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Jay C. Upchurch
10/11/2007, 11:58 AM
DALLAS — The Big 12 Conference men’s basketball coaches picked the Oklahoma Sooners to finish in fifth place (tied with Missouri) in the Big 12 race this season, according to the annual preseason poll released by the league today.

The Sooners, who received 66 poll points, were slated behind No. 1 Kansas (120 points, 10 first-place votes), No. 2 Texas (105 points), No. 3 Texas A&M (101 points, two first-place votes) and No. 4 Kansas State (91 points). OU and Missouri were picked to finish ahead of No. 7 Oklahoma State (61 points), No. 8 Texas Tech (60 points), No. 9 Baylor (55 points), No. 10 Nebraska (29 points), No. 11 Iowa State (22 points) and No. 12 Colorado (16 points).

Eleven points were awarded for first place, 10 points for second place, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Second-year head coach Jeff Capel welcomes back seven letterwinners, including seniors David Godbold and Longar Longar, from last year’s 16-15 team that finished tied for seventh in the Big 12 (OU was picked to finish in ninth place in last year’s preseason coaches poll). The squad returns 61 percent of its scoring, 70 percent of its rebounding and 66 percent of its assists from last season.

Six newcomers, led by 2007 McDonald’s All-American Blake Griffin and first-team junior college All-American Omar Leary, join the Sooners this year.

Oklahoma will hold its first official practice of the 2007-08 season on Friday (closed to the public) and play home exhibition games on Oct. 31 (Rockhurst at 7 p.m.) and Nov. 2 (Fayetteville State at 7 p.m.). The Sooners start the regular season earlier than ever before, with a Nov. 8 first-round game in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic against San Francisco. OU will face either Denver or East Central in the second round on Nov. 9.

For OU men’s basketball ticket information, contact the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 456-4668 or (405) 325-2424.


2007-08 Big 12 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Kansas (10) -- 120 points
2. Texas -- 105 points
3. Texas A&M (2) -- 101 points
4. Kansas State -- 91 points
5. Oklahoma -- 66 points
5. Missouri -- 66 points
7. Oklahoma State -- 61 points
8. Texas Tech -- 60 points
9. Baylor -- 55 points
10. Nebraska -- 29 points
11. Iowa State -- 22 points
12. Colorado -- 16 points

stoopified
10/11/2007, 04:56 PM
That is the highest I have seen OU listed in ANY poll.Athlon,Lindy's and Sporting News have OU 7th,8th,8th respectively.I think the coaches are right,at least I hope so.

Ash
10/11/2007, 05:33 PM
It'll be interesting to see how aTm and Kitty State actually do this year. I think there might be room for someone like Oklahoma to move up in those standings when everything shakes out.