If Oklahoma wins its first Big 12 basketball title since 2005, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The conference’s coaches have decided it’s the likely scenario for this coming season.
The Sooners received three first-place votes and a total of 109 points in the conference’s annual preseason poll to edge second-place Texas. The Longhorns captured four first-place votes and 107 total points. Teams received 12 points for a first-place vote, 11 points for a second-place vote, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote on the poll placement of their own team.
It marked the first time the Sooners will enter the season as the Big 12’s favorite. The league’s coaches have picked the Sooners to finish second four times (1997-98, 2000-01, 2002-03 and 2005-06).
Trailing OU and Texas in this year’s poll are Baylor (two first-place votes) and Kansas (three) with 103 points each, Texas A&M; (79 points), Oklahoma State (69), Missouri (51), Kansas State (50), Nebraska (49), Texas Tech (39), Iowa State (20) and Colorado (13).
“It’s going to be a very tight Big 12 race this season,” OU coach Jeff Capel said. “The coaches poll is a perfect example of the depth of our conference. We are looking forward to an exciting league race.”
OU, which starts practice Oct. 17, is coming off a 23-12 season in which it tied for fourth in the Big 12 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners return four starters from that team, including sophomore forward and preseason first-team All-American Blake Griffin.
Last year, Griffin averaged 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds to become the first OU freshman in 25 seasons (Wayman Tisdale, 1983) to earn first-team all-conference honors. He will be joined by fellow returning starters Tony Crocker (11.4 ppg), Austin Johnson (8.6 ppg) and Taylor Griffin (6.5 ppg). Together, the Sooners return 69 percent of their scoring from last year, 68 percent of their rebounding and 72 percent of their assists.
OU has also brought in seven newcomers, including McDonald’s All-America guard Willie Warren.
“It’s nice to be recognized in October, but we’re much more interested in where we’re standing five months from now,” Blake Griffin said. “It will mean a lot more if we’re on top of the Big 12 when the season ends. We have a lot of talent, but we also have a lot of work to do.”
OU opens the regular season with a Nov. 14 home game against 2008 NCAA Tournament participant American. That contest will be preceded by a pair of home exhibition games on Nov. 5 against Panhandle State and Nov. 8 against Cameron.
OU Sports
Coaches like Sooners on top
- OU Sports
-
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
As Oklahoma’s players headed toward the exit at United Spirit Arena on Saturday night, most had dazed looks on their faces. The 65-47 loss to Texas Tech was something they didn’t see coming....
-
Husky challenge
No time might seem like a good time to face Connecticut. The Huskies are always terrific and this season will enter Lloyd Noble Center likely ranked No. 2 following Notre Dame’s Sunday loss to West Virginia....
-
Sooners put finishing touches on perfect opener
Oklahoma capped off a perfect opening weekend of softball on Sunday with an 11-1 victory over Kent State. The Sooners were led by another strong outing from pitcher Keilani Rickets and an offensive explosion by Allee Allen....
-
Illinois halts OU’s upset
ITHACA, N.Y. — Oklahoma was not upset at the National Duals on Sunday. It did, however, leave disappointed....
-
Sooners fall flat against Raiders
LUBBOCK, Texas — All that progress Oklahoma believes it has been making didn’t make the trip to Texas Tech on Saturday. The Sooners moonwalked their way to a 65-47 loss at United Spirit Arena that easily qualified as the season’s worst ...
-
Sooners narrowly avoid handing Tigers their first win in Big 12 play
Morgan Hook hit the free throws and Kaylon Williams blocked the shot, grabbed the rebound, got fouled and made one of two from the stripe to put the game away....
-
Winning is only option
Every locker room in college basketball has the same topic floating around. It’s February. All are thinking about March Madness. Of course, some are thinking about their immediate future. Others are simply dreaming....
-
Sooners will test their mettle against country’s best at National Duals
Dual State is today....
-
Mizzou back on deck after another blowout loss to Baylor
Not again? Yes, again. For the second time this season, the Oklahoma women will have to put aside a disheartening and embarrassing loss to Baylor and get on with the rest of their season....
-
Sooners cruise past competition at Perfect 10
OKLAHOMA CITY — Compared to the rest of its schedule, Oklahoma was supposed to have a relatively easy night. Both Iowa State and Southeast Missouri are in the midst of down seasons. With little chance of losing, the fifth-ranked Sooners ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
