College basketball rankings: Comparing how preseason AP Poll compares to KenPom data

On Monday morning, college basketball fans got two key indicators that the season is right around the corner. First, in the early hours, KenPom released its 2025 numbers to set the tone for analytics this year. Then the preseason AP Poll was released to determine which teams start the year with a number next to their name.

Many of the teams projected to finish at the top of the sport line up between the two, but inevitably when comparing the opinions of people with computer data, there will be a gap between the two when ranking 25 teams. In fact, no teams matched up exactly between the two this preseason.

Here is a look at where the AP Poll’s thoughts on every team in the Top 25 compare to the KenPom data before tip-off in November.

Top 25 teams

19 teams matched up between the AP Poll and the KenPom Top 25s, and while none landed in exactly the same spot, there were several close together.

There are 12 teams which KenPom ranked within three spots of the AP Poll and five more ranked within five spots of each other. The other two – Auburn and Arkansas – are significantly off but still made the Top 25 in both.

All rankings presented as (AP Poll/KenPom Ranking)

Closely ranked

Alabama (2/4), UConn (3/5), Houston (4/1), Iowa State (5/7), Gonzaga (6/9), Baylor (8/11), Arizona (10/8), Tennessee (12/13), Texas A&M (13/16), Creighton (15/12), Texas (19/18), Cincinnati (20/17)

Not too far

Kansas (1/6), Duke (7/2), North Carolina (9/14), Purdue (14/10), Marquette (18/22)

Different opinions

Auburn (11/3), Arkansas (16/25)

Ranked by AP voters

These teams were viewed among the 25 best teams by the AP Poll voters, but do not have the computer numbers to support it, check out how much higher they rank than what KenPom would project.

Indiana (17/39), Florida (21/28), UCLA (22/26), Kentucky (23/42), Ole Miss (24/47), Rutgers (25/63)

Top 25 at KenPom

On the other hand, these teams look great when you run the numbers, but the voters did not see it the same when ranking the Top 25 teams for the AP Poll.

Texas Tech (29*/15), St. John’s (27*/19), Villanova (NR/20), BYU (35*/21), Illinois (26*/23), Clemson (40*/24)

The AP Poll does not officially rank teams beyond the Top 25, however the remaining numbers were determined by the amount of votes received by teams which did not make the cut.