Most all-time weeks ranked #1 in AP poll (updated 11/23):

[slford00]

Here's a "record" I've been following and updating over the past year or so. Obviously, we took a huge leap forward last year as we were #1 wire to wire, passing UNC for #3 on the list and making huge gains on #2 Duke.

After the final AP poll at the end of the 14-15 season, the standings were as follows:
1) UCLA - 134 weeks
2) Duke - 127 weeks
3) UK - 120 weeks
4) UNC - 111 weeks


***11/23/15 update (week 3 poll)***
Most weeks ranked AP #1:
UCLA - 134
Duke - 127
UK - 121 (+1 in 2015-16)
UNC - 113 (+2 in 2015-16)

We were at 88 or so weeks total when Cal took over.

It is really remarkable how much ground we've made up in this record under Cal. We were nowhere close to Duke/UNC in this "stat" when he took over. By going wire-to-wire #1 in 2015, plus several weeks in 2012, and a few weeks from 2010 and 2014 seasons, Cal has added >25% of all our total weeks at #1 in the history of our program.

 

[slford00]

If you look back through our rankings over the past 20-30 years, and our success during that time, it's actually pretty remarkable how rarely we were ranked #1 prior to Cal. I rummaged through the poll history last year and did the math, and while I don't remember the exact number, we had only been ranked #1 something like 7-8 weeks total since Sutton was UK's coach:

- We reached #1 for just a week or two in 1992-93 (Mash's junior year, FF season)

- In 1995-96, we were preseason #1. But remember, we lost an early game to UMass, who was then ranked #1 almost every week that season. We reclaimed #1 for a week or two at the end of the season after UMass finally lost, and then promptly lost to Miss St. in the SECT and went into the tourney ranked #2.

- Smith Era... enough said. Even in the magical 2003 season, we only achieved #1 ranking for a couple weeks at the very end of the season (since we lost 3 early games and then slowly climbed the polls all year on our 26 game winning streak).

(there was a time I think we reached #1 under Tubby in the 2003-04 season before we lost at home to Garcia and UL, but that was only in the coaches' poll, not the AP)

 

[slford00]

While rankings "don't matter," I would really like to get to #1 this season and hold it for a few weeks to get closer to overtaking Duke (AND preventing UNC from passing us again). UCLA won't be #1 again for the foreseeable future, so passing them eventually won't be a problem. The competition going forward is all Duke/UNC.

 

[UKUGA]

We also used to not have any #1 over-all draft picks, and not that many first round picks, especially relative to our historical success.

 

[UKnCincy]

Similar to the other post I made this morning regarding our games with a 3-pointer streak, here's another "record" I've been following and updating over the past year or so. Obviously, we took a huge leap forward last year as we were #1 wire to wire, passing UNC for #3 on the list and making huge gains on #2 Duke.

After the final AP poll at the end of the 14-15 season, the standings were as follows:
1) UCLA - 134 weeks
2) Duke - 127 weeks
3) UK - 120 weeks
4) UNC - 111 weeks --> 113 currently as UNC has been ranked #1 both weeks this season so far

It is really remarkable how much ground we've made up in this record under Cal. We were nowhere close to Duke/UNC in this "stat" when he took over. Factoring in every poll from last year, the first couple weeks in 2013-2014, several weeks in 2012, and the one week in 2009-10 season (prior to the infamous Downey USC game), Cal has added like 1/4 to 1/3 of all our total weeks at #1 in the history of our program.

Weird. Your three point thread made me think of this same topic. Just posted a similar thread a couple minutes ago. Hadn't seen this one you had started.

 

[Lob2Davis]

I love pointing out this statistic ----

The University of Loserville has been ranked number 1 in the weekly polls TWICE in the 60 plus years they've been used.

 

[Huma1894]

UNC could lose this weekend at Northern Iowa, and the Cats would take over #1 on AP.

 

[UKnCincy]

UNC could lose this weekend at Northern Iowa, and the Cats would take over #1 on AP.

Even if UNC wins, there's still a chance UK could leap them next week. Would simply need to steal away a few of UNC's first place votes and have the writers that voted us 4th or lower move us up. Just having those voters move us up alone would close the gap from 51 points to 17 points. I'm hoping a win over a 5th ranked Duke team will be enough to do that, but we shall see.

 

[capnmonkey]

I think this list is somewhat meaningless, as the pre season rankings are somewhat arbitrary and whoever starts the season as #1 is likely to hold the ranking for at least 10-15 games due to early season cupcakes.

 

[Mojocat]

I love pointing out this statistic ----

The University of Loserville has been ranked number 1 in the weekly polls TWICE in the 60 plus years they've been used.

Yeah, that's one of my favorites, too...

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Similar to the other post I made this morning regarding our games with a 3-pointer streak, here's another "record" I've been following and updating over the past year or so. Obviously, we took a huge leap forward last year as we were #1 wire to wire, passing UNC for #3 on the list and making huge gains on #2 Duke.

After the final AP poll at the end of the 14-15 season, the standings were as follows:
1) UCLA - 134 weeks
2) Duke - 127 weeks
3) UK - 120 weeks
4) UNC - 111 weeks --> 113 currently as UNC has been ranked #1 both weeks this season so far

It is really remarkable how much ground we've made up in this record under Cal. We were nowhere close to Duke/UNC in this "stat" when he took over. Factoring in every poll from last year, the first couple weeks in 2013-2014, several weeks in 2012, and the one week in 2009-10 season (prior to the infamous Downey USC game), Cal has added like 1/4 to 1/3 of all our total weeks at #1 in the history of our program.

If we can't overtake UCLA in titles under Cal, I certainly hope this is a record we can take from them.

 

[Montana81]

UNC could lose this weekend at Northern Iowa, and the Cats would take over #1 on AP.

Bump

 

[Rhavicc]

UNC could lose this weekend at Northern Iowa, and the Cats would take over #1 on AP.

Well, there's that.

 

[bigbluelou]

...
- In 1995-96, we were preseason #1. But remember, we lost an early game to UMass, who was then ranked #1 almost every week that season. We reclaimed #1 for a week or two at the end of the season after UMass finally lost, and then promptly lost to Miss St. in the SECT and went into the tourney ranked #2.
...

Came here to make this comment. I think a lot of people thought we were truly the best team that year. But since we lost to UMass early and they didn't lose again for a long time in the season (pretty weak A-10), they held onto #1 most all year long. Had we won that opening game, we would have added another 16-17 weeks of #1 ranking.

Of course, if frogs had wings, they wouldn't bump their asses every time they hopped.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

If you look back through our rankings over the past 20-30 years, and our success during that time, it's actually pretty remarkable how rarely we were ranked #1 prior to Cal. I rummaged through the poll history last year and did the math, and while I don't remember the exact number, we had only been ranked #1 something like 7-8 weeks total since Sutton was UK's coach:

- We reached #1 for just a week or two in 1992-93 (Mash's junior year, FF season)

- In 1995-96, we were preseason #1. But remember, we lost an early game to UMass, who was then ranked #1 almost every week that season. We reclaimed #1 for a week or two at the end of the season after UMass finally lost, and then promptly lost to Miss St. in the SECT and went into the tourney ranked #2.

- Smith Era... enough said. Even in the magical 2003 season, we only achieved #1 ranking for a couple weeks at the very end of the season (since we lost 3 early games and then slowly climbed the polls all year on our 26 game winning streak).

(there was a time I think we reached #1 under Tubby in the 2003-04 season before we lost at home to Garcia and UL, but that was only in the coaches' poll, not the AP)

Before Cal the #1 ranking was a curse to us. Think since 78 we would be ranked #1 and then lose that week everytime until Cal got here

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

What about in the 40s and 50s under Rupp when UK was dominating college basketball?

 

[Jkwo]

I think this list is somewhat meaningless, as the pre season rankings are somewhat arbitrary and whoever starts the season as #1 is likely to hold the ranking for at least 10-15 games due to early season cupcakes.

That's true, but so are many of the stats people use to compare programs. Thankfully, we own most of the substantial ones and many of those that are less so, too.

 

[slford00]

Updated today to reflect following totals:

Most weeks ranked AP #1 as of 11/23/15 (week 3) :
UCLA - 134
Duke - 127
UK - 121 (+1 in 2015-16)
UNC - 113 (+2 in 2015-16)

 

[Bluegrass79]

ESPN claims UK has 114 weeks at #1 as of today. Who is right?




From ESPN article today:
Kentucky is one of four programs to spend at least 100 weeks at No. with this marking the Wildcats' 114th week in the top spot since the poll began in 1949. Kentucky, which was No. 1 every week last season, trails only UCLA, 134 weeks, and Duke, 127. The Tar Heels had tied Kentucky on the all-time list with this season's two weeks at No. 1.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Up until a few years ago Lil-Brothel had never been ranked #1 in the polls. I think they are still only at a couple weeks at this point. Yet they fancy themselves as an elite program. Of course that is the propaganda they are fed.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

That statistic means absolutely NOTHING.......


........but I still love it.

 

[dlh331]

ESPN claims UK has 114 weeks at #1 as of today. Who is right?




From ESPN article today:
Kentucky is one of four programs to spend at least 100 weeks at No. with this marking the Wildcats' 114th week in the top spot since the poll began in 1949. Kentucky, which was No. 1 every week last season, trails only UCLA, 134 weeks, and Duke, 127. The Tar Heels had tied Kentucky on the all-time list with this season's two weeks at No. 1.

I looked at the NCAA records book and it claims UK had 111 weeks before the year started

HOWEVER...I counted each poll from 1949 and we have been #1 121 weeks
counting this new poll

Darryl

 

[KMKAT]

Time for someone to tell ESPN they need to audit their research department.

 

[slford00]

ESPN claims UK has 114 weeks at #1 as of today. Who is right?




From ESPN article today:
Kentucky is one of four programs to spend at least 100 weeks at No. with this marking the Wildcats' 114th week in the top spot since the poll began in 1949. Kentucky, which was No. 1 every week last season, trails only UCLA, 134 weeks, and Duke, 127. The Tar Heels had tied Kentucky on the all-time list with this season's two weeks at No. 1.

Interesting. I've been keeping a running tally of this stat on the notes app on my phone (updating it every week with each new poll) since early last season. I know doesn't sound very official compared to ESPN.

I can't remember exactly where I got my first number to start counting from. I used some article or records reference to find the total circa 2010 or so, and then counted up all the weeks we've been #1 since then. In fact I believe it was some article (ESPN, Herald-Leader, who knows?) that referenced our total weeks at #1 and UCLA's record that made me start keeping count.

 

[slford00]

I looked at the NCAA records book and it claims UK had 111 weeks before the year started

HOWEVER...I counted each poll from 1949 and we have been #1 121 weeks
counting this new poll

Darryl

So ESPN must be going off of what the NCAA records book says. It makes me feel more confident in my #'s that you came up with the same total.

I will say, the NCAA records book has errors and is not always up to date. When I was making my other post last weekend about our 3 pt. streak, I noted in the records book that they listed UNLV with the record at 908 games--both UNLV and UK now have streaks that are longer (908 was their total at the end of the 2013-2014 season).