After playing in front of a raucous crowd at BYU’s Blue and White scrimmage Wednesday night, Cougar guard Egor Demin was optimistic about his team’s prospects.
“We are not having any limits on our team this year,” the projected NBA lottery pick said. “We’re just working out hard and getting better. And we’re coming to the season with the idea of winning every game.”
The Big 12’s voters appear a little more cautious.
The Cougars were picked to finish ninth in the conference in the preseason poll released Thursday.
The Kansas Jayhawks were picked to win the Big 12.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Runnin’ Utes were picked to finish last — 16th out of 16 teams — in their first season in their new conference.
Preseason Big 12 Poll
Kansas (9 first-place votes) - 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
Preseason awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Jeremy Roach, Baylor
Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year: Coleman Hawkins, K-State
Preseason Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
