Big 12 coaches predicted ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will have a rough initiation to its new conference, picking the Wildcats to finish fifth and handing preseason honors only to guard Caleb Love.
In voting by the league's 16 coaches released Thursday, Kansas was predicted to win what is now regarded as college basketball's best conference, followed by Houston, Iowa State, Baylor and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. The Jayhawks received nine first-place votes while Houston had five with Iowa State and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ both receiving one first-place vote each.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was also picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 in the two major preseason publications on the market, Lindy's and Blue Ribbon Yearbook.
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The three other teams moving over with UA from the Big 12 were predicted to struggle in the new league: ASU was picked 12th, Colorado 15th and Utah 16th.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Caleb Love, shown celebrating a dunk against Wisconsin last season, was picked to the Big 12's preseason first team but voting by the league's coaches put them in fifth place in a preseason poll
In individual awards, Big 12 coaches named Kansas' Hunter Dickinson the league's preseason player of the year, while Baylor's VJ Edgecombe was named newcomer of the year. The newcomer of the year award was a tie between Baylor's Jeremy Roach, a Duke transfer, and Kansas State's Coleman Hawkins, a transfer from Illinois.
The conference is expected to receive more preseason buzz during its media day on Oct. 23 in Kansas City.
Full 2024-25 Big 12 Coaches' preseason poll
(with total points and first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Kansas 215 (9)
2. Houston 211 (5)
3. Iowa State 194 (1)
4. Baylor 185
5. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 179 (1)
6. Cincinnati 140
7. Texas Tech 135
8. Kansas State 133
9. BYU 116
10. TCU 90
11. UCF 83
12. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State 64
13. West Virginia 62
14. Oklahoma State 46
15. Colorado 37
16. Utah 30
Preseason All-Big 12 first team
• Caleb Love, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
• LJ Cryer, Houston
• J'Wan Roberts, Houston
• Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
• Hunter Dickinson, Kansas*
*- unanimous selection
Preseason All-Big 12 second team
• Norchad Omier, Baylor
• Jeremy Roach, Baylor
• Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
• Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
• Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
Preseason players of the year
• Preseason Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
• Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Jeremy Roach, Baylor
• Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State
• Preseason Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
