The Big 12 preseason basketball poll was released, and there’s nothing new at the top. Kansas is picked once again to win the conference title.
The Jayhawks have won the last 12 regular season titles in the Big 12, and this is the fifth year in a row they’ve been picked to win it.
2016-17 Big 12 Preseason Poll
| Team (First-place votes) | Points | |
| 1. | Kansas (9)* | 81 |
| 2. | West Virginia | 65 |
| 3. | Texas | 59 |
| 4. | Iowa State | 56 |
| 5. | Baylor | 53 |
| 6. | Oklahoma | 40 |
| 7. | Oklahoma State | 32 |
| Texas Tech | 32 | |
| 9. | Kansas State | 20 |
| 10. | TCU | 12 |
Some interesting tidbits to consider as a way to not overreact to the poll:
OU has finished higher than where they were picked in the Big 12 Preseason Poll in four of the five seasons under head coach Lon Kruger. Oklahoma has finished the regular season in the top four of the Big 12 standings in each of the past four seasons.
One team that I think could exceed expectations: Oklahoma State. The Cowboys return the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in point guard Jawun Evans, along with former All-Big 12 guard Phil Forte and its leading rebounder, Leyton Hammonds.
The Big 12 has sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons, which leads the nation. Last season, five of those seven teams were seeded fifth or better in the tournament, the most of any conference. The Big 12 has also been the top conference in the nation in the RPI for three consecutive seasons and boasted the nation’s best non-conference winning percentage in 2015-16.
**If you want a chance to win FREE Big 12 gear from your favorite team, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter! **
