Where the Big 12 coaches ranked the Cougars this year. And the Utah Runnin' Utes – Deseret News

With a new head coach and some notable new players, there is a lot of excitement on the BYU basketball team heading into the 2024-25 season.

The Big 12 coaches aren't exactly buying into the hype surrounding the Cougars, however.

BYU was picked to finish No. 9 in the Big 12 this season in the preseason poll of Big 12 men's basketball teams voted on by the league's coaches.

The Cougars received 116 total votes and no first-place votes, finishing ahead of TCU, UCF, Arizona State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Utah, but behind Kansas, Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, Arizona, Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Kansas State.

Kansas was selected to win the conference with 215 total points and nine first-place votes. Houston was picked at No. 2 (the Houston Cougars received five first-place votes) and the conference's expected top five was completed by Iowa State (one first-place vote), Baylor and Arizona (one first-place vote). ).

The Jayhawks were voted the league favorite for the second year in a row, with Houston being voted No. 2 in the league for the second year in a row.

BYU was the last team ranked in the top half of the Big 12.

Every team below the Cougars failed to score more than 90 points, while the Cougars and every team ahead of them put up over 115 points.

The Runnin' Utes, entering the Big 12 for the first time, finished at the bottom of the poll with 30 points.

Expectations for Utah have fallen well short this season, even as the Runnin' Utes enter their fourth year under Craig Smith.

Much of this is the result of departures via the transfer portal, although Utah rebuilt in the offseason and could – in theory – surprise.

Under Smith, Utah has improved each season, going from 11 wins to 17-21 last season.

Big 12 coaches also voted on the preseason All-Big 12 teams (first and second), as well as Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

No BYU player made the first or second all-conference teams — Kansas' Hunter Dickinson was the only unanimous selection — which was dominated primarily by players from Kansas, Houston, Baylor and Iowa State.

Dickinson was named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, while Baylor's Jeremy Roach and Kansas State's Coleman Hawkins shared Preseason Newcomer of the Year honors.

Baylor's VJ Edgecombe was named preseason Freshman of the Year.

The complete Big 12 preseason poll can be found below, along with teams from each conference.

Big 12 Preseason Poll

• Kansas (9 first place finishers) – 215 points
• Houston (5) – 211
• Iowa State (1) – 194
• Baylor-185
• Arizona (1) – 179
• Cincinnati-140
• Texas Tech-135
• Kansas State – 133
• BYU-116
• TCU-90
• UCF-83
• Arizona State – 64
• West Virginia – 62
• Oklahoma State – 46
• Colorado-37
• Utah-30

Preseason All-Big 12 First Team

• Caleb Love, Arizona
• LJ Cryer, Houston
• J'Wan Roberts, Houston
• Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
• Hunter Dickinson, Kansas

Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team

• Norchad Omier, Baylor
• Jeremy Roach, Baylor
• Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
• Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
• Coleman Hawkins, K State