December 11, 1956 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas |
| 2 | San Francisco |
| 3 | Kentucky |
| 4 | Louisville |
| 5 | SMU |
| 6 | North Carolina |
| 7 | Illinois |
| 8 | North Carolina State |
| 9 | Alabama |
| 10 | Canisius |
| 11 | Ohio State |
| 12 | Western Kentucky |
| 13 | West Virginia |
| 14 | Kansas State |
| 15 | Dayton |
| 16 | Niagara |
| 17 | Iowa State |
| 18 | Oklahoma City |
| 19 | Oklahoma State |
| 20 | Seattle |