by Tom Kensler The Denver Post , The Denver Post

What does it say about a conference that has a team such as Iowa State that features a unanimous preseason all-league player (6-foot-10 junior Craig Brackins) and the Big 12 preseason newcomer of the year (forward Marquis Gilstrap), and is picked eighth?

What does it say that Kansas is picked in most preseason projections to win the national championship? Or that Texas is projected by several publications also to reach the Final Four? Or that all six members of the Big 12's preseason all-conference team - Kansas's Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins, Oklahoma's Willie Warren, Texas's Damion James, Oklahoma State's James Anderson and Iowa State's Brackins - are top candidates for All-America teams?

For the coaches and players here at the annual Big 12 men's basketball media day, it means the league is the best in the country.

"Every night in and night out, you're going to witness three to four to five (future) NBA players on the court," Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said Thursday. "This is a very special year, there's no question."

The Big 12 returns seven of the 10 members of last season's all-conference first and second teams. It has nine of last season's top 13 scorers, and 11 of the top 15 assists leaders.

This could be one wild ride.

"It's not fun when it's later January and you get your brains beat in, but it's tremendous basketball," said Kansas State coach Frank Martin, whose team is picked to finish fourth, behind Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik said, "We're in an unforgiving league."

Without hesitation, Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel called Kansas' Collins and Aldrich the nation's best point guard and center, respectively, in the nation. And he ranked his guy, Warren, as the nation's No. 1 off-guard.

Considering that Danny Manning and Raef LaFrentz played more as forwards, Kansas coach Bill Self said Aldrich, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound junior, could become the Jayhawks' best true center since Wilt Chamberlain.

That's tall company.

"I don't think the Big 12 gets full credit for how physical a league it is," Colorado junior guard Cory Higgins said.

In the league's annual preseason poll, Kansas received the top nod from each of the other 11 coaches but with the overall strength of the league, most coaches expect at least six teams will make the NCAA Tournament.

"Our goal is always to first win the Big 12," Capel said. "But just because you don't win that, it doesn't mean you

can't win the NCAA championship."

Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com

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