<table> </table> I t’s close at the top, at least in the preseason Big 12 men’s basketball coaches poll.</p><p>Four teams received multiple first-place votes — coaches could not vote for their own teams — and defending national champion Kansas finished tied for third with Baylor in the balloting.</p><p>Oklahoma, with four returning starters led by forward Blake Griffin, was first, followed by Texas, which lost to NCAA runner-up Memphis in the Elite Eight last season.</p><p>The Jayhawks lost all five starters from a team that finished 37-3 and became the first national titlist from the Big 12.</p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Team (1st-place votes)</strong></td><td align="center"><strong>Pts.</strong></td><td align="center"><strong>’07-08 rec.</strong></td><td><strong>Top returner</strong></td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>1. Oklahoma (3)</td><td align="center">109</td><td align="center">23-12</td><td>Blake Griffin, F</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>2. Texas (4)</td><td align="center">107</td><td align="center">31-7</td><td>Damion James, F</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>3. Kansas (3)</td><td align="center">103</td><td align="center">37-3</td><td>Sherron Collins, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td> Baylor (2)</td><td align="center">103</td><td align="center">21-11</td><td>Curtis Jerrells, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>5. Texas A&M</td><td align="center">79</td><td align="center">25-11</td><td>Josh Carter, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>6. Oklahoma State</td><td align="center">69</td><td align="center">17-16</td><td>Byron Eaton, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>7. Missouri</td><td align="center">51</td><td align="center">16-16</td><td>DeMarre Carroll, F</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>8. Kansas State</td><td align="center">50</td><td align="center">21-12</td><td>Jacob Pullen, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>9. Nebraska</td><td align="center">49</td><td align="center">20-13</td><td>Steve Harley, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>10. Texas Tech</td><td align="center">39</td><td align="center">16-15 </td><td>John Roberson, G</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>11. Iowa State</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="center">14-18</td><td>Craig Brackins, F</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>12. Colorado</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">12-20</td><td>Cory Higgins, G</td></tr> </table> </div>

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Posted on Tue, Oct. 07, 2008 10:15 PM

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It’s a jump ball going into the Big 12 men’s basketball season

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I t’s close at the top, at least in the preseason Big 12 men’s basketball coaches poll.

Four teams received multiple first-place votes — coaches could not vote for their own teams — and defending national champion Kansas finished tied for third with Baylor in the balloting.

Oklahoma, with four returning starters led by forward Blake Griffin, was first, followed by Texas, which lost to NCAA runner-up Memphis in the Elite Eight last season.

The Jayhawks lost all five starters from a team that finished 37-3 and became the first national titlist from the Big 12.

Team (1st-place votes)	Pts.	’07-08 rec.	Top returner
1. Oklahoma (3)	109	23-12	Blake Griffin, F
2. Texas (4)	107	31-7	Damion James, F
3. Kansas (3)	103	37-3	Sherron Collins, G
Baylor (2)	103	21-11	Curtis Jerrells, G
5. Texas A&M	79	25-11	Josh Carter, G
6. Oklahoma State	69	17-16	Byron Eaton, G
7. Missouri	51	16-16	DeMarre Carroll, F
8. Kansas State	50	21-12	Jacob Pullen, G
9. Nebraska	49	20-13	Steve Harley, G
10. Texas Tech	39	16-15	John Roberson, G
11. Iowa State	20	14-18	Craig Brackins, F
12. Colorado	13	12-20	Cory Higgins, G

| Blair Kerkhoff, bkerkhoff@kcstar.com

Posted on Tue, Oct. 07, 2008 10:15 PM

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