Preseason All-Big 12 Team: Rodney McGruder, Jeff Withey among unanimous selections

Kansas State senior guard Rodney McGruder and Kansas senior center Jeff Withey were both unanimous selections to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, according to Big12Sports.com.

Pierre Jackson of Baylor was selected at the Preseason Player of the Year, while Oklahoma's Amath M'Baye was selected as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State was selected as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Jackson, Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State) and Myck Kabongo (Texas) round out the five-player squad.

McGruder averaged 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season for the Wildcats in nearly 33 minutes a game, while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor. Withey, a center for the Kansas Jayhawks, averaged 6.3 rebounds and 9 points in 24.8 minutes per game in 2011-12.

Each coach in the conference places votes for who makes the squad, although coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players. Withey, McGruder and Nash were all unanimous selections to the team.