Tulsa -
A panel of media members have picked the University of Tulsa to finish second behind Houston in the Conference USA Western Division in a preseason poll that was released Thursday.
Houston picked up 12 first place votes while Tulsa had eight. SMU is picked third, followed by Rice. Tulane and UTEP tied for fifth.
Central Florida was picked to top the east, receiving 20 first place votes. Southern Miss is second, followed by East Carolina, Marshall, UAB and Memphis.
Tulsa is beginning its first season under Bill Blankenship, who takes over for Todd Graham, who left to take the job at Pitt.
The Golden Hurricane finished last season 10-and-3, winning its last seven games, including the Hawaii Bowl. TU begins the 2011 season September third against top-ranked Oklahoma in Norman.
