Media tabs Kansas Big 12 favorite

DALLAS -- Kansas is this year's favorite to win the Big 12 Conference title, according to a media poll released Thursday.

Oklahoma State, winner of last year's Big 12 conference regular season and tournament, was picked to finish second by media who regularly cover the conference.

Last month's coaches poll predicted a first place tie between Kansas and Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks return with their four top scorers from a year ago, including Wayne Simien. Oklahoma State also will have four returning starters.

Both polls put Texas in third and Oklahoma in fourth.

The media poll puts Missouri in fifth, Iowa State in sixth, Texas Tech in seventh, Kansas State in eighth, Nebraska in ninth, Colorado in tenth, Texas A&M in eleventh and Baylor in last place.

The media's preseason All-Big 12 team included Simien and teammate Keith Langford, as well as Joey Graham and John Lucas from Oklahoma State, and Iowa State's Curtis Stinson.

Media members named Simien, a 6-foot-9 forward, as the preseason player of the year. The coaches chose Missouri's Arthur Johnson last season.

-- AP