CiteFinal AP Top 20
Writers' poll taken after major tournaments.
| Before Tourns | Head Coach | Final Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 25–0 | Adolph Rupp | same |
| 2 | La Salle | 21–4 | Ken Loeffler | 26–4 |
| 3 | Holy Cross | 23–2 | Buster Sheary | 26–2 |
| 4 | Indiana | 19–3 | Branch McCracken | 20–4 |
| 5 | Duquesne | 24–2 | Dudey Moore | 26–3 |
| 6 | Notre Dame | 20–2 | John Jordan | 22–3 |
| 7 | Bradley | 15–12 | Forddy Anderson | 19–13 |
| 8 | Western Kentucky | 28–1 | Ed Diddle | 29–3 |
| 9 | Penn St. | 14–5 | Elmer Gross | 18–6 |
| 10 | Oklahoma A&M | 23–4 | Hank Iba | 24–5 |
| 11 | USC | 17–12 | Forrest Twogood | 19–14 |
| 12 | George Washington | 23–2 | Bill Reinhart | 23–3 |
| 13 | Iowa | 17–5 | Bucky O'Connor | same |
| 14 | LSU | 21–3 | Harry Rabenhorst | 21–5 |
| 15 | Duke | 22–6 | Harold Bradley | same |
| 16 | Niagara | 22–5 | Taps Gallagher | 24–6 |
| 17 | Seattle | 26–1 | Al Brightman | 26–2 |
| 18 | Kansas | 16–5 | Phog Allen | same |
| 19 | Illinois | 17–5 | Harry Combes | same |
| 20 | Maryland | 23–7 | Bud Millikan | same |
Note: La Salle won the NCAAs and Holy Cross won the NIT.
| 1954 College Basketball Recap | Major Conference Champions |