dame (13–2) | Notre Dame (16–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–4) | Notre Dame (20–2) | Notre Dame (22–3) | 6. |
| 7. | NC State | Oklahoma A&M (4–1) | Fordham (6–0) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Holy Cross (8–0) | George Washington (10–0) | Oklahoma City (11–1) | Holy Cross (13–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | La Salle (17–3) | Seattle (24–1) | Holy Cross (20–1) | LSU (19–2) | George Washington (23–2) | Bradley (19–13) | 7. |
| 8. | Kansas State | NC State (3–1) | Minnesota (5–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Duke (9–3) | Oklahoma City (9–1) | Holy Cross (12–1) | Minnesota (10–2) | Duke (13–4) | Seattle (23–1) | George Washington (16–1) | George Washington (18–1) | La Salle (21–4) | LSU (20–2) | Western Kentucky (29–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Illinois | Fordham (4–0) | NC State (6–1) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma City (8–1) | Duke (12–3) | Minnesota (9–2) | Oklahoma City (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | Holy Cross (16–1) | Holy Cross (17–1) | Seattle (24–1) | George Washington (20–2) | Holy Cross (23–2) | Penn State (18–6) | 9. |
| 10. | LSU | Western Kentucky (6–0) | Holy Cross (3–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Oregon State (7–3) | Minnesota (8–2) | George Washington (11–1) | George Washington (12–1) | Holy Cross (14–1) | George Washington (13–1) | Iowa (14–3) | Duke (19–5) | Seattle (26–1) | NC State (24–6) | Oklahoma A&M (24–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Western Kentucky | Oregon State (6–1) | Rice (6–0) | Oklahoma City (6–0) | Rice (10–0) | Kansas (6–2) | Wichita (15–1) | Seattle (16–1) | George Washington (12–1) | Maryland (17–4) | Maryland (20–4) | Maryland (21–5) | Duke (21–5) | Seattle (26–1) | USC (20–11) | 11. |
| 12. | Minnesota | Oklahoma City (4–0) | Oregon State (6–1) | Holy Cross (5–0) | Niagara (8–2) т | Wichita (14–1) | LSU (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | Minnesota (12–2) | Minnesota (13–2) | La Salle (18–4) | LSU (17–2) | Wichita (25–3) | La Salle (21–4) | George Washington (23–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Oregon State | Duke (3–1) | UCLA (6–1) | La Salle (7–2) | George Washington (6–0) т | Niagara (12–1) | Duke (12–4) | Maryland (13–4) | Maryland (15–4) | Oklahoma City (12–4) | LSU (15–2) | La Salle (20–4) | Holy Cross (22–2) | Kansas (16–4) | Iowa (17–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Wyoming | Holy Cross (2–0) | LSU (4–1) | UCLA (8–1) | Dayton (9–2) | Seattle (11–1) | Maryland (13–4) | California (14–2) | Wichita (19–2) | California (16–2) | Duke (16–5) | Wichita (23–3) | Dayton (24–6) | Maryland (23–7) | LSU (20–5) | 14. |
| 15. | Dayton | California (3–1) | Oklahoma City (5–0) | Seattle (8–1) | Illinois (6–2) | Rice (10–2) | California (14–2) | LSU (11–2) | California (16–2) | Duke (14–5) | Wichita (22–3) | Oklahoma City (14–5) | Kansas (15–4) | Dayton (25–6) | Duke (22–6) | 15. |
| 16. | Santa Clara | Notre Dame (3–1) | La Salle (6–1) т | Rice (7–0) | Kansas (4–2) | LSU (10–2) | Seattle (14–1) | Kansas (8–3) т | Oklahoma City (11–4) | Navy (14–4) | Oklahoma City (13–5) | Dayton (22–5) | Iowa (16–5) | Iowa (17–5) | Niagara (24–6) | 16. |
| 17. | California | UCLA (3–0) | Dayton (6–1) т | Idaho (5–0) | Seattle (9–1) | Dayton (11–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Wichita (16–2) т | LSU (13–2) | LSU (14–2) | Dayton (20–5) | Kansas (13–4) | Maryland (22–6) | Oregon State (18–10) | Seattle (26–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Saint Louis | Niagara (4–1) | Wisconsin (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Navy (7–2) | Colorado State (11–1) | Niagara (10–3) | Connecticut (14–0) | Bradley (11–5) | Wichita (20–3) | Minnesota (14–4) | Colorado State (20–4) | NC State (19–6) | Duke (22–6) | Kansas (16–5) | 18. |
| 19. | Holy Cross т | Siena (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | BYU (8–0) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Illinois (8–3) | La Salle (14–3) | Dayton (14–4) | Kansas (8–3) | NC State (15–5) | Colorado State (17–4) | UCLA (18–5) | Connecticut (21–2) | Colorado State (22–5) | Illinois (17–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Oklahoma City т | La Salle (3–1) | Idaho (5–0) т Vanderbilt (5–0) т | Wyoming (6–1) т Vanderbilt (5–1) т | NC State (9–3) | Idaho (8–3) | Illinois (9–4) | Duke (12–4) | Louisville (14–5) | Kansas (9–4) | Navy (15–5) | Illinois (16–4) т Iowa (16–5) т | Louisville (21–6) | Wichita (27–4) | Maryland (28–7) | 20. |
| Preseason [1] | Week 1 Dec. 15[1] | Week 2 Dec. 22[1] | Week 3 Dec. 29[1] | Week 4 Jan. 5[1] | Week 5 Jan. 12[1] | Week 6 Jan. 19[1] | Week 7 Jan. 26[1] | Week 8 Feb. 2[1] | Week 9 Feb. 9[1] | Week 10 Feb. 16[1] | Week 11 Feb. 23[1] | Week 12 Mar. 2[2] | Week 13 Mar. 9[2] | Final Mar. 16[3] | ||
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All UP polls for this season included 20 teams, with the exception of the final poll (released on March 9, 1954) which included only 10 teams.
| Preseason [1] | Week 1 Dec. 15[1] | Week 2 Dec. 22[1] | Week 3 Dec. 29[1] | Week 4 Jan. 5[1] | Week 5 Jan. 12[1] | Week 6 Jan. 19[1] | Week 7 Jan. 26[1] | Week 8 Feb. 2[1] | Week 9 Feb. 9[1] | Week 10 Feb. 16[1] | Week 11 Feb. 23[1] | Week 12 Mar. 2[2] | Final Mar. 9[2] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indiana | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (6–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (12–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Indiana (14–1) | Duquesne (19–0) | Duquesne (21–0) | Kentucky (23–0) | Indiana (19–3) | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (7–1) | Indiana (9–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Indiana (12–1) | Duquesne (18–0) | Kentucky (18–0) | Indiana (17–2) | Indiana (18–3) | Kentucky (24–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Duquesne | Duquesne (4–0) | Duquesne (7–0) | Duquesne (8–0) | Duquesne (11–0) | Duquesne (13–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (15–0) | Duquesne (17–0) | Kentucky (16–0) | Indiana (15–2) | Kentucky (21–0) | Duquesne (22–2) | Duquesne (24–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Kansas | Illinois (4–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma A&M (12–1) | Oklahoma A&M (13–1) | Oklahoma A&M (15–1) | Oklahoma A&M (16–1) | Oklahoma A&M (17–1) | Oklahoma A&M (18–1) | Oklahoma A&M (20–2) | Oklahoma A&M (21–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | Oklahoma A&M (23–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma A&M | LSU (3–0) | Minnesota (5–0) | Oklahoma A&M (9–1) | Minnesota (8–1) | Holy Cross (10–0) | Western Kentucky (16–0) | Western Kentucky (18–0) | Western Kentucky (19–0) | Minnesota (13–2) | Western Kentucky (23–1) | Western Kentucky (25–1) | Oklahoma A&M (21–4) | Notre Dame (20–2) | 5. |
| 6. | La Salle | Minnesota (3–0) | Oklahoma A&M (8–1) | Minnesota (7–0) | Holy Cross (8–0) | Western Kentucky (14–0) | Minnesota (9–2) | Minnesota (10–2) | Minnesota (12–2) | Western Kentucky (21–1) | Holy Cross (17–1) | Holy Cross (20–1) | Notre Dame (19–2) | Western Kentucky (28–1) | 6. |
| 7. | LSU | Oklahoma A&M (4–1) | NC State (6–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Western Kentucky (12–0) | Kansas (6–2) | California (14–2) | California (14–2) | California (16–2) | California (16–2) | Iowa (14–3) | Notre Dame (16–2) | Kansas (15–4) | Kansas (16–4) | 7. |
| 8. | NC State | NC State (3–1) | UCLA (6–1) | NC State (7–1) | Kansas (4–2) | Minnesota (8–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Holy Cross (14–1) | Notre Dame (12–2) т | Notre Dame (13–2) | LSU (17–2) | Holy Cross (22–2) | LSU (20–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Minnesota | UCLA (3–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Fordham (6–0) | Illinois (6–2) | Duke (12–3) т | Notre Dame (9–2) | Kansas (8–3) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Holy Cross (16–1) т | LSU (15–2) | Kansas (13–4) | LSU (19–2) | Holy Cross (23–2) | 9. |
| 10. | California | Fordham (4–0) | La Salle (6–1) | BYU (8–0) | Rice (10–0) | California (12–1) т | LSU (11–2) | Holy Cross (13–1) | Kansas (8–3) | La Salle (17–3) | Kansas (12–4) | La Salle (20–4) | La Salle (21–4) | Iowa (17–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Illinois | La Salle (3–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | Oregon State (7–3) | Niagara (10–2) | Duke (12–4) | La Salle (15–3) | LSU (13–2) | Kansas (9–4) | La Salle (18–4) | UCLA (18–5) т | Iowa (16–5) | 11. | |
| 12. | Kansas State | California (3–1) | LSU (4–1) т | La Salle (7–2) | LSU (6–2) | LSU (10–2) | Oklahoma City (11–1) т | LSU (11–2) | La Salle (15–3) | LSU (14–2) | Minnesota (14–4) | Illinois (16–4) т | Duke (21–5) | 12. | |
| 13. | Saint Louis | Kansas (0–2) | California (5–1) т | LSU (5–1) | Duke (9–3) | La Salle (11–3) | Holy Cross (12–1) т | Wyoming (14–3) | Duke (13–4) | Duke (14–5) | Duke (16–5) т | George Washington (18–1) | Colorado State (22–4) | 13. | |
| 14. | Holy Cross | Notre Dame (3–1) | Western Kentucky (9–0) | UCLA (8–1) т | Niagara (8–2) | Rice (11–1) | Wichita (15–1) | Duke (12–4) | Iowa (11–3) т | Seattle (23–1) т | California (16–4) т | Duke (19–5) | Illinois (16–4) | 14. | |
| 15. | Oregon State | Oregon State (6–1) | Wisconsin (5–1) | Rice (7–0) т | UCLA (9–2) | Illinois (8–3) | NC State (11–4) | Iowa (10–3) | NC State (12–5) т | Iowa (12–3) т | George Washington (16–1) | Seattle (24–1) | Wichita (25–3) | 15. | |
| 16. | Dayton | Ohio State (3–0) | Wyoming (6–1) | Holy Cross (5–0) | NC State (9–3) т | NC State (10–3) | Illinois (9–4) т | Oklahoma City (11–2) | Wyoming (15–4) | NC State (15–5) | Seattle (24–1) | Colorado State (20–4) | Seattle (26–1) | 16. | |
| 17. | Wyoming | Holy Cross (2–0) | Rice (6–0) т | Wyoming (6–1) | La Salle (9–3) т | Notre Dame (7–2) | Oregon State (10–4) т | Oregon State (11–5) | Bradley (11–5) | Colorado State (15–4) т | UCLA (13–5) | Wichita (23–3) | NC State (19–6) | 17. | |
| 18. | Santa Clara | Western Kentucky (6–0) т | Kansas (1–2) т | California (9–1) | Navy (7–2) | Oklahoma City (9–1) | Niagara (10–3) | Texas (9–4) | Wichita (19–2) т | Oregon State (14–6) т | Colorado State (17–4) | Iowa (16–5) т | Dayton (24–6) т | 18. | |
| 19. | Notre Dame | Saint Louis (4–1) т | Holy Cross (3–0) | Kansas State (5–2) | Oklahoma City (8–1) | Wyoming (10–3) | La Salle (14–3) т | Bradley (11–4) | Louisville (14–5) т | Fordham (14–2) | Wichita (22–3) | Rice (18–3) т | Minnesota (16–5) т | 19. | |
| 20. | UCLA | Kansas State (2–1) т Wyoming (4–1) т | Notre Dame (4–1) | Navy (6–0) | California (9–1) | Wichita (14–1) т Oregon State (8–4) т | Wyoming (13–3) т | NC State (12–5) | Illinois (9–4) т | George Washington (13–1) | NC State (16–6) | NC State (16–6) | Oregon State (18–8) т UCLA (18–7) т Minnesota (15–11) т | 20. | |
| Preseason [1] | Week 1 Dec. 15[1] | Week 2 Dec. 22[1] | Week 3 Dec. 29[1] | Week 4 Jan. 5[1] | Week 5 Jan. 12[1] | Week 6 Jan. 19[1] | Week 7 Jan. 26[1] | Week 8 Feb. 2[1] | Week 9 Feb. 9[1] | Week 10 Feb. 16[1] | Week 11 Feb. 23[1] | Week 12 Mar. 2[2] | Final Mar. 9[2] | ||
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Kentucky's unbeaten basketball team, which refrained from tournament competition this year, came out ahead of the two national tournament winners, La Salle and Holy Cross, in the final Associated Press ranking poll of the 1953–54 season today.
