KU men’s basketball is unanimous pick to win Big 12

All-Big 12 first-team guard Sherron Collins, left, talks with Big 12 coach of the year Bill Self in this file photo from Nov. 28, 2008.

Kansas University’s basketball team, a popular preseason pick to win the 2010 NCAA basketball championship, to nobody’s surprise topped the Big 12 coaches poll.

The Jayhawks on Wednesday received all possible first-place votes in polling for the 2009-10 season. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. Texas received the other first place vote — one delivered by KU’s Bill Self.

“We’ve had some really good teams and based on who we return and the prospects we’ve brought in, I can certainly see why people would pick us high,” Self said Wednesday. “We’ve won the league five years in a row. This may be the most difficult (challenge) because the league is so good.”

KU totaled 121 points, followed by Texas (111), Oklahoma (95), Kansas State (92), Texas A&M (74), Oklahoma State (69), Missouri (66), Iowa State (57), Texas Tech (34), Baylor (33), Nebraska (27) and Colorado (13).

“Texas is in the top three preseason in the country, no question,” Self said. “If they (coaches) picked us one, I’d think it was unanimous they picked them (Longhorns) two. They are loaded.”

Self was asked if it ever “gets old” being so highly respected by the league coaches. KU was picked third last season, but first the two seasons before that.

“Winning — rather than being picked first — never grows old,” he said.

Recruiting

Brad Beal will not be attending Friday’s KU’s Late Night in the Phog, Beal’s high school coach tells Rivals.com. Beal, a junior shooting guard from Chaminade High in St. Louis, will be traveling to Alabama State to watch his brother, Bruce, play football. Beal attended last year’s Late Night. Prep seniors to attend Late Night: Harrison Barnes, 6-7, Ames (Iowa) High; Josh Selby, 6-2, Lake Clifton High, Baltimore; Doron Lamb, 6-4, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.; and Royce Woolridge, 6-3, Sunnyslope High, Phoenix. Woolridge has orally committed to KU.

The complete Big 12 preseason poll is below.

Big 12 preseason poll

1. Kansas (11) 121

  1. Texas (1) 111

  2. Oklahoma 95

  3. Kansas State 92

  4. Texas A&M 74

  5. Oklahoma State 69

  6. Missouri 66

  7. Iowa State 57

  8. Texas Tech 34

  9. Baylor 33

  10. Nebraska 27

  11. Colorado 13

(First-place votes in parentheses)