Feb. 15, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - With opening pitch of the 2011 season just days away, the Big 12 Conference released its preseason coaches' poll Tuesday. Texas A&M was picked to finish third in the race for the league title.
Oklahoma is the preseason favorite to claim the Big 12 baseball regular season championship in the vote of the league's head coaches. In 2010, the Sooners made their 10th College World Series appearance and first trip to Omaha since 1995.
Texas, a super regional team a season ago, finished second in the poll after receiving 76 total points and four first-place votes, just two behind the Sooners' 78 total and six first-place votes.
The Aggies, received 63 points in the poll after returning 16 letterwinners from a 2010 squad that finished 43-21-1 and reached the final of the NCAA Coral Gables Regional for its fourth consecutive postseason appearance under head coach Rob Childress. The Aggies are ranked as high as No. 8 nationally by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball heading into the campaign.
Texas A&M was picked third in last season's Big 12 coaches' preseason poll. The Aggies finished fourth in the league's regular season, but claimed the fifth Big 12 title in program history with a run at Big 12 Championship.
Baylor, another NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, finished with 57 points to rank fourth in the poll, just ahead of Kansas State which garnered 49 points after making a school-record second straight NCAA Regional trip last season.
Oklahoma State checked in at No. 6 in the poll with 37 points, with Texas Tech not far behind in seventh place with 31 points.
Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri finished in the final three spots to round out the poll.
The 2011 season officially gets under way Friday when Texas A&M hosts Le Moyne in a three-game series at Olsen Field. First pitch for the Aggies and Dolphins season-opener is set for 6:35 p.m.
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2011 BIG 12 CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| Rank | Team (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Oklahoma (6) | 78 |
| 2. | Texas (4) | 76 |
| 3. | Texas A&M | 63 |
| 4. | Baylor | 57 |
| 5. | Kansas State | 49 |
| 6. | Oklahoma State | 37 |
| 7. | Texas Tech | 31 |
| 8. | Nebraska | 22 |
| 9. | Kansas | 20 |
| 10. | Missouri | 17 |
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.