LAWRENCE
No surprise: Upperclassmen are expected to rule Big 12 men’s basketball this season.
Kansas senior power forward Perry Ellis is one of four seniors on the preseason All-Big 12 team. He is joined by Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield — the reigning conference player of the year and preseason pick for the same honor — Baylor big man Rico Gathers and Iowa State senior Georges Niang. One junior, Texas point guard Isaiah Taylor, also made the preseason first team.
Kansas freshman forward Cheick Diallo was voted preseason freshman of the year, while Iowa State junior Deonte Burton, a transfer from Marquette, was selected preseason newcomer of the year.