Men's Basketball Picked Fourth In Big 12 Media Poll

Oct. 30, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - Twelve days after being picked by Big 12 coaches to finish fourth in the 2001-02 conference race, the University of Oklahoma men's basketball team was predicted to do the same by a panel of 30 media members who cover the league. The Sooners received 265 points and stand behind league favorite Kansas (344 points), Missouri (324) and Oklahoma State (289) in a poll released today.

Behind the Sooners in the poll are Texas, Iowa State, Colorado, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. The first seven teams in the media poll matched those in the coaches version.

OU junior wing Ebi Ere (pronounced EBB-ee air-RAH) was named the Big 12's Preseason Newcomer of the Year, the same honor bestowed upon him by conference coaches. The 6-5 transfer from Barton County (Kan.) Community College was a second-team All-American last year when he averaged 25.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest. The 1999 Oklahoma High School Player of the Year signed with Oklahoma out of McLain High School in Tulsa before going the junior college route.

No Sooners made the five-man preseason all-conference squad, but Ere, senior forward Aaron McGhee and junior guard Hollis Price were among the 10 players who received votes. Missouri's Kareem Rush was named preseason player of the year while Texas' T.J. Ford was named preseason freshman of the year.

Oklahoma is coming off a 26-7 season in which it finished the regular season ranked 13th in the AP poll. OU finished second in the Big 12 Conference race, won the league tournament and qualified for its seventh straight NCAA Tournament. Head coach Kelvin Sampson is beginning his eighth year at Oklahoma.

2001-02 Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)

Team                Points

1. Kansas (19)      344

2. Missouri (11)    324

3. Oklahoma State   289

4. Oklahoma         265

5. Texas            263

6. Iowa State       202

7. Colorado         175

8. Baylor           126

9. Texas Tech       116

10. Kansas State    107

11. Nebraska        64

12. Texas A&M       48

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's Basketball Picked Fourth In Big 12 Media Poll

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