West Virginia was predicted to finish third in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches.  

 

The defending 2013-14 Big 12 regular season co-champions return three starters from a team that finished 30-5 and won its first Big 12 title last season. Last week, guard Bria Holmes was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year and to the Preseason All-Big 12 team.

 

“The poll shows that the coaches around the league have a great amount of respect for our program,” said coach Mike Carey. “Now, we must carry that momentum over as we enter this upcoming season.”

 

Texas was selected as the preseason favorite with five first-place votes, while Baylor finished close behind with two first-place votes. West Virginia garnered two first-place nods in the preseason poll to place third. Oklahoma State picked up the final first-place vote and was chosen fourth with 63 points. Oklahoma rounded out the top five followed by Iowa State in sixth, TCU listed seventh, Kansas eighth, K-State ninth and Texas Tech in 10th. 

 

The 2013-14 campaign marked the fifth-straight year for the Big 12 to lead the nation in percentage of teams in the NCAA field. The Conference has led or tied for the nation’s top spot in seven of eight years dating back to 2007. The Big 12 also led the nation in average home attendance for the 15th-consecutive year.

 

West Virginia opens the season against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 15 in the Preseason WNIT. Fans can get a glimpse of the 2014-15 team at the annual Haunted Hoops game against Wheeling Jesuit on Friday, Oct. 31. The exhibition game tips at 7 p.m., and admission is free. 

 

Keep updated with WVU Women’s Basketball by following @WVUWBB on Instagram and Twitter. 

 

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)