MANHATTAN — Kansas State basketball is considered a middle-of-the-pack team heading into the 2025-26 season, according to the Big 12 Preseason Poll released on Thursday, Oct. 16.
The Wildcats were picked to finish ninth out of the 16 Big 12 programs. Houston, fresh off an NCAA Tournament title game appearance, was picked as the favorite. Kansas was picked to finish sixth.
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The preseason All-Big 12 team also recognized Kansas State guard PJ Haggerty, an All-American transfer from Memphis. He is one of nine players to be recognized on a preseason all-conference team, joining Coleman Hawkins from a year ago.
There are many unknowns surrounding the Wildcats this season, as they have 10 newcomers on their roster. Their ceiling is high with talented transfers like Haggerty and Nate Johnson, and it will be up to Jerome Tang to get this team clicking better than it has in recent seasons.
K-State’s first exhibition game is Friday, Oct. 24, at Missouri, before hosting Division II Newman on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.
Big 12 Basketball Preseason Poll
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Big 12 Preseason All-Conference Basketball Team
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P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State
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Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
*-unanimous selection
Preseason Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas TechPreseason Newcomer of the Year: LeJuan Watts, Texas TechPreseason Freshman of the Year: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll, all-conference team released
