Since 1948 sportswriters across the nation have cast their ballots for the AP men's basketball rankings. This year 71 voters are partaking in the weekly AP Top 25 poll. A first place vote nets 25 points while a twenty-fifth place vote nets 1 point.
The AP college basketball top 25 for the week of March 9 has five ACC teams, three Big 12 teams, six Big East teams, two Big Ten teams, three Pac-10 teams, one SEC team, and five mid-major teams all of which are from different conferences. The first five teams on the outside of the AP top 25 are Illinois, Texas A&M, St. Mary's, Utah, and West Virginia. North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Louisville split the number 1 votes with North Carolina taking the majority.
AP men's basketball rankings - week of March 9, 2009: