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Fizer Selected to Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
11.03.1999 | Men's Basketball
DALLAS - Following media day last week in Dallas, Big 12 reporters, just as the league coaches last week, have chosen Kansas over defending champ Texas to win the 1999-2000 championship as the conference releases the preseason media poll.
The media also chose a preseason All-Big 12 team in addition to a preseason player, newcomer, and freshman of the year. Like the men's coaches, who selected their preseason team last week, the preseason player of the year is Texas center Chris Mihm. The Austin, Texas, center averaged 13.7 points and a Big 12-leading 11.0 rebounds last season for the 19-13 Longhorns. Mihm, who is on many preseason All-America teams, also tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 19 double-doubles last season.
Joining Mihm on the coaches' All-Big 12 team is Iowa State forward Marcus Fizer, Kansas center Eric Chenowith, Oklahoma forward Eduardo Najera, and Oklahoma State forward Desmond Mason. In all, 10 student-athletes were represented on the coaches ballot as the mentors were only allowed to list their top five in selecting the preseason all-league squad.
Mihm, Fizer and Mason were preseason first-team selections last season with Fizer and Mihm earning the same distinction at season's end. Chenowith, Mason and Najera earned second-team All-Big 12 honors following the 1998-99 season.
Like the coaches, the media Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors go to Baylor junior Terry Black who edged Texas forward Chris Owens in the vote. Black is a 6-5, Milwaukee, Wis., forward who was a two-time All-American selection while at Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College. Indian Hills won the junior college national title in 1997-98 going 38-0. Including Owens, other conference newcomers on the media votes included Iowa State guard Jamal Tinsley and guard/forward Richard Evans, Missouri forward/center Tajudeen Soyoye, Nebraska forward Steffon Bradford and guard Danny Walker, Oklahoma State center Jason Keep, and Texas Tech guard Mose Malone, Jr. Please note Luke Axtell of Kansas was mentioned on some votes but is not a newcomer to the Big 12 as he played for Texas in 1997-98. Additionally, freshmen were not eligible for newcomer honors.
Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year goes to Kansas forward Nick Collison which was also the same as the coaches' choice. The 6-9 forward from Iowa Falls, Iowa, is considered one of the top freshmen in the nation as he was a McDonald's High School All-American and member of the USA National Junior Team this past summer. Other conference freshmen on the media's vote are Iowa State guard Brandon Hawkins, Kansas forward Drew Gooden, Missouri forward Kareem Rush, Oklahoma guard Hollis Price, and Texas A&M guard Bernard King.
The media poll reflects directly on the five Big 12 squads which advanced to the 1999 NCAA Tournament. As previously mentioned Kansas edged Texas for top honors followed by Oklahoma State. Oklahoma and Missouri ended the coaches vote in a close fourth and fifth, respectively, follow by the group of No. 6 Nebraska, No. 7 Iowa State, No. 8 Colorado, No. 9 Texas Tech, and No. 10 Kansas State. Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas State each participated in the NIT last season to give the Big 12 eight teams in the 1999 postseason tourneys.
This is the fourth year of the media preseason poll. The media selected eventual Big 12 champion Kansas in each of the first two preseason polls (1996-97 and 1997-98). Last year Oklahoma State was the top choice and the Cowboys finished tied for fifth with Nebraska at 10-6. Eventual champion Texas was fifth in the preseason media poll.
Kansas has won its last six conference crowns when selected as preseason favorite, including five times during the 1990s. The Jayhawks were the Big Eight Conference preseason choice in 1985-86, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, and the Big 12 selection in 1996-97 (by media only) and 1997-98. Big Eight records show Kansas was also the preseason media favorite in 1983-84 where it finished second in the conference regular season.
1999-2000 Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
Team (first place votes), Pts
1. Kansas (17), 327
2. Texas (8), 318
3. Oklahoma State (4), 298
4. Oklahoma, 252
5. Missouri, 232
6. Nebraska, 172
7. Iowa State, 169
8. Colorado, 143
9. Texas Tech, 132
10. Kansas State, 108
11. Texas A&M, 70
12. Baylor 41
Note: Points were awarded 12 for first, 11 for second, 10 for third, etc.
1999-2000 Preseason Media All-Big 12 Team
Marcus Fizer, Iowa State, F, 6-8, 265, Jr., 18.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, Arcadia, La.
Eric Chenowith, Kansas, C, 7-1, 260, Jr., 13.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, Orange, Calif.
Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma, F, 6-8, 240, Sr., 15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, Chihuahua, Mexico
Desmond Mason, Oklahoma State, F, 6-6, 207, Jr., 15.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, Waxahachie, Texas
Chris Mihm, Texas, C, 7-0, 262, Jr., 13.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, Austin, Texas
Others receiving two or more votes - Jeff Boschee, G, Kansas; Keyon Dooling, G, Missouri; Doug Gottlieb, G, Oklahoma State; Nnadubem Gabe Muoneke, F, Texas; Rayford Young, G, Texas Tech
Preseason Player of the Year - Chris Mihm, Texas
Preseason Newcomer of the Year - Terry Black, Baylor
Preseason Freshman of the Year - Nick Collison, Kansas
1999-2000 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll (released Oct. 19)
Team (first place votes), Points
1. Kansas (6), 116
2. Texas (5), 113
3. Oklahoma State (1), 103
4. Oklahoma, 89
5. Missouri, 84
6. Iowa State, 55
7. Nebraska, 54
8. Colorado, 50
9. Texas Tech, 47
10. Kansas State, 42
11. Texas A&M, 23
12. Baylor, 16
Note: Points were awarded 11 for first, 10 for second, nine for third, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Players Mentioned
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