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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Baylor
- Kansas
- Texas
- TCU
- Oklahoma State
- Texas Tech (tied 5th)
- Oklahoma
- Iowa State
- West Virginia
- Kansas State
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM:
-Adam Flagler – SR, G – Baylor
-Jalen Wilson – JR, F – Kansas
-Avery Anderson III – SR, G – Oklahoma State
-Mike Miles – JR, G – TCU
-Timmy Allen – SR, F – Texas
-Marcus Carr – SR, G – Texas
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-Baylor has been a consistent top-ten program for the last several years and chances are that will not change this year. They are the preseason favorites to win the conference and return two key starters from last year’s team. They are also adding some high-caliber freshmen and appear to be totally reloaded for yet another top-ten-caliber season. The job that Coach Scott Drew has done building up this program is Hall of Fame worthy!
-Kansas is the defending national champion. They are always good and always talented. So, it is no surprise that coming into this year they appear to be good and talented. They have lost one of their top players from a year ago, but with two key starters returning and with their usual highly-rated recruiting class coming in, the Jayhawks will once again be in the mix for a spot at the top of the conference and a protected seed come March.
-Expectations are also high for Chris Beard’s Longhorns this year as he enters his second year as head coach. Beard has a history of exceeding expectations that are already set pretty high so having the Longhorns high in the preseason rankings makes a lot of sense. Three key starters are back from a team that won 22 games and advanced to the Round of 32 a year ago. They appear to be balanced, experienced, and have a fair amount of depth coming off their bench.
-Everyone, including myself, is big on this TCU team coming into this year. They do not have a history of being a blue blood, but this year’s edition could be a top-20-caliber team. All five starters are back from a team that won 26 games and advanced to the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. With all that experience, the Horned Frogs should be even better this year. They are (understandably and deservedly) beginning the season in the Top-25 and it would not shock me to see them stay there all year long.
-I love Oklahoma State this year. People think I am crazy but I think they are a dark horse both in this conference and on the national stage as well. They are so tough to beat at home that I think they can run the table in their home games this year. Hell…I think they can actually win the league!! Four starters are back from a team that was a modest 15-15, but they also showed some high-caliber moments in a season where they were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. With so much returning and with so much to play for this year, plus having the pieces they need to win big, I think the Pokes are going to win big this year!
-Mark Adams’s first season at Texas Tech last year was a roaring success. He proved himself to be a high-caliber coach. The Red Raiders won 27 games and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This year just one starter returns. The question is can this program sustain that success now that the roster has turned over? I am not going to say that they cannot, but I’m also not going to say that I am all in on them having a big year this year either.
-Porter Moser’s first year at Oklahoma was not too bad last year. They won 19 total games and played in the NIT. The top of the league is so good that it is hard for me to see them finishing in the top half of it, but if they can play well at home and win against the bottom three or four teams at the bottom of the league, then they could end up playing their way onto the bubble this year.
-Iowa State shocked the world last year. They are one of the many reminders that none of the preseason rankings or previews really mean anything. Expected by many (including myself) to be the worst teams out of all the multi-bid conferences last year, they won 22 games, spent much of the season in the rankings, and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. This year, I do not think they’re an NCAA Tournament team. They just do not appear to have the pieces… but what the hell do I know??
-I think West Virginia will be decent this year. They are always tough defensively and likely will be again this year. I just do not think they are good enough to compete with most of the teams in this league, and certainly not good enough to play with anyone in the top half of it. They will be a decent overall team with a poor conference record that will likely miss the NCAA Tournament again.
-Kansas State…I do not even think is decent. If they finish higher than 10th I will consider them to have exceeded expectations.