December 26, 1961 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State |
| 2 | Cincinnati |
| 3 | Duquesne |
| 4 | USC |
| 5 | Kansas State |
| 6 | Kentucky |
| 7 | West Virginia |
| 8 | Wichita State |
| 9 | Purdue |
| 10 | Duke |