Arizona Picked to Repeat in Big 12

Overview

• The Big 12 released its preseason coaches' poll and preseason All-Big 12 team on Oct. 15 with Arizona chosen to finish first, Houston second and Kansas third while Iowa State was picked fourth.
• Tamin Lipsey was the lone Iowa State player named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, reflecting his stature in the conference going into the season.
• Lipsey was granted a fifth year of eligibility through a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Kara E. Krothe on Sept. 23 and is among more than 90 athletes listed in a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA.
• Preseason polls and all-conference teams are coaches' assessments that set expectations but do not determine results on the court, so rankings are an early barometer rather than a final outcome.
• Arizona's Motiejus Krivas was named the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and Ivan Kharchenkov joined the preseason all-league list, underscoring Arizona's veteran core that helped it win the league last season.