Only since the 1989-90 season when the poll went to 25 schools. So a team that is a consistent #24 picks up 27 years of points where as that were top 10 for decades before then, pick up many more. As been pointed out, the game is more competitive now than 30 years ago, or 50 years ago.
Somebody mentioned objectivity. I forget, is this the coaches poll or a writers poll. Either way, it is not 1 man's opinion. Or a small group of men like say the tournament committee. There is some bias. Top teams (Kentucky, Duke, UNC) get the benefit of a doubt. While mid-majors or even bottom half of P5 conferences have to prove themselves. A Duke that goes through the 1st half of their OOC schedule undefeated gets top 10 consideration but a mid-major who goes undefeated for all of its OOC gets smirks when in get #24. Also supposed rough-tough conferences (ACC) get the benefit of a doubt because "they beat up on each other" while others who's top teams have several loses just prove that they are mediocre!
Oh I forgot, congrats to SU for being in the top 10. And to St. Bonnies for being #81. Not bad for a school of 2500 students.