Men's Hoops Picked No. 2 in Big 12 Poll

NORMAN, Okla. A consensus top-10 preseason national selection, the Oklahoma men's basketball team is picked to finish in second place in the 2005-06 Big 12 Conference race by the league's head coaches, it was announced today.

The Sooners, who received two first-place votes and 112 poll points, appear behind preseason favorite Texas (10 first-place votes and 120 points) and ahead of Kansas (89 points) and Oklahoma State (84).

Head coach Kelvin Sampson welcomes back the services of his top three scorers and rebounders from last season in seniors Taj Gray (14.6 points and 8.2 rebounds), Terrell Everett (12.5 and 4.8) and Kevin Bookout (11.5 and 6.6).

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Everett is the Big 12's leading returning assists man (5.0 per game) and led the Sooners with 57 steals last year. Gray and Bookout finished first and second in Big 12 games last year with respective .599 and .594 field goal marks.

OU also returns a quartet of sophomores in 11-game starter David Godbold, 6-11 center Longar Longar and walk-on guards Michael Ott and Kellen Sampson.

Five new faces complete the 12-man roster. Juniors Nate Carter (guard/forward), Michael Neal (guard) and Chris Walker (guard) will be joined by freshmen Taylor Griffin (forward) and Austin Johnson (guard).

Following Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Oklahoma State in the preseason conference poll are Texas Tech (80 points), Iowa State (70), Texas A&M (68), Missouri (48), Colorado (43), Nebraska (40), Kansas State (25) and Baylor (13).

Last year, OU was picked fourth in the preseason poll and wound up tied for first with Kansas with a 12-4 record.

The preseason All-Big 12 team will be announced on Monday, Oct. 17.

The Sooners will hold their first practice of the year this Friday (closed to public). The exhibition season opener is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, against Northeastern (Okla.) State at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center. The regular season begins with a home game on Saturday, Nov. 19, against Samford at 3 p.m.

Season tickets are available at www.SoonerSports.com and by calling (800) 456-4668 or (405) 325-2424.

2005-06 BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)

Team - Points
1. Texas (10) - 120
2. Oklahoma (2) - 112
3. Kansas - 89
4. Oklahoma State - 84
5. Texas Tech - 80
6. Iowa State - 70
7. Texas A&M - 68
8. Missouri - 48
9. Colorado - 43
10. Nebraska - 40
11. Kansas State - 25
12. Baylor - 13

(Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's Hoops Picked No. 2 in Big 12 Poll

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