Robinson, Taylor earn preseason honors

Kansas junior Thomas Robinson and senior Tyshawn Taylor earned 2011-12 Preseason All-Big 12 honors as selected by the conference coaches and released by the league office Thursday.

Robinson, a 6-10 forward from Washington D.C., was one of three players chosen by all nine opposing coaches in the league for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Robinson's selection marked the sixth-straight year Kansas placed at least one player on the five-man Preseason All-Big 12 Team and the second unanimous choice for a Jayhawk during that time. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players for league awards.

Playing behind the Morris twins, Robinson provided valuable minutes off the bench throughout the 2010-11 season, averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 33 games. Robinson recorded four double-doubles during the year and the second-best field goal percentage for Kansas at 60.1 percent.

"I'm glad the coaches selected me, but this is like the other preseason teams I'm on, based on potential," said Robinson. "I have to prove it during the year. I'm glad to see Tyshawn on the team. He's one of the best guards in the Big 12. We're winding up boot camp and looking forward to Late Night (in the Phog) and the season starting."

A 6-3 guard from Hoboken, N.J., Taylor received Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Taylor, a regular starter for Kansas all three years with the team, posted career bests in assists with 164 and three-point field goal percentage at 38 percent in the 2010-11 season. Taylor is KU's leading returning scorer after averaging 9.3 points per game last year.

Kansas kicks off its season by hosting the 27th annual Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 14. Doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m., and programming will run from 6:30 to approximately 9:30 p.m.