I know we've been going with the AP poll all season, but only the ESPN/USA Today poll released its final rankings this season, and the voters seemed to respect a Penn State team that failed to reach the NCAA tournament.
Technically, the Nits finished the season ranked No. 32, as they were tied with Illinois in receiving 14 votes. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and hand them the tiebreaker since they swept the Fighting Illini this year.
Saint Mary's was the only other NIT school to receive any votes, as it finished with three.
Despite a night it will soon forget, Michigan State finished the season No. 2 in the nation, a distinction few can argue given the Spartans' story-book run through the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue was the only other Big Ten team ranked, checking in at No. 14, while rivals Michigan and Ohio State received five and three votes, respectively.
Poll
1. North Carolina (31) 32-4 775
2. Michigan State 30-6 743
3. Connecticut 31-4 705
4. Villanova 30-7 669
5. Louisville 31-6 646
6. Pittsburgh 31-5 630
7. Oklahoma 30-6 575
8. Missouri 31-7 563
9. Memphis 33-4 522
10. Kansas 27-8 481
11. Duke 30-7 459
12. Syracuse 28-10 405
13. Gonzaga 28-6 393
14. Purdue 27-10 362
15. Xavier 27-8 361
16. Washington 26-9 260
17. LSU 27-8 233
18. UCLA 26-9 204
19. Arizona State 25-10 200
20. Wake Forest 24-7 170
21. Marquette 25-10 160
22. Florida State 25-10 130
23. Texas 23-12 71
24. Arizona 21-14 60
25. Butler 26-6 47
Others Receiving Votes
Clemson 42, USC 39, Siena 37, Oklahoma State 24, Dayton 17, Utah State 15, Illinois 14, Penn State 14, Western Kentucky 11, Tennessee 8, West Virginia 7, Maryland 6, Michigan 5, Texas A&M 4, Ohio State 3, Saint Mary's 3, Cleveland State 1, Utah 1.
Dropped From Rankings
Clemson 21, Utah State 25.
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