Big 12 Releases 2006 Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll

Jan. 24, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Big 12 Conference coaches have tabbed the University of Kansas to finish eighth in the 2006 Preseason Poll. Defending NCAA champion Texas has been selected to win the 2006 Big 12 regular season crown.

The Jayhawks return seven starting position players and two starting pitchers off the 2005 squad that won 36 games. In head coach Ritch Price’s first three seasons, the Jayhawks have won 30-plus games for an unprecedented three consecutive years.

Texas’ 79 points were nine ahead of 2005 Big 12 champion Nebraska. The Longhorns garnered eight first place votes while the Huskers and third place Missouri Tigers each received one first place tally. Baylor came in fourth with 54 points followed by Oklahoma (44), Oklahoma State (41) and Texas A&M (36).

The Jayhawks received 24 points to tie them for eighth with Texas Tech. In-state rival Kansas State rounded out the ten team league with 11 points.

Kansas will be the first Big 12 team to open the season when it begins play on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Hawai’i-Hilo.

2006 Preseason Big 12 Baseball Coaches Poll (First Place Votes in Parentheses)1. 	Texas (8)        	792. 	Nebraska (1)      	703. 	Missouri (1)	664. 	Baylor      	545. 	Oklahoma  	446. 	Oklahoma State	417. 	Texas A&M     	36t8. 	Kansas           	24	Texas Tech      	2410. 	Kansas State    	11