The University of Houston was picked to finish second in the Big 12 men’s basketball preseason coaches poll released Thursday.
The Cougars, coming off a fifth straight 30-win season and trip to the Sweet 16, received four first-place votes and 214 points.
UH is behind defending champion Arizona, which received 12 first-place votes and 220 points.
Kansas was picked to finish third, followed by Iowa State and Texas Tech.
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UH forward Joseph Tugler and point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., a transfer from LSU, were named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas was tabbed the league’s preseason player of the year.
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL, HONORS
2026-27 Monster Energy Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Arizona (12) – 220 points
2. Houston (4) – 214 points
3. Kansas – 186 points
4. Iowa State – 181 points
5. Texas Tech – 180 points
6. BYU – 148 points
7. TCU – 137 points
T8. Cincinnati – 116 points
T8. West Virginia – 116 points
10. Baylor – 102 points
11. Oklahoma State – 98 points
12. Arizona State – 75 points
13. UCF – 55 points
T14. Colorado – 34 points
T14. Kansas State – 34 points
16. Utah – 24 points
2026-27 Monster Energy Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
2026-27 Monster Energy All-Big 12 Preseason Team
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Robert Wright III, BYU*
Dedan Thomas Jr., Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Xavier Edmonds, TCU
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
Players are sorted alphabetically by school
*Indicates unanimous selection
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This article originally published at Houston Cougars picked second in Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll behind Arizona.