IRVING, Texas — The University of Texas men's basketball team is picked to finish third in the Big 12 Conference in a preseason vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced Thursday. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Kansas claimed the top spot in the poll, earning nine first-place votes and 81 points in polling for the upcoming 2016-17 season. West Virginia received 65 points in the poll, while Texas was picked third and claimed 59 points. Rounding out the poll in descending order were Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech (tied for seventh), Kansas State and TCU.

The Big 12 Conference will hold its preseason media day on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, site of the 2017 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship. Live coverage of the event will be available at Big12Sports.com.

Texas hosts the Texas Tip-Off on Thursday, Oct. 20 at Gregory Gym. Doors open for that free event at 6 p.m., and the team's intrasquad scrimmage is set for a 7 p.m. start. Longhorn Network will provide live coverage of the Texas Tip-Off beginning at 6:30 p.m.

UT tips off the 2016-17 season with a home exhibition contest against Angelo State on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Admission is free and tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center, and the game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network. The Longhorns open the regular season against Incarnate Word on Friday, Nov. 11. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Erwin Center, and the game will be televised by LHN.

2016-17 Big 12 Basketball Preseason Poll (coaches)