October 16, 2006
The Texas A&M men's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Big 12 in 2006-07 in a vote of the league's coaches, the conference office announced on Monday. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Kansas is the preseason favorite for the conference title, garnering 121 points. The Jayhawks received 11 first-place votes and the Aggies received one, finishing with 109 points.
It is the highest A&M has finished in the preseason poll. The Aggies previous best was seventh prior to last season. A&M has four starters back, plus its top six scorers.
Kansas welcomes back all five starters from last season, returning 85.2 percent of its scoring. With eight of its top 10 scorers back, Oklahoma State was chosen third with 97 points.
Texas was selected to finish fourth, followed by Kansas State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Missouri. The Wildcats (Bob Huggins) and Tigers (Mike Anderson) are two of six league schools that will welcome new head coaches, while Texas Tech mentor Bob Knight needs just 11 wins to break the all-time NCAA victory mark. Baylor's predicted finish is its highest in Big 12 history.
Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa State and Colorado rounded out the poll.
A&M opens its regular season at home on Nov. 10 against Prairie View A&M and opens the Big 12 season at home on Jan. 6 against Kansas State.
The Big 12 Conference will have its preseason media days on Wednesday and Thursday in Oklahoma City, site of the 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championships.
2006-07 Big 12 Preseason Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Points 1. Kansas (11)* 121 2. Texas A&M (1) 109 3. Oklahoma State 97 4. Texas 95 5. Kansas State 76 6. Texas Tech 68 7. Baylor 60 8. Missouri 44 9. Oklahoma 42 10. Nebraska 37 11. Iowa State 23 12. Colorado 20
Eleven points were awarded for first place, 10 for second, etc.
Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
* - Unanimous selection