December 26, 1956 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas |
| 2 | North Carolina |
| 3 | Kentucky |
| 4 | West Virginia |
| 5 | Saint Louis |
| 6 | Illinois |
| 7 | SMU |
| 8 | Louisville |
| 9 | Duke |
| 10 | Oklahoma State |
| 11 | Oklahoma City |
| 12 | Tennessee |
| 12 | Vanderbilt |
| 14 | Iowa State |
| 15 | Western Kentucky |
| 16 | Tulane |
| 17 | Canisius |
| 18 | Seattle |
| 19 | San Francisco |
| 20 | Idaho State |