Sooners Third, Cowboys Eighth In 2014 Preseason Big 12 Poll

Oklahoma was voted third in the 2014 Big 12 Preseason Poll and Oklahoma State was picked to finish eighth. Kansas was the top vote-getter with Texas picked second. The poll is determined by the league's head coaches.

Six coaches picked the Jayhawks to win the league. KU was followed by Texas (74 points; three first-place votes), OU (67 points; one first-place vote), Kansas State (53 points), Iowa State (51 points), Baylor and West Virginia (36 points each), Oklahoma State (27 points), TCU (15 points) and Texas Tech (13 points).

The Sooners, who return four starters from last season, were slotted in their highest preseason position in five years (the 2009-10 team was also picked third). The returning starters are junior guard and preseason All-Big 12 selection Buddy Hield (16.5 ppg), junior guard Isaiah Cousins (11.0 ppg), sophomore guard Jordan Woodard (10.3 ppg, 4.6 apg) and junior forward Ryan Spangler (9.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg). The Sooners start the 2014-15 season with a Nov. 7 home exhibition game against Washburn and begin the regular season Nov. 16 at home against Southeastern Louisiana.

With Marcus Smart and Markel Brown in the NBA and Kamari Murphy and Brian Williams also gone, the Cowboys are looking to replace a significant number of points and rebounds in 2014-15. Travis Ford will get senior forward-center Michael Cobbins back from injury and transfer point guard Anthony Hickey will look to contribute immediately as well. Le'Bryan Nash (13.9 ppg) and Phil Forte (13.3 ppg) figure to pace OSU offensively. The Cowboys open the preseason with Missouri Western on Nov. 8 and begin regular season play on Nov. 14 against Southeastern Louisiana.

2014-15 PRESEASON BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL

(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Kansas (6) 78 points

2. Texas (3) 74 points

3. Oklahoma (1) 67 points

4. Kansas State 53 points

5. Iowa State 51 points

6. Baylor 36 points

West Virginia 36 points

8. Oklahoma State 27 points

9. TCU 15 points

10. Texas Tech 13 points