Kansas Unanimous Choice to Win Big 12 Men's Basketball Title
Oct. 11, 2012
IRVING, Texas – For the 11th time in 17-year history of Big 12, Kansas has earned at least a share of the designation as preseason favorite to win the Conference. The Jayhawks have been picked to win the 2012-13 Big 12 men’s basketball crown in a vote of the league’s head coaches after capturing their eighth-straight outright or shared regular-season title a year ago.
KU will be led by seniors Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford, who were starters on the Jayhawks’ squad that advanced to the 2012 NCAA Championship game. The team has eight letterwinners back from that team led by Withey, who broke the Big 12 and Kansas single-season blocked shots record with 140 rejections a year ago. The Jayhawks have won a NCAA-best 55 conference titles in their history.
Baylor garnered the other first-place vote and was picked second, its highest finish ever in the preseason tally. Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas State came in third, fourth and fifth in the predictions. West Virginia, Oklahoma and Iowa State were next, while Texas Tech and TCU rounded out the poll.
Team (First-place votes) – Points
1. KANSAS (9)* – 81
2. Baylor (1) – 63
3. Oklahoma State – 60
4. Texas – 58
5. Kansas State – 54
6. West Virginia – 45
7. Oklahoma – 34
8. Iowa State – 28
9. Texas Tech – 18
10. TCU – 9
* – Unanimous Selection
Nine points were awarded for first place, eight for second, etc. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Big 12 Preseason Poll History
Season – Preseason Selection (actual finish)/Champion (preseason selection)
2011-12 – KANSAS (1st), Texas A&M (9)/KANSAS (1st)
2010-11 – Kansas State (Tie – 3rd)/KANSAS (2nd)
2009-10 – KANSAS (1st)/KANSAS (1st)
2008-09 – Oklahoma (2nd)/KANSAS (3rd)
2007-08 – KANSAS (Tie – 1st)/KANSAS (1st), Texas (2nd)
2006-07 – KANSAS (1st)/KANSAS (1st)
2005-06 – Texas (Tie – 1st)/Kansas (3rd), Texas (1st)
2004-05 – KANSAS (Tie – 1st)/KANSAS (Tie – 1st), Oklahoma State (3rd), 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
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