Changing landscape in Big 12 women’s basketball as Texas lands the top spot in 2014-15 preseason poll
Since the 2008-2009 season, Baylor and Oklahoma have dominated the Big 12 preseason polls with the Lady Bears landing the top spot in four out of those six years. With the graduation of dominant players Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims over the past two seasons along with the defection of four league members (Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M, Missouri) and the gain of two others (West Virginia, Texas Christian), the landscape of Big 12 women’s basketball has changed.
Coaches selected Texas as the 2014-15 preseason favorite to win the regular season title for the third time in Big 12 history. The last time the Longhorns were at the top of the preseason rankings was 2004-05. They were also at the top of the preseason rankings in 2003-04. They won the regular season in 2002-03 and shared the title in 2003-04 with Kansas State.
Texas returns four starters from last season’s squad that finished third in the Big 12 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In preseason Big 12 honors released last week, guard Ariel Atkins was named the Preseason Freshman of the Year, senior forward Nneka Enemkpali was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, and junior center Imani McGee-Stafford was given honorable mention Preseason All-Big 12 honors. Head coach Karen Aston’s incoming recruiting class is ranked at No. 11 by ESPN.
Four teams garnered first-place votes with Texas tallying five. Baylor was close behind with two first-place votes. West Virginia also received two first-place nods and placed third. The Mountaineers tied with Baylor for the regular season title last year – their first as a Big 12 member. Oklahoma State picked up the final first-place vote and was chosen fourth. Oklahoma rounded out the top five followed by Iowa State, TCU, Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
The 2014-15 season begins Friday, November 14 with a full schedule of non-conference games. Big 12 action begins on Saturday, January 3.
2014-15 Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| 1. | Texas (5) | 73 |
| 2. | Baylor (2) | 71 |
| 3. | West Virginia (2) | 66 |
| 4. | Oklahoma State (1) | 63 |
| 5. | Oklahoma | 46 |
| 6. | Iowa State | 42 |
| 7. | TCU | 33 |
| 8. | Kansas | 28 |
| 9. | K-State | 16 |
| 10. | Texas Tech | 12 |
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)Â
Preseason Poll History
| Season | Preseason Selection | Big 12 Champion |
| 1996-97 | Poll Not Conducted | Kansas |
| 1997-98 | Texas Tech | Texas Tech |
| 1998-99 | Kansas | Texas Tech |
| 1999-00 | Iowa State | Iowa State Texas Tech Oklahoma |
| 2000-01 | Iowa State | Oklahoma |
| 2001-02 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 2002-03 | Texas Tech | Texas |
| 2003-04 | Texas | Texas Kansas State |
| 2004-05 | Texas | Baylor |
| 2005-06 | Baylor | Oklahoma |
| 2006-07 | Oklahoma | Texas A&M Oklahoma |
| 2007-08 | Texas A&M | Kansas State |
| 2008-09 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 2009-10 | Baylor | Nebraska |
| 2010-11 | Baylor | Baylor |
| 2011-12 | Baylor | Baylor |
| 2012-13 | Baylor | Baylor |
| 2013-14 | Oklahoma | Baylor West Virginia |
