Tuesday May 19, 2009

Who Hosts?

Who Hosts?
There are a lot of factors the NCAA selection committee will use in determining who will hosts NCAA baseball regionals. We do not know how much each team bid. We also don’t know the official RPI but below is a look at the tangible resources we have on 25 teams vying for the 16 regional hosts:

ACC
North Carolina
Record:41-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:1
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:6
Boydsworld.com RPI:2
Baseball America Ranking:6
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:4
Notes:The Tar Heels are a lock to host. The rank high in all categories and have a nice facility.

Florida State
Record:40-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:15
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:39
Boydsworld.com RPI:16
Baseball America Ranking:12
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:7
Notes:FSU is the top seed in the ACC. The Noles are not as high as other ACC teams in terms of RPI but usually put together a nice bid.

Georgia Tech
Record:35-15-1
Warrennolan.com RPI:5
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:2
Boydsworld.com RPI:4
Baseball America Ranking:14
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:14
Notes:Tech has not played well in the second half of the season but the Jackets have good computer numbers in RPI and strength of schedule.

Clemson
Record:39-17
Warrennolan.com RPI:7
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:8
Boydsworld.com RPI:7
Baseball America Ranking:13
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:13
Notes:The Tigers are playing their best baseball and rank high in all categories.

Miami
Record:33-18
Warrennolan.com RPI:8
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:3
Boydsworld.com RPI:9
Baseball America Ranking:23
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:16
Notes:If five ACC schools host, Miami has an argument. The schedule ranks high but 33-18 might be a problem.

Virginia
Record:39-12-1
Warrennolan.com RPI:9
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:38
Boydsworld.com RPI:12
Baseball America Ranking:16
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:21
Notes:Virginia has a good record but they would need five ACC teams to host and have a better bid than Miami.

SEC
Florida
Record:38-18
Warrennolan.com RPI:6
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:4
Boydsworld.com RPI:6
Baseball America Ranking:9
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:7
Notes:The Gators are a great shot to host because of the way they played in the second half of the season. All of their numbers look like a host school.

LSU
Record:41-15
Warrennolan.com RPI:11
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:26
Boydsworld.com RPI:10
Baseball America Ranking:2
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:2
Notes:This traditional power is almost guaranteed to host as well. The polls think so and the RPI numbers are good enough. When LSU wins 40 games they usually host.

Ole Miss
Record:40-15
Warrennolan.com RPI:12
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:31
Boydsworld.com RPI:14
Baseball America Ranking:7
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:8
Notes:Ole Miss built a strong resume with 40 wins, high rankings and good RPI numbers. The schedule was good but not great.

Arkansas
Record:32-20
Warrennolan.com RPI:13
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:1
Boydsworld.com RPI:13
Baseball America Ranking:NA
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:NA
Notes:At one time Arkansas looked like a lock. I am not sure the SEC gets four sites but the strength of schedule helps.

South Carolina
Record:37-19
Warrennolan.com RPI:22
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:30
Boydsworld.com RPI:24
Baseball America Ranking:25
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:20
Notes:USC came on string late but I am not sure it will be enough to host.

Alabama
Record:37-17
Warrennolan.com RPI:26
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:48
Boydsworld.com RPI:29
Baseball America Ranking:18
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:12
Notes:Bama is the fourth seed in the SEC tournament. Will the SEC get four sites? The schedule hurts the Tide. Also the RPI is not in the top 20.

Georgia
Record:35-20
Warrennolan.com RPI:23
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:20
Boydsworld.com RPI:19
Baseball America Ranking:NA
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:NA
Notes:Georgia was the top team in the country until the last month when the Dawgs fell apart. This is now a long shot to host.

West Coast
Cal-State Fullerton
Record:38-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:4
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:13
Boydsworld.com RPI:1
Baseball America Ranking:4
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:5
Notes:Fullerton is a lock to host with strong tradition and strong computer numbers.

UC Irvine
Record:40-12
Warrennolan.com RPI:18
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:77
Boydsworld.com RPI:18
Baseball America Ranking:1
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:1
Notes:Here is the nation’s top ranked team. The schedule is an issue and maybe the facilities or bid may be an issue. Can you have a tournament without the number-one team hosting?

Arizona State
Record:41-11
Warrennolan.com RPI:3
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:29
Boydsworld.com RPI:5
Baseball America Ranking:3
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:3
Notes:All of the numbers look good here. The Pac-10’s top team will host.

Midwest
Texas
Record:38-12-1
Warrennolan.com RPI:2
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:15
Boydsworld.com RPI:3
Baseball America Ranking:5
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:6
Notes:Would it be an NCAA tournament without Texas as a host? Top numbers make the Longhorns a lock.

Texas Christian
Record:35-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:10
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:18
Boydsworld.com RPI:8
Baseball America Ranking:10
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:19
Notes:TCU has built a strong program and have excellent numbers to consider.

Rice
Record:35-15
Warrennolan.com RPI:14
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:21
Boydsworld.com RPI:11
Baseball America Ranking:11
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:11
Notes:Rice has a string tradition of hosting. I think the Owls look like a solid host at this point.

Oklahoma
Record:40-16
Warrennolan.com RPI:17
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:37
Boydsworld.com RPI:15
Baseball America Ranking:8
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:10
Notes:The Big 12 should get at least two sites and Oklahoma has the second best resume.

Texas A&M
Record:34-21
Warrennolan.com RPI:16
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:5
Boydsworld.com RPI:17
Baseball America Ranking:NA
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:NA
Notes:The Aggies need for three Big 12 teams to get bids in order to host.

Others
East Carolina
Record:41-15
Warrennolan.com RPI:19
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:53
Boydsworld.com RPI:20
Baseball America Ranking:15
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:18
Notes:The Pirates are on the fence. They may be a number-one seed at another site.

Louisville
Record:40-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:20
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:65
Boydsworld.com RPI:22
Baseball America Ranking:20
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:17
Notes:Louisville is the best team in the Big East but the schedule may prevent Louisville from hosting.

Elon
Record:37-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:21
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:54
Boydsworld.com RPI:23
Baseball America Ranking:22
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:NA
Notes:Elon has good RPI numbers but this is a long shot.

Minnesota
Record:35-14
Warrennolan.com RPI:27
Warrennolan.com Strength of Schedule:72
Boydsworld.com RPI:21
Baseball America Ranking:21
Collegiate Baseball Ranking:24
Notes:The NCAA would like some regional diversity and Minnesota is the top northern team. But do they deserve to host with that schedule.

My Favorites to Host:
North Carolina, Texas, Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Georgia Tech, Florida, Clemson, TCU, LSU, Ole Miss, Rice, Florida State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, UC Irvine, Virginia.

My National Seeds
1. North Carolina 2. UC Irvine 3. Texas 4. Arizona State 5. Florida 6. LSU 7. Oklahoma 8. TCU

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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