Baylor Men’s Basketball Picked to Win Big 12

Baylor men’s basketball was picked by the league’s coaches to win the Big 12. The Bears received seven-of-nine first place votes. They were picked second by the other two votes.

Scott Drew voted Kansas first, as did the two other non-Baylor votes.

The Big 12 should be the best league at the top. The Bears are preseason No. 1-No. 3 on all media ballots released so far. The Jayhawks have some nice recruits to add to Marcus Garrett and a decent core from last season. Texas and West Virginia are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country, respectively, in Bart Torvik’s advanced rankings. And Texas Tech should be better.

This is the first time the Bears have been picked to win the league. With four starters back—including Big 12 Preseason Player of the year, Jared Butler—as well as Tristan Clark, Matthew Mayer and Flo Thamba from the rotation, the Bears have quite a returning core. They also add a possible Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in Adam Flagler, and they feel quite good about Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, a UNLV transfer, and possible starting center. Add in a trio of 4-star recruits, and the Bears are certainly the correct preseason pick for the league crown.

2020-21 BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL

1. Baylor – 79 (7)

2. Kansas – 73 (3)

3. West Virginia – 61

4. Texas – 58

5. Texas Tech – 53

6. Oklahoma – 39

7. Oklahoma State – 35

8. Iowa State – 19

9. TCU – 18

10. Kansas State – 15