Oklahoma Preseason Favorite in Big 12 Women's Basketball

This season’s predictions proved to be difficult as the 12 first-place votes were spread among five programs. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. The Big 12 is coming off a campaign that produced a conference-record 11 postseason bids, including eight in the 2008 NCAA Championship field.

The Sooners received seven first-place nods and 124 total points as they return four starters, highlighted by three-time unanimous All-America Courtney Paris. Texas earned one first-place vote and 95 points to nab second, followed by Iowa State in third with two first-place votes and 93 points. Baylor was picked fourth with one first-place vote and 89 points while 2008 Big 12 postseason champion Texas A&M was chosen fifth with 85 points. Oklahoma State earned the final first-place vote with 79 points in sixth.

Defending Big 12 regular season champion Kansas State was picked seventh followed by Nebraska, Kansas, Texas Tech, Colorado and Missouri.

BU, ISU, KSU, NU, OU, OSU, UT and TAMU competed in the NCAA Tournament last year as the Big 12 became the first conference in the history of the championship to compile an 8-0 record in first round games. CU, KU and TTU represented the conference in the WNIT.

Big 12 squads return 108 letterwinners to 2008-09 squads, including 41 starters. Conference teams combined lost just 20 seniors from last year with only six of those averaging double-digit scoring.

The 2008-09 regular season gets underway on Friday, Nov. 14. Big 12 head coaches and select student-athletes will convene in Oklahoma City on Oct. 22 for the annual Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day. Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center will serve as the site of the 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15.

2008-09 Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Preseason Poll History