Huskers Picked to Finish Fifth in Big 12

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska softball team was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference in the league’s preseason coaches poll, released Thursday by the league office. Defending regular-season champion Texas A&M was the coaches selection to win the title, while Texas was picked second and Baylor third.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers finished 36-23 in 2005 and return seven starters from last year’s 25th-ranked team. In Big 12 play, NU finished in seventh place with a 9-9 record. Nebraska returns four players who have earned a combined six All-Big 12 award and the roster is boosted by the addition of a talented six-player freshman class.

 

The 2005 season proved to be a banner year for the Big 12 Conference and the 2006 season is expected to be even better. Last year, eight of the 10 league schools advanced to the 2005 NCAA Tournament, while six earned top-25 national rankings. Each of the teams projected to finish in the top six of the league were ranked a season ago and four of the squads advanced out of NCAA Regional play to the Super Regional round. Texas, led by 2005 USA Softball Player of the Year and Olympic Gold Medalist Cat Osterman, was the lone Big 12 team in the Women’s College World Series.

 

Nebraska, which opened practice on Monday, begins the season in Tempe, Ariz., at the Kajikawa Classic Feb. 10-12. The Huskers open the season with Pac 10 foes Stanford and OregonState, a pair of teams that finished last year in the top 15.

 

2006 Big 12 Conference Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

Team (first-place votes)               Points

1. Texas A&M (4)                       76

2. Texas (6)                               75

3. Baylor                                   61

4. Oklahoma                              55

5. Nebraska                              49

6. Missouri                                43

7. Kansas                                 32

8. Texas Tech                            28

9. Oklahoma State                     22

10. Iowa State                           9