Kansas Men's Basketball Chosen Second in Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll for 2011
Oct. 5, 2010
IRVING, Texas – Kansas has been predicted to finish second in the 2011 conference race in the Big 12 men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll released Tuesday.
Kansas State was chosen first and received 10 of a possible 11 first-place votes as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Kansas was second garnering the other two first-place votes followed by Texas, Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
“Based on what K-State returns and the year they had last year, I voted for them to win the league as well,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said of Kansas State, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and lost only one starter from 2009-10. “I do like our team a lot. It is a goal of our team every year to win our league. Even though we are not picked to do that, we are going to work hard to try and achieve that. I do think the league will be as strong as it has been for the last few seasons with as much parity as there has been.”
Historically, the coaches have predicted the eventual champion eight times in the 13-year history of the preseason poll (there was no poll in 1996-97). Of Kansas’ nine Big 12 regular-season titles, excluding 1996-97, the Jayhawks were the coaches’ preseason selection seven times.
Kansas is the six-time defending Big 12 men’s basketball champion entering the 2010-11 season. The Jayhawks have won or tied for 10 of the 14 Big 12 regular-season titles and seven postseason titles. KU returns two starters and 12 letterwinners from last season’s 33-3 team which went 15-1 in the conference season, won the Big 12 Championship and was ranked No. 1 for 15 weeks.
2010-11 Big 12 Preseason Poll
Team (First-place votes) – Points
1. Kansas State (10) – 119
2. KANSAS (2) – 109
3. Texas – 99
4. Baylor – 96
5. Missouri – 82
6. Texas A&M – 69
7. Texas Tech – 52
8. Oklahoma State – 51
9. Colorado – 46
10. Nebraska – 31
11. O klahoma – 27
12. Iowa State – 11
Eleven points were awarded for first place, 10 for second, etc. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Big 12 Preseason Poll History
Preseason Big 12 Champion
Season – Preseason Selection (actual finish); Big 12 Champion (preseason selection)
2009-10 – KANSAS (1st); KANSAS (1st)
2008-09 – Oklahoma (2nd); KANSAS (3rd)
2007-08 – KANSAS (Tie – 1st); KANSAS (1st) and Texas (2nd)
2006-07 – KANSAS (1st); KANSAS (1st)
2005-06 – Texas (Tie – 1st); KANSAS (3rd) and Texas (1st)
2004-05 – KANSAS (Tie – 1st) and Oklahoma State (3rd); KANSAS (Tie – 1st) and Oklahoma (4th)
2003-04 – Missouri (Tie – 5th); Oklahoma State (5th)
2002-03 – KANSAS (1st); KANSAS (1st)
2001-02 – KANSAS (1st); KANSAS (1st)
2000-01 – KANSAS (Tie – 2nd); Iowa State (4th)
1999-00 – KANSAS (5th); Iowa State (6th)
1998-99 – Oklahoma State (Tie – 5th); Texas (5th)
1997-98 – KANSAS (1st); KANSAS (1st)
1996-97 – No coaches poll; KANSAS
