Ragin' Cajuns await NCAA fate

It could be anywhere.

But either LSU-hosted Baton Rouge or Mississippi State-hosted Starkville, Miss., seem to be the two likeliest of 16 Regional sites for UL to play in when the NCAA announces its 64-team postseason baseball field this morning.

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<!-- By Tim Buckley tbuckley@theadvertiser.com
May 26, 2013

It could be anywhere.

But either LSU-hosted Baton Rouge or Mississippi State-hosted Starkville, Miss., seem to be the two likeliest of 16 Regional sites for UL to play in when the NCAA announces its 64-team postseason baseball field this morning.

And it seems apparent where UL coach Tony Robichaux, whose club 11-2 to now 52-9 LSU back on Feb. 26, would rather not go.

"The one thing I always hope for is to spread out state schools," Robichaux said after 41-18 lost to Florida Atlantic in Sunday's Sun Belt Conference tournament title game. "It gives more state schools a chance to get maybe to Omaha, like the year we hosted here."

That would be 2000, when both UL and LSU - which beat Vanderbilt on Sunday night to win this year's SEC tournament - made it to the College World Series in Omaha.

"But we'll be prepared to go wherever they send us," Robichaux said. "Wherever they go, you're gonna have to face a good ballclub.

"We talk about that all the time here. Being a mid-major, we're always gonna go to Regionals where there is a quality baseball team there and probably a home atmosphere that's gonna be against you that you've got to be able to work through to be able to get out.

"So no matter where they send us," he added, "I think we still will have issues - because you're gonna go to one of the top 16 seeds in the country, and all those programs have a good following. ... No matter where you go, it's gonna be tough."

Four Sun Belt schools - UL, South Alabama, Troy and automatic-bid winner Troy - expect to get Regional invites.

But none was picked Sunday to host a host Regional.

The other 14 Regional hosts, in addition to LSU and Mississippi State: Virginia Tech, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Oregon State, Oregon, Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, Louisville, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, North Carolina State and Florida State.

"LSU is playing real good right now, of course," Robichaux said, "so we're gonna have to play good baseball if that's where we go."

UL players will gather today at 10:30 a.m. at Tigue Moore Field to watch the NCAA's ESPNU-televised 11 a.m. Regional selection show. -->

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I'll be disappointed if we are in fact sent to Baton Rouge. I feel like with a top 25 Rpi and the record we have, to be sent to BR purely for proximity reasons would be a shame.

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Originally Posted by ULtimateCajun

I'll be disappointed if we are in fact sent to Baton Rouge. I feel like with a top 25 Rpi and the record we have, to be sent to BR purely for proximity reasons would be a shame.

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I feel rather certain that if the Cajuns had won the Sun Belt regular season title and had an RPI of about 17-19 (bubble team for #1 seed, but a #2 seed), that the Cajuns would not be going to Baton Rouge. They would be headed to Starkville.

It really could go either way ... and will depend on where other teams need to be slotted ... as well as how well the NCAA has thought this through. We know that sometimes they do not think things through ... like the year when they placed two teams from the same conference in the same regional (not 2002). I was stunned when I saw that come up on the screen.

Brian

Looks like they'll be announcing the remaining field on ESPNU in just a few minutes (11:00 am).

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Originally Posted by GoneGolfin

I feel rather certain that if the Cajuns had won the Sun Belt regular season title and had an RPI of about 17-19 (bubble team for #1 seed, but a #2 seed), that the Cajuns would not be going to Baton Rouge. They would be headed to Starkville.

It really could go either way ... and will depend on where other teams need to be slotted ... as well as how well the NCAA has thought this through. We know that sometimes they do not think things through ... like the year when they placed two teams from the same conference in the same regional (not 2002). I was stunned when I saw that come up on the screen.

Brian

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Rice is on a plane. Cajuns must be in Baton Rouge.

Brian

CAJUNS in BR :p. FAU goes to UNC.

Troy goes to Florida State.

South AL to Miss. State - that's 4.

That Miss St regional is a beast

They just showed the 'Belt tied for 3rd with the PAC 12 with 4 teams in the Tourney. SEC has 9, ACC with 8.

For all your 2013 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Info, please see the ULtimate Louisiana Fan's Homepage. Feel free to set it as your browser homepage too.