Jan. 29, 2007
IRVING, Texas -- Baylor baseball was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference, according to the preseason coaches' poll released Monday by the league office. The Bears garnered 57 total points, seven behind third-place Nebraska and 11 ahead of fifth-place Oklahoma.
Defending regular-season champion Texas was picked as the preseason favorite, receiving 79 total points and seven of nine first-place votes. Oklahoma State was picked to finish second with 70 points and two first-place votes. Texas Tech was picked to finish sixth, followed by Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams.
This is the third consecutive season in which Baylor was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll. In the 10-year history of the Big 12 Conference, only five schools have claimed regular-season titles: Baylor (2000, 2005); Nebraska (2001, 2003, 2005); Texas (2002, 2004, 2006); Texas A&M (1998, 1999) and Texas Tech (1997).
Baylor opens its 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the Minute Maid Park College Classic. The Bears face Houston at 7 p.m. Friday, Rice at 7 p.m. Saturday and Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Points
1. Texas (7) 79
2. Oklahoma State (2) 70
3. Nebraska 64
4. BAYLOR 57
5. Oklahoma 46
6. Texas Tech 37
7. Texas A&M 34
8. Missouri 29
9. Kansas 22
10. Kansas State 12
