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Kansas favored in Big 12 after record 14 titles in row ends

In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 photo, Kansas head coach Bill Self addresses the crowd during Late Night in the Phog, Kansas’ annual NCAA college basketball kickoff at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. (Nick Krug / Lawrence Journal-World via AP)
Associated Press
In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 photo, Kansas head coach Bill Self addresses the crowd during Late Night in the Phog, Kansas’ annual NCAA college basketball kickoff at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. (Nick Krug / Lawrence Journal-World via AP)

IRVING, Texas – Kansas has been tabbed as the favorite to win the Big 12 men’s basketball title, the season after the end of the Jayhawks’ NCAA record run of winning the conference 14 years in a row.

League coaches picked Kansas to finish ahead of Baylor and Texas Tech, which last year made it to the NCAA championship game before losing to Virginia in overtime. Texas was picked fourth in the poll released Thursday, followed by West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas State and TCU.

Kansas coach Bill Self returns three starters, including senior center Udoka Azubuike, who was picked as the Big 12 preseason player of the year.

Texas Tech and Kansas State were the Big 12 co-champions last year. Iowa State won the league’s postseason tournament after beating Kansas in the championship game.