starting pitching is real good. Our defense has been good.

We've gotten some clutch hits. When our starting pitching has

faltered a little bit, our relief pitching has picked us up.

We've been coming up with some timely hits lately, which is a real

positive at this time of the year. Hopefully we can keep that

up. The competition gets ratcheted up just a little bit in this

next tournament. I think we'll be ready for it."

good thing in that they know us and we know them. It's nice to

know you're not going out to Omaha and facing an unfamiliar team in an

unfamiliar spot. They're a good baseball team and we know what

we're up against. They're very dangerous offensively, so we're

going to have to do some good things pitching-wise. We can't

give them any extra outs."

Since nobody on the team is familiar with Omaha has there been extra

been explaining to them how it all works out there. You have to

relax, go out there and play as if it's your home field. You

have to play with no fear of failure, with reckless abandon, and play

on that edge that we've always had. We need to play with

confidence. We've talked about all the obligations there are

with the media, the practice schedules, and how you have to pack.

A lot of things have to be taken care of today."

What has been different about coaching this team versus your other

got a little more speed on the bases than we've had in the past.

We have some power and good two-strike hitters. We can bunt a

little bit. Normally, we play pretty well defensively. Our

pitching, from top to bottom, is probably as deep as we've had.

I'm hoping that we can go out there and just play like we're capable

of playing. That's the thing we're interested in seeing.

We have to go out there loose and play like we know we can

play."

Will there be any reshuffling of your pitchers or how will that work

a good question. The format in Omaha is totally different.

We went out there in 1995 and Kris Benson never pitched. Then,

in 1996, he got two starts. It all changes a little bit because

you have space between the games. It's not like at the ACC

Tournament when you have the possibility of playing five games over

four days. Which is what we did. If you remain in the

winner's bracket, you have more opportunities to use less pitching.

Some guys' roles could change. Some guys that have started may

be used as relievers. Some guys that relieve could be used as

spot starters. You just never know what bracket or situation you

will get thrown into."

What did you learn in your last trip (2002) that you could take with

we had a good combination in '02. What happened to us was that

we played two tough games and played well, then had to sit around for

three days. We sat around all day Monday and Tuesday and didn't

play again until Wednesday night. I think we kind of lost our

rhythm and had too much time to think about it. I'll just try to

keep these guys loose and have some fun with it. But at the same

time, you have to be intense. We can't play like we did the

first three innings in the games her this weekend (Super Regional wins

over Oral Roberts) and expect to get by with it. We have to have

a little better focus, but at the same time we need to relax and not

play tight."

Taylor Harbin, Second Base

Have you had a chance to reflect back on the weekend

it has set in a little bit. It's kind of like I'm living a

dream. I think it'll really set in when we touch down in Omaha

and walk out into Rosenblatt Stadium. But right now it's kind of

like a dream; you just can't believe it."

will definitely be a mix of nerves and excitement going there.

Watching it on TV will be a huge difference from actually playing

there. After the first couple of innings in the first game, I

think the team will settle down and it'll just be another game.

We'll keep playing the way we've been playing all year."

What's the most nervous you've ever been going into a

probably say last year's third game in the Super Regional against

Baylor. That's the biggest game I've ever been a part of in

college. Knowing that was an elimination game for both teams and

the impact of the game itself, it was huge on both teams. I

think that's probably the most nervous I've been in a game."

so. Having that first big game in college was a learning

experience for me. I know how to approach it now. I can

help some of the younger guys on the team and how they approach it.

We've been in front of big crowds before, so that won't be a big

difference for us. It's just a new environment, but I think

we'll be up for the challenge and ready to go."

Has your preparation for the length of this season helped you and can

you relay that experience to some of the younger

the guys talked about feeling a little run down. I just told

them a big part of this was getting in the weight room and

conditioning a few times a week during the season. It's such a

big help in the postseason like this. Sometimes you're gone and

not playing at home and therefore might not have the luxury of some of

the equipment we have here. By us getting in there once or twice

a week, I think that'll be a big help for everybody."

color="#000000">"Everybody's real excited for us. Everywhere we

go, people are always telling us 'congratulations' and 'good luck in

Omaha'. This summer, a lot of people are still around and

rooting for us and following us. It's been a great