The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Basketball picked as preseason favorite to win the Big 12
10.08.2014 | Women's Basketball
Longhorns chosen by league coaches to win the Big 12.
IRVING, Texas -- Texas Women's Basketball was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2014-15 Big 12 women's basketball regular season title for the third time in Conference history, in a vote of the league's head coaches released on Wednesday.
The first-place votes were spread among four teams with Texas tallying five and accumulating a total of 73 points. Baylor was picked second with two first-place votes and 71 points. West Virginia also received two first-place nods and placed third with 66 points. Oklahoma State picked up the final first-place vote and was chosen fourth with 63 points. Oklahoma rounded out the top five followed by Iowa State in sixth, TCU listed seventh, Kansas eighth, K-State ninth and Texas Tech in 10th.
The Longhorns, seeking their third Big 12 regular season title, were also picked at the top of the preseason rankings in 2003-04 and 2004-05. UT won the regular season in 2002-03 and shared the title in 2003-04 with Kansas State.
Texas features 10 returning letter-winners, including four starters, from last season's squad that finished third in the Big 12 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. In the Preseason Big 12 honors released last week, guard Ariel Atkins was named the Preseason Freshman of the Year, senior forward Nneka Enemkpali was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, and junior center Imani McGee-Stafford was given honorable mention Preseason All-Big 12 honors. Karen Aston's incoming recruiting class is ranked No. 11 by ESPN.com.
The 2013-14 campaign marked the fifth-straight year for the Big 12 to lead the nation in percentage of teams in the NCAA field. The Conference has led or tied for the nation's top spot in seven of eight years dating back to 2007. The Big 12 also led the nation in average home attendance for the 15th-consecutive year.
The Longhorns begin the 2014-15 season with an exhibition contest against Oklahoma City University on Nov. 9 in Austin. To order tickets for the upcoming 2014-15 Women's Basketball season, call 512-471-3333 or visit TexasSports.com/tickets.
2014-15 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
First-place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team.
1. Texas (5)
2. Baylor (2)
3. West Virginia (2)
4. Oklahoma State (1)
5. Oklahoma
6. Iowa State
7. TCU
8. Kansas
9. K-State
10. Texas Tech
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL HISTORY
Year - Preseason Selection (Big 12 Champion)
1996-97 - Poll Not Conducted (Kansas)
1997-98 - Texas Tech (Texas Tech)
1998-99 - Kansas (Texas Tech)
1999-00 - Iowa State (Iowa State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma)
2000-01 - Iowa State (Oklahoma)
2001-02 - Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
2002-03 - Texas Tech (Texas)
2003-04 - Texas (Texas, Kansas State)
2004-05 - Texas (Baylor)
2005-06 - Baylor (Oklahoma)
2006-07 - Oklahoma (Texas A&M, Oklahoma)
2007-08 - Texas A&M (Kansas State)
2008-09 - Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
2009-10 - Baylor (Nebraska)
2010-11 - Baylor (Baylor)
2011-12 - Baylor (Baylor)
2012-13 - Baylor (Baylor)
2013-14 - Oklahoma (Baylor, West Virginia)
