Preseason Top 40

[Edisto_Tiger]

I've seen us anywhere from 16-40 in the rankings so far. Interested to see which one turns out right lol

Welcome aboard bro. I hear ya on the preseason rankings being all over the place, but we need something to talk about for another 20 or 30 days.

 

[tech_iceman]

Gonna be a tough road for the #23 Huskers. They play.....

#9.. LSU
#10 Texas
#14 Maryland
#17 Texas A&M
#19 Cal St Fullerton

We have 3 teams in the top 10 plus Cal State Fullerton

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Gonna be a tough road for the #23 Huskers. They play.....

#9.. LSU
#10 Texas
#14 Maryland
#17 Texas A&M
#19 Cal St Fullerton

We have ...

#11 FSU
#12 Louisville
#21 USC
#24 UNC
#25 CofC

 

[Red_Alert]

We have 3 teams in the top 10 plus Cal State Fullerton

Cinderella hath spoken.

The battle to host Regionals and Super Regionals shall commence in 20 days .

 

[Red_Alert]

We have ...

#11 FSU
#12 Louisville
#21 USC
#24 UNC
#25 CofC

When is yourn dadburn network coming?

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

When is yourn dadburn network coming?

Swofford sucks bawlz.

 

[Red_Alert]

Swofford sucks bawlz.

There's one in the works, isn't there?

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

There's one in the works, isn't there?

suppose to be.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Indiana preview

2015 Preview: Indiana looks to replace key pieces in lineup with new skipper | NCAA.com


The Road to Omaha doesn't begin in the spring; coaches already are driving their players toward the College World Series. It's the rise-n-grind that players tweet about; it's the workout pictures that are shared on social media. It's the day-in, day-out work that coaches and players hope will separate their team in June. Before the first pitch in February, NCAA.com is highlighting teams that may reach the Mecca of college baseball: Omaha.

Indiana Hoosiers
• 2014: 44-15 (21-3 Big Ten)
• Head coach: Chris Lemonis (first year)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? Veteran, hard-working team who has had a lot of success. Must replace a couple of key players from 2014.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Pitching.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Senior outfielder Scott Donley.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Junior right-hander Scott Effross.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Senior outfielder Scott Donley.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? Doing everything it takes when no one is watching to playing when everyone is.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

LSU preview

2015 Preview: Power arms, power bats expected to lead LSU toward Omaha | NCAA.com


LSU Tigers
• 2014: 46-16-1 (17-11-1 SEC)
• Head coach: Paul Mainieri (ninth year)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? At LSU, we have a veteran core of position players returning from last season's NCAA No. 8 national seed; in fact, five position players were named to the Cape Cod League All-Star teams this past summer. We also feature the nation's No. 1 recruiting class that contains several outstanding young arms. Question marks for our club would include inexperience in the starting rotation and in the closer role.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? We have excellent all-round athletes who can produce runs with both speed and power, and we have an outstanding defensive club. Our pitching staff is young, but we have great power arm potential in Alex Lange, Jake Godfrey, and Jake Latz. What really stood out was how well they developed in the fall. They pounded the zone, commanded all three pitches, and showed great mound presence. We are extremely pleased with their development thus far.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Where Alex Bregman goes, we go. He is the hardest working player we've ever been around. He loves the game and is a baseball rat. His defense is spectacular and can make all the plays, and he is our quarterback on the field. Offensively, he is a gap to gap hitter and is at his best when he is driving balls into the opposite field gaps. We look for him to hit a few more home runs with these balls and expect him, along with Conner Hale, to drive in a ton of runs.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Sophomore left-hander Jared Poche’ is a competitor who really slows the game down. He is mid to upper 80s, occasionally touching some 90s. He has a true strikeout pitch in his breaking ball and “plus” command of his change-up that fades away from right-handed hitters.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Junior centerfielder Andrew Stevenson is one of the best athletes in the country. Defensively, he is as good as we have ever had in center field. He takes great routes and can make the game-saving play. He produced at a high level last year offensively, and we expect him to be our catalyst at the top of the order.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? Everything we do from August until June is tailored toward achieving our ultimate objective -- advancing to the College World Series. We feel it’s our obligation to continue the remarkable LSU Baseball tradition by making our 17th trip to Omaha.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

UC-Irvine

2015 Preview: Hard-nosed UC Irvine ready for another Omaha run | NCAA.com

UC Irvine Anteaters
• 2014: 41-25 (15-9 Big West)
• Head coach: Mike Gillespie (eighth year)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? Another year of hard-nosed, driven baseball players. Hard sliding, hard diving, ball-smothering, expert glove-wielding Anteaters, who drive new flat-seamed balls to the walls. Expect strike pounding, string-pulling pitchers, who have batters fly swatting and knees buckling. Expert play calling, creative on-the-field positioning and another year of sideline skits that have all the players chuckling.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Execute.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Too soon to tell but there are several candidates.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Elliot Surrey.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Will need to see a few games played first ...

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? “To say that Omaha is merely a season goal is a tremendous understatement. Omaha is the spark that ignites our engine every day. It’s not just a city to us, it's a mindset. Tasting Omaha only made us hungrier for more. All that we do is aimed at Omaha. The returners realize that the road to Omaha is made one day at a time. So every day, we will do all that we can to get back to the promise land." -- Senior outfielder Ryan Cooper

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Stanford preview

2015 Preview: Strong starting pitching highlights Stanford squad | NCAA.com

Stanford Cardinal
• 2014: 35-26 (16-14 Pac-12)
• Head coach: Mark Marquess (39th season)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? Team baseball.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Pitch. We return 100 percent of our starting pitching from last year.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Tommy Edman. He hit a walk-off, two-run home run to win the Bloomington Regional last season.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Cal Quantrill. He’s a preseason All-American.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Junior infielder Drew Jackson.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? We have been close; three out of four years we have gone to the super regional ... it’s time.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Rice preview

2015 Preview: Strong pitching, defense lead way for Wayne Graham's Rice | NCAA.com

Rice Owls
• 2014: 42-20 (23-7 C-USA)
• Head coach: Wayne Graham (24th season)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? Strong pitching, excellent defense and more team speed.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Pitch.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? John Clay Reeves or Connor Teykl.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Jordan Stephens, with Matt Ditman in relief.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Freshman centerfielder Ryan Chandler or senior second baseman Ford Stainback.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? That is our goal, and we feel we belong there.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

USC preview

2015 Preview: Unselfish, confident USC looks to build off last season | NCAA.com

USC Trojans
• 2014: 29-24 (16-14 Pac-12)
• Head coach: Dan Hubbs (third season)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? Fans can expect to see a USC team that plays hard from the first pitch to the last. This team is unselfish and has confidence that anyone can get the job done and does not have to rely on any one player.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? This year’s team is best at pitching and playing defense.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second… which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Sophomore designated hitter/catcher Jeremy Martinez.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Junior right-handed pitcher Kyle Davis.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Junior centerfielder Timmy Robinson.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? Omaha to this team is the culmination of nine months of a process of getting better each day and having the opportunity to compete as one of the final eight teams with a chance at our goal -- to win a national championship.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Clemson preview

2015 Preview: Clemson calling card to be putting on pressure running bases | NCAA.com

CLEMSON TIGERS
• 2014: 36-25 (15-14 ACC)
• Head coach: Jack Leggett (22nd season)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? A team that likes to run the bases and put pressure on the opponent.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Steal bases.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second… which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Junior outfielder Steven Duggar, junior infielder Tyler Krieger, sophomore catcher Chris Okey or senior outfielder Tyler Slaton.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Junior left-hander Matthew Crownover.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Steven Duggar or Chris Okey, who already has had one with his leaping catch -- on a throw from Duggar in right field -- and tag at home plate in 2014.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? It’s on the back of every player's cap, so it’s on their mind every day.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Nebraska preview

2015 Preview: Nebraska looks for senior leadership to carry the load to Omaha | NCAA.com

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
• 2014: 41-21 (18-6 Big Ten)
• Head coach: Darin Erstad (fourth season)

1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? They can expect what they’ve seen the last three years since Coach Erstad took over -- a team that is going to play hard every day and grind out every win. We have senior leadership with eight seniors who have all contributed, as well as a strong group of newcomers that will need to contribute for us to succeed.

2. What is the one thing this year’s team does best? It plays hard and you can never count it out. Last season, the team won 16 games where it was tied or behind after six innings.

3. Bottom of the ninth, game tied, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Sophomore outfielder Ryan Boldt

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Senior right-hander Chance Sinclair

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Senior outfielder Austin Darby (Exhibit A and Exhibit B) or outfielder Ryan Boldt

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? Being right down the road from Omaha, it is extra special for this team because when we made it to Omaha three times in the 2000s the place was packed in red. Not only does our team want to make it to Omaha for themselves, but also for our fans and the state.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Washington preview

2015 Preview: All-American pitcher Tyler Davis leads Washington Huskies | NCAA.com


Washington Huskies
• 2014: 41-17-1 (21-9 Pac-12)
• Head coach: Lindsay Meggs (sixth year)


1. What can fans expect from this squad in 2015? The Huskies will play the game the way it is supposed to be played. They will have solid pitching -- led by All-American Tyler Davis -- great defense and depend on timely hitting and speed on the base paths. Washington will do the little things necessary to win, like bunt the runners over, steal bases and take the extra base on hits.

2. What is the one thing that this year’s team does best? Again, they play the game the right way. Also, speed will be a weapon, especially in the outfield. Centerfielder Braden Bishop and catcher Austin Rei can be counted on to be the best defensive players at their positions in the Pac-12, if not the nation.

3. Bottom of the ninth, tied game, two outs, winning run on second … which player does this team want to step up to the plate? Either junior outfielder Braden Bishop or junior catcher Austin Rei. If Bishop’s on second, then for sure, Rei.

4. If this team had one game to win, which pitcher would get the ball? Senior right-hander Tyler Davis. As a junior, he was unfazed by any situation and pitches with a chip on his shoulder. He is the most unassuming player on the team, but has the heart of a warrior.

5. Who are we most likely to see make a "SportsCenter Top 10" play on this squad? Braden Bishop. He robbed two home runs last year, including one against USC that was SportsCenter’s No. 1 play. There is no reason he won’t do it again.

6. What does Omaha mean to this team? Everything. Washington has never advanced to the College World Series. To play in Omaha would validate years of hard work by not only this year’s team, but would be a celebration that generations of Huskies would have a hand in. Head coach Lindsay Meggs preaches “The Road To Omaha” starting on day one and has changed the mindset of recruits and his team that getting to the College World Series should be every player’s goal.