Oct. 13, 2005
DALLAS - The Missouri women's basketball team has been picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 Conference in a polling of the league's coaches, Big 12 officials announced today.
Mizzou, which returns all five starters from last season's 11-18 squad, accumulated 37 voting points from the 11 other coaches - coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams - in being picked between ninth-place Iowa State and 11th-place Oklahoma State.
The preseason poll has traditionally underestimated the Tigers' success, as MU has finished at or above its selected position in all but one of the eight previous polls (no poll was conducted in 1996-97, the first year of the league); that came last year, when an eighth-place prediction ended in a tie for ninth place on the court. Five of the eight times have resulted in the Tigers improving upon their predicted finish.
"Obviously, I would prefer for us to be in a position with the target on our backs. If everyone wants to believe the polls, which have only been correct a couple times, so be it," said Head Coach Cindy Stein. "I can promise our fans that the Missouri women's basketball team will be very competitive in our league and will be an exciting team to watch. You don't want to miss out watching us this year - that, I can promise."
Defending NCAA champion Baylor was picked to win its second consecutive Big 12 Conference women's basketball title in the 2005-06 preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. The Lady Bears received six first place votes and totaled 113 points to edge out second place Texas with two first place nods and 110 points.
Texas Tech was a close third with the four remaining first place votes and 108 points. Oklahoma (91 points), Nebraska (70 points), Kansas (66 points), Texas A&M (59 points), Kansas State (56 points), Iowa State (45 points), Missouri (37 points), Oklahoma State (23 points) and Colorado (14 points) round out the poll.
Baylor returns Kodak All-American Sophia Young and two other starters from last year's squad that finished 33-3 overall and 14-2 in conference play while winning the NCAA national championship and the Big 12 regular season and championship titles.
The Lady Bears were one of six Big 12 teams to compete in the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, joining Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. In addition, Nebraska and Texas A&M competed in the WNIT.
Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech enter the 2005-06 season rated in the Top 25 of several national preseason publications.
The Preseason All-Big 12 Team will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The annual Big 12 Basketball Media Days will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 19 and 20, in Dallas.
2005-06 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)
1. Baylor (6) 113 2. Texas (2) 110 3. Texas Tech (4) 108 4. Oklahoma 91 5. Nebraska 70 6. Kansas 66 7. Texas A&M 59 8. Kansas State 56 9. Iowa State 45 10. MIZZOU 37 11. Oklahoma State 23 12. Colorado 14