Big 12 Coaches Name Basketball Preseason Favorites

Arizona and Oklahoma State headline the conference coaches' preseason polls for the upcoming basketball season.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of basketball players in Arizona and Oklahoma State team colors competing on a hardwood court. — Arizona and Oklahoma State were selected as the top preseason favorites by Big 12 basketball coaches in conference polls released Tuesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Big 12 coaches have selected Arizona and Oklahoma State as the preseason favorites for men's and women's basketball respectively. The poll results also reveal the league's choices for top individual player awards.

Why it matters

The preseason rankings offer insight into conference expectations for the 16 teams competing in the Big 12. These projections set the competitive tone as programs prepare for the start of the season.

Arizona led the men's voting with 12 first-place votes, while Oklahoma State topped the women's list with 7 first-place votes. Each poll evaluates the 16 teams currently competing in the Big 12 conference.

The players

Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States that hosts various university sports programs.

Motiejus Krivas

Motiejus Krivas is a basketball player recognized by Big 12 coaches as the men's Preseason Player of the Year.

Audi Crooks

Audi Crooks is a basketball player recognized by Big 12 coaches as the women's Preseason Player of the Year.

The details

Coaches awarded points based on rankings, crowning Motiejus Krivas and Audi Crooks as Preseason Players of the Year for their respective divisions. Additional honors included Newcomer of the Year awards for Paulius Murauskas and Liv McGill, alongside Freshman of the Year titles for Tyran Stokes and Jessie-May Hall.

October 20, 2026: The preseason basketball poll results were published.

Season Trajectory

The Big 12 annual preseason basketball poll provides a yearly baseline for measuring expectations against final championship outcomes. These rankings establish the initial hierarchy for the 16-team conference as the season approaches.

Arizona men's team enters the season holding a defensive benchmark of 36.7% opponent field goal percentage. Oklahoma State women's roster features Audi Crooks, who recorded a 25.8 points per game scoring average last season.

The takeaway

Preseason polls serve as an important indicator of team status but rarely dictate the final standings once conference play begins. Fans should monitor early-season player development to see if the selected award winners maintain their projected trajectory.