Oct. 20, 2004

DALLAS - The Missouri women's basketball team has been picked to finish eight in the Big 12 Conference in a polling of the league's coaches, Big 12 officials announced today.

Mizzou, which has reached the postseason a school-record-tying five straight years, accumulated 45 voting points from the 11 other coaches - coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams - in finishing two points ahead of ninth-place Nebraska.

The preseason poll has not traditionally been a good prognostication of the Tigers' success, as MU has finished at or above its selected position in each of the last four years. For the last two seasons, Mizzou was picked to finish seventh; the Tigers finished fifth in 2003, and seventh last year. In 2002, the coaches tabbed the Tigers 10th before MU finished ninth, and in 2001 the coaches selected Mizzou eighth, one spot lower than the Tigers actually finished.

Texas was picked to win its third consecutive Big 12 Conference women's basketball title. UT received 11 first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for own team) and totaled 121 points. Baylor was picked second with 107 points. Both Texas and Baylor advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year. Kansas State received the other first place vote and finished third in the poll with 99 points followed by Texas Tech in fourth and Oklahoma fifth.

Iowa State was chosen sixth, Colorado seventh, and Nebraska ninth. Texas A&M finished 10th, Kansas was 11th and Oklahoma State 12th.

The Tigers joined Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas in the 2004 NCAA Tournament while Iowa State and Nebraska competed in the WNIT.

The Big 12 Preseason Team will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The annual Big 12 Basketball Media Days will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 27 and 28, in Kansas City.

1. Texas (11) 121

2. Baylor 107

3. Kansas State (1) 99

4. Texas Tech 92

5. Oklahoma 84

6. Iowa State 68

7. Colorado 59

8. MIZZOU 45

9. Nebraska 43

10. Texas A&M 35

11. Kansas 24

12. Oklahoma State 15