KU picked to finish second in Big 12

Kansas State, a consensus preseason top 10 team nationally in a variety of media outlets, is also the pick to win the Big 12 title for the first time in a vote of the league's head coaches. The Wildcats received 10 first-place votes in polling for the 2010-11 campaign. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.

The Wildcats are led by All-Big 12 First Team guard Jacob Pullen, who topped his squad in scoring with 19.3 points per game a year ago. He has scored in double figures in 37 consecutive outings, the second-longest streak in school history. K-State has nine lettermen returning from a team that advanced to an NCAA regional final for the first time since 1988.

Kansas was selected second and received the other two first-place votes. The Jayhawks have 12 lettermen slated to be back this season, led by junior forward Marcus Morris. He led the Big 12 by shooting 56.1 percent from the field in conference action (.561) in 2009-10. KU has finished first or second in all but one season since the Big 12 began play in 1996-97.

Texas, Baylor and Missouri were next in the predictions at third, fourth and fifth. All three squads competed in the NCAAs a year ago. The Bears are led by senior guard LaceDarius Dunn, who is on pace to set the Big 12 career scoring record this season.

Three more squads that participated in the postseason in 2009-10 are up next - Texas A&M (NCAA), Texas Tech (NIT) and Oklahoma State (NCAA). Colorado was picked ninth, followed by Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa State to round out the poll.

The Big 12 season gets underway on Monday, November 8 when Texas hosts Navy in the first games of the 2K Sports Classic. Several other league squads begin competition on Friday, November 13, while conference play starts on Saturday, January 8.

The Big 12 Conference will hold its preseason media day on Thursday, October 21 in Kansas City - site of the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championships.

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. Oklahoma 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

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) Texas (2nd)

Kansas (1st)

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