MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the first time in program history, the K-State baseball team has been selected to finish first in the Big 12 as voted by conference coaches. The Wildcats, defending Big 12 champions, had never been picked higher than fifth (2011) in the annual Big 12 preseason coaches poll.
The Wildcats received five first-place votes – their first time ever receiving first-place votes in the poll’s 16-year history – to finish with 56 points, five points ahead of Oklahoma State and TCU, which tied for second-place. K-State, Oklahoma State (2), TCU (2) and Texas (1) all received at least one first-place vote. Only six points separate the first through fourth-place teams in the preseason poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
K-State was selected seventh in last season’s preseason conference poll before winning the Big 12 championship with a 16-8 record in conference-play. The Wildcats were the first team in the Big 12 to be picked seventh or worse in the preseason poll and win the regular season championship.
The Wildcats are the fourth team to move six spots or higher in the preseason poll from one year to the next.
