All-Time Final AP Men’s Basketball Poll Appearances
By SuperWest Sports Staff
The Associated Press began compiling a ranking of the Top 20 college men’s basketball teams during the 1948–1949 season.
It has issued this poll continuously since the 1950–1951 season.
Beginning with the 1989-1990 season, the poll expanded to 25 teams.
Before 2024, the AP released its final Top 25 poll in mid-March before the NCAA Tournament. Since then, the final poll has appeared after the champion has been crowned.
The table below list the total number of final AP poll appearances for teams in the West, with the most recent appearance and rank, plus the highest-ever rank and the year that ranking was achieved.
In cases where a school has achieved their highest ranking more than once, we have listed the most recent.
| Appearances | School | Most Recent | Recent Rank | Best Year | Best Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | UCLA | 2023 | 7 | 1995 | 1 |
| 33 | Arizona | 2026 | 3 | 1989 | 1 |
| 21 | Utah | 2016 | 13 | 1997 | 2 |
| 19 | Gonzaga | 2026 | 18 | 2022 | 1 |
| 16 | UNLV | 2012 | 23 | 1991 | 1 |
| 13 | BYU | 2025 | 13 | 1972 | 9 |
| 11 | New Mexico | 2014 | 17 | 1968 | 6 |
| 11 | USC | 2022 | 22 | 1971 | 5 |
| 10 | Stanford | 2008 | 10 | 2004 | 1 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 1979 | 12 | 1956 | 1 |
| 8 | Washington | 2011 | 23 | 1953 | 4 |
| 8 | Saint Mary’s | 2025 | 24 | 1959 | 15 |
| 7 | Arizona State | 2009 | 19 | 1981 | 3 |
| 7 | San Diego State | 2024 | 17 | 2020 | 6 |
| 6 | Oregon | 2020 | 13 | 2016 | 5 |
| 6 | Seattle | 1959 | 13 | 1957 | 5 |
| 6 | Colorado | 2021 | 22 | 1962 | 9 |
| 6 | Utah State | 2024 | 22 | 1960 | 8 |
| 5 | Long Beach State | 1974 | 10 | 1973 | 3 |
| 5 | California | 2016 | 23 | 1960 | 2 |
| 5 | New Mexico State | 1993 | 24 | 1970 | 5 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 1988 | 13 | 1988 | 13 |
| 4 | Washington State | 2024 | 23 | 2007 | 13 |
| 4 | Nevada | 2019 | 20 | 2007 | 15 |
| 3 | Santa Clara | 1969 | 3 | 1969 | 3 |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount | 1990 | 21 | 1988 | 15 |
| 1 | Idaho | 1982 | 8 | 1982 | 8 |
| 1 | Fresno State | 1982 | 11 | 1982 | 11 |
| 1 | Idaho State | 1957 | 16 | 1957 | 16 |
| 1 | San Jose State | 1950 | 17 | 1950 | 17 |
| 1 | Weber State | 1980 | 17 | 1980 | 17 |
| 1 | Pepperdine | 1976 | 20 | 1976 | 20 |
| 1 | Pacific | 2005 | 22 | 2005 | 22 |
| 1 | Boise State | 2022 | 23 | 2022 | 23 |
| 1 | Colorado State | 2022 | 24 | 2022 | 24 |
| 1 | Hawaii | 2002 | 25 | 2002 | 25 |