Story perspectives

Houston Leads Big 12 Preseason Poll; Toppin Named MVP

10/18/2025

Summary

Story summary

Houston tops the Big 12 men's basketball preseason poll after reaching last season's NCAA Championship.
Texas Tech's JT Toppin was named Preseason Player of the Year.
Kansas' Darryn Peterson earned Preseason Freshman of the Year honors.
The preseason All-Big 12 Team includes unanimous selections Texas Tech's Toppin, Kansas' Peterson, and BYU's AJ Dybantsa.
Purdue's frontcourt, led by Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, factors into the No. 1 ranking.

History

Historical Context

The 1982 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship marked a significant moment in college sports, with North Carolina defeating Georgetown 63–62, led by freshman Michael Jordan. This victory, witnessed by over 17 million viewers, solidified the growing popularity of college basketball. Today, teams like Houston and Texas Tech continue to build on this legacy, emphasizing player recognition and competitive excellence in the sport.

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Story summary

Houston tops the Big 12 men's basketball preseason poll after reaching last season's NCAA Championship.
Texas Tech's JT Toppin was named Preseason Player of the Year.
Kansas' Darryn Peterson earned Preseason Freshman of the Year honors.
The preseason All-Big 12 Team includes unanimous selections Texas Tech's Toppin, Kansas' Peterson, and BYU's AJ Dybantsa.
Purdue's frontcourt, led by Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, factors into the No. 1 ranking.

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