Colorado University Athletics
Betson Tabbed as the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
October 03, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Coloardo was selected ninth in the preseason Big 12 rankings
IRVING, Texas — Colorado's Tabitha Betson earned the Big 12 Conference's Preseason Freshman of the Year honors as the league announced the All-Big 12 Team and individual awards on Wednesday. The honors are voted on by the conference coaches.
Betson, a 6-2 forward, is the conference's top-ranked freshman at No. 48 in ESPN's Top 100 for the class of 2024. Betson was a McDonald's All-American nominee as a two-year letterwinner at DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla., and represented Australia in the U17 World Cup in 2022.
"I think a lot of people recruited Tabs, so a lot of people already know what she brings to the table," head coach JR Payne expressed. "It's an incredible honor. Of course, you still have to do the work and have a great season in order to win the award at the end of the year, but I have no doubt that she'll do what it takes."
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Betson is the first Buff to win a preseason Freshman of the Year honor since Sabrina Scott in the 1999-00 season. Betson is the fourth Buff to have the honor bestowed upon her, joining Scott, Britt Hartshorn (1998-99) and Nikki Weddle (1997-98).
"The first time we ever saw Tabitha play, we knew she was a 'must get' for us,' Payne recalled. "We were thrilled when she signed here, and we knew she would be an impactful player right away. I definitely believe she is the best freshman in the conference, if not the country, as far as what she brings to the table from a basketball and IQ standpoint."
The four-star recruit is one of four true freshmen for the Buffs this season and one of 10 newcomers to the Buffs.
Colorado was slated to finish ninth by the coaches in the first year back in the Big 12. This season is the first time the Big 12 will have 16 members. Kansas State, who the Buffs knocked off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, was picked as the league's preseason favorite behind Preseason Player of the Year Ayoka Lee.
The first chance to catch the Buffs in action is on Oct. 27 when they take on Colorado Mines in exhibition play. The first regular season home game will be against Northern Colorado on Nov. 7.
2024-25 Big 12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Points (1st) |
| 1 | Kansas State | 211 (7) |
| 2 | Iowa State | 209 (6) |
| 3 | Baylor | 194 (2) |
| 4 | TCU | 185 |
| 5 | West Virginia | 184 (1) |
| 6 | Utah | 149 |
| 7 | Arizona | 136 |
| 8 | Kansas | 128 |
| 9 | Colorado | 113 |
| 10 | Texas Tech | 84 |
| 11 | Oklahoma State | 80 |
| 12 | BYU | 59 |
| 13 | Cincinnati | 56 |
| 14 | UCF | 54 |
| 15 | Arizona State | 51 |
| 16 | Houston | 27 |
