The Cougars, coming off back-to-back NIT appearances under coach Kelvin Sampson, received 72 points in voting by the league’s coaches.
Cincinnati (seven) and conference newcomer Wichita State (five) received all 12 first-place votes and were separated by one point in what is predicted to be a tight race.
Central Florida was picked a distant third, followed by SMU, Connecticut and UH.