Sooners Selected Third In Big 12 Preseason Baseball Poll

Jan. 27, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - With less than two weeks to go until opening day, the 27th-ranked Oklahoma baseball team was picked third in the Big 12 Conference Coaches Preseason Poll as released by the league office on Monday. OU just missed a second place prediction as it received 61 points in the poll, one point behind No. 2 Baylor's 62 total, as both teams trailed defending national champion Texas. The Longhorns topped the list with 81 points and nine first place votes, while the Sooners were the only other team to receive a first place vote. The poll was based on a vote by each of the 10 conference head coaches who were not allowed to cast a vote for their own team in the process.

"We're very excited about this prediction and its nice to be recognized so highly by the league coaches, but its early in the season. These preseason polls don't carry a lot of weight with us because we know that we ultimately need to prove our worth on the field," commented OU head coach Larry Cochell.

Oklahoma, who enters the season rated 27th by Collegiate Baseball and 38th by Baseball America, returns a strong nucleus from last year's squad that posted a fourth place finish in the conference. Seven starters return in the field and three more on the mound including 2002 All-Big 12 performers Eddie Cornejo, Ryan Richardson and David Purcey. Purcey was recently selected by Baseball America as a second team preseason All-American as well as a preseason favorite to garner All-Big 12 accolades.

The Sooners hit the field on Friday, Feb. 7 against the Southeast Missouri State Indians at 3 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

2003 Big 12 Conference Coaches Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

Rank/School-First Place Votes-Points
1. Texas-9-81
2. Baylor-0-62
3. Oklahoma-1-61
4. (tie) Nebraska-0-54
Texas Tech-0-54
6. Oklahoma State-0-47
7. Texas A&M-0-38
8. Kansas State-0-24
9. Missouri-0-17
10. Kansas-0-10

(Points compiled on a basis of nine for first, eight for second, seven for third, etc.)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Selected Third In Big 12 Preseason Baseball Poll

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors