Sampsons Sooners Picked Fourth in Big 12 by Coaches

Drew Lavender named Co-Preseason Freshman of the Year

NORMAN, Okla. After losing three of its top four scorers from last season's 27-7 Elite Eight squad, the OU men's basketball team was picked to finish in fourth place by Big 12 Coaches in the preseason poll released today by the conference office.

With 92 points, the Sooners finished behind Missouri (114), Texas (108) and Kansas (106). Eleven points were awarded for a first-place vote while one point was given for an 11th-place vote (coaches were not allowed to vote on the position of their own teams). Missouri received seven first-place votes while Texas and Kansas got three and one, respectively.

Following OU in the poll were Oklahoma State (81), Colorado (71), Texas Tech (64), Kansas State (48), Texas A&M (41), Iowa State (33), Nebraska (23) and Baylor (11).

The Big 12 coaches also voted on preseason player, newcomer and freshman honors and OU's Drew Lavender was named Co-Preseason Freshman of the Year. The 5-7 point guard from Columbus, Ohio, earned McDonald's All-America honors last season at Brookhaven High School and is expected to start for the Sooners this season. Lavender shared the preseason honor with Kansas' 6-11 center David Padgett.

Texas Tech's Andre Emmett, the league's leading scorer last year, was voted the Preseason Player of the Year while Missouri's Jason Conley was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Conley led the nation in scoring as a freshman two seasons ago at Virginia Military Institute.

The five-man first-team preseason All-Big 12 squad consisted of Emmett, Missouri's Arthur Johnson and Rickey Pauding, Kansas' Wayne Simien and Texas' James Thomas.

2003-04 Big 12 Men's Basketball

Preseason Coaches Poll

Team (Points)

1. Missouri (114)

2. Texas (108)

3. Kansas (106)

4. Oklahoma (92)

5. Oklahoma State (81)

6. Colorado (71)

7. Texas Tech (64)

8. Kansas State (48)

9. Texas A&M (41)

10. Iowa State (33)

11. Nebraska (23)

12. Baylor (11)

2003-04 Big 12 Preseason

Coaches All-Big 12 Team

Andre Emmett, F, Sr., Texas Tech

Arthur Johnson, C, Sr., Missouri

Rickey Paulding, G, Sr., Missouri

Wayne Simien, F, Jr., Kansas

James Thomas, C, Sr., Texas

Others receiving votes: Tony Allen, G, Sr., Oklahoma State; David Harrison, C, Jr., Colorado; Keith Langford, G, Jr., Kansas; Michel Morandais, G/F, Sr., Colorado; Brandon Mouton, G, Sr., Texas; Antoine Wright, G/F, So., Texas A&M

Preseason Player of the Year - Andre Emmett, F, Sr., Texas Tech

Preseason Newcomer of the Year - Jason Conley, G, Jr., Missouri

Co-Preseason Freshman of the Year - Drew Lavender, G, Fr., Oklahoma; David Padgett, C, Fr., Kansas