AP Poll - March 3, 1997
Poll 17 of 18 of the 1996-1997 season; Connecticut is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Connecticut | Big East | - |
| 2. | Old Dominion | CAA | - |
| 3. | Stanford | Pac-10 | - |
| 4. | North Carolina | ACC | 1 |
| 5. | Louisiana Tech | Sun Belt | 1 |
| 6. | Florida | SEC | 4 |
| 7. | Georgia | SEC | 3 |
| 8. | Alabama | SEC | 1 |
| 9. | Kansas | Big 12 | 2 |
| 10. | LSU | SEC | 1 |
| 11. | Tennessee | SEC | 3 |
| 12. | Texas | Big 12 | - |
| 13. | Notre Dame | Big East | 1 |
| 14. | Virginia | ACC | 1 |
| 15. | Texas Tech | Big 12 | - |
| 16. | Illinois | Big 10 | 2 |
| 17. | Stephen F. Austin | SLC | 1 |
| 18. | George Washington | A-10 | 1 |
| 19. | Auburn | SEC | new |
| 20. | Vanderbilt | SEC | 3 |
| 21. | Clemson | ACC | 1 |
| 22. | Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | 1 |
| 23. | Michigan State | Big 10 | 3 |
| 24. | Tulane | C-USA | new |
| 25. | Duke | ACC | - |