Feb. 20, 2008

IRVING, Texas -- No. 15 Baylor baseball was picked third in the 2008 Big 12 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Wednesday by the league office. The Bears garnered one first-place vote and 65 total points, six behind second-place Missouri and five ahead of fourth-place Texas A&M.

This is Baylor's highest preseason pick by the league's coaches since 2004 when the Bears were tabbed second. The Bears have been picked fourth in the preseason poll each of the past three seasons.

Texas was the coaches' preseason favorite, picking up eight first-place votes and 80 total points; Missouri earned the final first-place vote. Oklahoma State was picked fifth, while Nebraska was slotted sixth. Kansas State and Oklahoma tied for the seventh-place spot; Kansas and Texas Tech rounded out the poll.

In the 11-year history of the Big 12, only five schools have claimed regular-season titles: Baylor (2000, 2005); Nebraska (2001, 2003, 2005); Texas (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007); Texas A&M (1998, 1999) and Texas Tech (1997).

Baylor opens its 2008 season this weekend, hosting Purdue for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and the Boilermakers meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. CST, Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

2008 BIG 12 CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

Points

1. Texas (8) 80

2. Missouri (1) 71

3. BAYLOR (1) 65

4. Texas A&M 60

5. Oklahoma State 46

6. Nebraska 36

7. Kansas State 30

Oklahoma 30

9. Kansas 17

10. Texas Tech 15