Mens Basketball Picked Fourth in Big 12 Media Poll

Mirroring the pick by Big 12 Conference coaches last week, the OU men's basketball team was slotted fourth by Big 12 media in a preseason poll released today by the league office.

With 258 points, the Sooners ranked behind Kansas (334), Missouri (305) and Texas (303). Twelve points were awarded for a first-place vote while one point was given for a 12th-place vote. Kansas received 18 first-place votes from the 29 ballots. The Sooners received one.

In the history of the Big 12 media and coaches polls, OU has finished worse than its preseason ranking just once in seven years (last year the Sooners were picked to finish second in both polls and ended up in third place).

Following OU in the poll were Oklahoma State (229), Colorado (198), Texas Tech (187), Kansas State (129), Texas A&M (117), Iowa State (95), Nebraska (77) and Baylor (30).

The media also voted on individual preseason honors and OU's Drew Lavender was named Preseason Big 12 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 is the shortest OU player since the 1940s.

Missouri senior center Arthur Johnson was named the Preseason Player of the Year while teammate 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 Texas Tech's Andre Emmett, Missouri's Johnson and Rickey Pauding and Kansas' Keith Langford and Wayne Simien. OU sophomore forward Kevin Bookout was among the players who received votes.

2003-04 Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (Points)
1. Kansas (334)
2. Missouri (305)
3. Texas (303)
4. Oklahoma (258)
5. Oklahoma State (229)
6. Colorado (198)
7. Texas Tech (187)
8. Kansas State (129)
9. Texas A&M (117)
10. Iowa State (95)
11. Nebraska (77)
12. Baylor (30)

2003-04 Big 12 Preseason Media All-Big 12 Team
Andre Emmett, F, Sr., Texas Tech
Arthur Johnson, C, Sr., Missouri
Keith Langford, G, Jr., Kansas
Rickey Paulding, G, Sr., Missouri
Wayne Simien, F, Jr., Kansas

Others receiving votes:
Tony Allen, G, Sr., Oklahoma State; Kevin Bookout, F, So., Oklahoma; David Harrison, C, Jr., Colorado; Michel Morandais, G/F, Sr., Colorado; Brandon Mouton, G, Sr., Texas; Jake Sullivan, G, Sr., Iowa State; James Thomas, F, Sr., Texas; Antoine Wright, G/F, So., Texas A&M

Preseason Player of the Year - Arthur Johnson, C, Sr., Missouri
Preseason Newcomer of the Year - Jason Conley, G, Jr., Missouri
Preseason Freshman of the Year - Drew Lavender, G, Fr., Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Mens Basketball Picked Fourth in Big 12 Media Poll

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