A week ago the Big 12 released its preseason player poll, and Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart won out over Kansas' Andrew Wiggins.
On Thursday, the Big 12 unveiled its preseason coaches poll for league-wide predictions on teams, and Oklahoma State is again at the top -- tied with Kansas. It's the third time since 1996, when the Big 12 became the Big 12, that the preseason team poll has drawn a tie. This is the 12th time Kansas has been chosen to finish atop the league; it's the third instance for OSU.
Kansas is just loaded this year. Wiggins is only one (really nice) piece. Word coming out of practices in Lawrence have freshman Joel Embiid looking better than anyone else, while Naadir Tharpe will scoot into a pivotal role as starting point guard. Freshman Wayne Selden and sophomore Perry Ellis also make this Kansas team so naturally talented, you can't help but see the team winning at least 25 games again.
Oklahoma State will have junior Le'Bryan Nash and the most underrated player nationally in senior Markel Brown, not to mention sophomore Phil Forte. Those three and Smart led the Pokes in scoring last season.
Baylor finished third, Iowa State behind it. The entire poll is below, as is the history of preseason picks by coaches in the league. Our Big 12 preview is live, by the way, so head over and give it a look. Do we think OSU is beating out Kansas?
| Team (First-place Votes) | Points | |
| 1. | Kansas (5) | 77 |
| Oklahoma State (5) | 77 | |
| 3. | Baylor | 63 |
| 4. | Iowa State | 56 |
| 5. | Kansas State | 43 |
| Oklahoma | 43 | |
| 7. | West Virginia | 35 |
| 8. | Texas | 30 |
| 9. | Texas Tech | 14 |
| 10. | TCU | 12 |
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL HISTORY
| Preseason Selection (actual finish) | Big 12 Champion (preseason selection) | |
| 2012-13 | Kansas (Tie-1st) | Kansas (1st) |
| Kansas State (5th) | ||
| 2011-12 | Kansas (1st) | Kansas (1st) |
| Texas A&M (9th) | ||
| 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) | 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) |
| 1999-2000 | 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 |
