The Book: 2002 Baseball

<center><img src="https://forumeus.com/images/cleanupafterthe wkugame.gif"></center><blockquote><p align=justify>For those who leave during or as soon as the game is over, you may or may not be aware of the hard work the players put in after games. Some day check out the Louisiana ball players keeping up the diamond after a game. For some the total time spent was near 15-20 minutes.

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<TABLE border=1 cellPadding=1 cellSpacing=1><TBODY> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><td class="s2"><b>Date</b></TD><TD><b>Opponent</b></TD><TD><b>Location</b></TD><TD><b>Box Score</b></TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 8-10 (Fri.-Sun)</TD><TD> AstrosCollegeClassic (Astros Field)</TD><TD> Houston, Texas</TD><TD> &nbsp;
</TD></TR> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 8 (Fri.)</TD><TD> vs. TexasTech</TD><TD> Astros Field</TD><TD> W, 4-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 9 (Sat.)</TD><TD> vs. TexasA&M</TD><TD> Astros Field</TD><TD> L, 2-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 10 (Sun.)</TD><TD> vs. Texas</TD><TD> Astros Field</TD><TD> W, 4-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb.15 (Fri.)</TD><TD> CENTRAL FLORIDA</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 6-4</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 16 (Sat.)</TD><TD> CENTRAL FLORIDA</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 6-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 17 (Sun.)</TD><TD> CENTRAL FLORIDA</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 4-3 (10)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 20 (Wed.)</TD><TD> LOUISIANA-MONROE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 6-10</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 22-24 (Fri.-Sun.)</TD><TD> Coca-Cola Classic (Hosted by Rice)</TD><TD> Houston, Texas</TD><TD> &nbsp;
</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 22 (Fri.)</TD><TD> at Rice</TD><TD> RecklingPark</TD><TD> L, 7-10</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 23 (Sat.)</TD><TD> vs. Texas-Arlington</TD><TD> RecklingPark</TD><TD> W, 6-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> Feb. 24 (Sun.)</TD><TD> vs. South Florida</TD><TD> RecklingPark</TD><TD> W, 6-2</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 2 (Sat.)</TD><TD> UT-PAN AMERICAN(DH -- Game1)</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 5-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 2 (Sat.)</TD><TD> UT-PAN AMERICAN(DH -- Game 2)</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 12-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 3 (Sun.)</TD><TD> TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 13-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 5 (Tues.)</TD><TD> SOUTHERN</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 10-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 8 (Fri.)</TD><TD> HOUSTON</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 2-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 9 (Sat.)</TD><TD> HOUSTON</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 3-7</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 10 (Sun.)</TD><TD> HOUSTON</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 8-9</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 12 (Tues.)</TD><TD> Louisiana State</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> W, 2-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 15 (Fri.)</TD><TD> WichitaState</TD><TD> Wichita, Kan.</TD><TD> L, 1-6</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 16 (Sat.)</TD><TD> WichitaState</TD><TD> Wichita, Kan.</TD><TD> L, 1-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 17 (Sun.)</TD><TD> WichitaState</TD><TD> Wichita, Kan.</TD><TD> W, 9-7</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 19 (Tues.)</TD><TD> Louisiana State</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> <a href="http://www.ragincajuns.com/Baseball/Stats/2002/ULL22.HTM">W, 7-0</a></TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 22 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * NEW ORLEANS</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 7-2</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 23 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * NEW ORLEANS</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 6-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 24 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * NEW ORLEANS</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 2-4</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 26 (Tues.)</TD><TD> TULANE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 12-2</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 27 (Wed.)</TD><TD> Tulane</TD><TD> New Orleans, La.</TD><TD> W, 5-4 (10)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 29 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * FloridaInternational</TD><TD> Miami, Fla.</TD><TD> W, 4-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 30 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * FloridaInternational</TD><TD> Miami, Fla.</TD><TD> W, 9-4</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> March 31 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * FloridaInternational</TD><TD> Miami, Fla.</TD><TD> L, 7-9</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 2 (Tues.)</TD><TD> LAMAR</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 3-8</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 3 (Wed.)</TD><TD> McNEESE STATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 12-9</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 9 (Tues.)</TD><TD> McNeeseState</TD><TD> Lake Charles, La.</TD><TD> W, 6-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 10 (Wed.)</TD><TD> Louisiana-Monroe</TD><TD> Monroe, La.</TD><TD> L, 6-7</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 12 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * Arkansas-Little Rock</TD><TD> Little Rock, Ark.</TD><TD> W, 10-6</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 13 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * Arkansas-Little Rock</TD><TD> Little Rock, Ark.</TD><TD> L, 2-3 (10)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 14 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * Arkansas-Little Rock</TD><TD> Little Rock, Ark.</TD><TD> W, 10-5 (13)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 16 (Tue.)</TD><TD> Lamar</TD><TD> Beaumont, Texas</TD><TD> L, 8-10</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 19 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * NEW MEXICOSTATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 6-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 20 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * NEW MEXICOSTATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 2-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 21 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * NEW MEXICOSTATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 7-6 (10)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 23 (Tues.)</TD><TD> Southern</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> L, 4-9</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 26 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * Middle Tennessee</TD><TD> Murfreesboro, Tenn.</TD><TD> W, 5-0</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 27 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * Middle Tennessee</TD><TD> Murfreesboro, Tenn.</TD><TD> W, 15-6</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> April 28 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * Middle Tennessee</TD><TD> Murfreesboro, Tenn.</TD><TD> W, 11-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 3 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * WESTERN KENTUCKY</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 4-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 4 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * WESTERN KENTUCKY</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 5-1</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 5 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * WESTERN KENTUCKY</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 4-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 7 (Tues.)</TD><TD> NICHOLLSSTATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 4-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 10 (Fri.)</TD><TD> * South Alabama</TD><TD> Mobile, Ala.</TD><TD> L, 1-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 11 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * South Alabama</TD><TD> Mobile, Ala.</TD><TD> W, 15-8</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 12 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * South Alabama</TD><TD> Mobile, Ala.</TD><TD> L, 3-4</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 14 (Tues.)</TD><TD> NichollsState</TD><TD> Thibodaux, La.</TD><TD> W, 6-5</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 18 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * ARKANSASSTATE(DH -- Game 1)</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 8-6</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 18 (Sat.)</TD><TD> * ARKANSASSTATE(DH -- Game 2)</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> W, 4-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 19 (Sun.)</TD><TD> * ARKANSASSTATE</TD><TD> MOORE FIELD</TD><TD> L, 6-9</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 22 (Wed.)</TD><TD> vs. Arkansas State -- SBC Tourney</TD><TD> Mobile, Ala.</TD><TD> L, 3-10</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 23 (Thurs.)</TD><TD> vs. Western Kentucky -- SBC Tourney</TD><TD> Mobile, Ala.</TD><TD> L, 1-2 (10)</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> May 31(Fri.)</TD><TD> vs. Tulane -- NCAA Regionals</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> W, 6-3</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> June 1 (Sat.)</TD><TD> at LSU -- NCAA Regionals</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> W, 5-0</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> June 2 (Sun.)</TD><TD> at LSU -- NCAA Regionals</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> L, 2-12</TD> <TR ALIGN=LEFT><TD> June 2 (Sun.)</TD><TD> at LSU -- NCAA Regionals</TD><TD> Baton Rouge, La.</TD><TD> L, 2-12</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<h3>2002 record<br>39-23 Overall<br>17-7 Sun Belt Conference

<blockquote><p align=justify>Western Kentucky wins the first of a triple-header against Louisiana 5-4.

While WKU was not used to large crowds they were a confident bunch and it showed. Coming into Friday night’s tilt, the Hill Toppers had won 5 straight Friday games.

The Cajuns countered that confidence with the solid pitching of Justin Gabriel who had won 5 straight Friday games himself.

Although Louisiana struck first in the bottom of the fourth, the eight innings of firm pitching by Sunbelt conference strikeout leader Ryan Bicondoa, along with a couple of errors by the Cajuns proved to be just a bit more than the Cajuns could handle.

However this is baseball and there are two winnable games left in the series if the Cajuns wish to redeem themselves.

The winning team capitalizes on the opponent’s errors again and ends up with an identical 5 run game that results in a win.

Except this time it was Louisiana that played error free ball and WKU did not. Redemption is at hand, thanks to splendid pitching by Andy Gros.

The Cajuns are in a position to win yet another conference series, and pad their record setting performance of 2002.

What a difference a day makes.

Trade the errors and trade the win.

In Sunday's game Shambough who came in to relieve Coles did an excellent job. He shut down the Topper bats and if i remember correctly walked very few if any. I hope we can keep this drive going through the next two weekend series and finish out on top in the Sunbelt.

PattiTatum I looked for you yesterday I interviewed Todd after the game.<hr>

Cajun reliever Schambough didn't know how long he would be out there, but in the end it was <i><b>pitch-pitch wiz-wiz</b></i> oh what a reliever he is. Cajuns win 4-3

Six and a third innings of shutout ball coupled with some timely 8th inning hits and a couple of WKU errors proved to be the difference for these similarly styled teams.

Louisiana now stands at 32-16 overall and 14-4 in Sunbelt play.

The weekend looked like this
WKU beat the Cajuns 5-4 in Friday night's opener.
Louisiana won 5-1 on Saturday.
Louisiana 4-3 winners on Sunday.

The Sunday win again temporarily boosted the Cajuns into first place in the conference.

USA and Louisiana meet Friday, in Mobile for a series that could go a long way towards settling this juggle-jam at the top.

Turbine-
I stood right behind you when you interviewed Todd. I did not know it was you until after. I had stepped into the pressbox to wait and keep cool.
What was the interview for?

I am going to be at that South Alabama series this weekend. From what I have been told it will be some great baseball. I am planning on coming in for the last series with Arkansas State but I will probable only get to see Saturday and Sunday. Friday night games are too early for me to drive from New Orleans and make it on time.

Cajuns win 4-3

Ragin' Cajun senior pitcher Tim Ramon appeared on the mound for the first time in nearly two and one-half months. It had been since the end of February that elbow surgery kept him off the mound. He is recovering nicely.

After a masterful first inning, Ramon went on to throw two more innings, in doing so he hurled four strikeouts and only allowed three hits.

The three innings were exactly what was hoped for, and the late hits given up were not unexpected due to the prolonged layoff.

Tim actually was within reach of throwing shutout ball, but towards the end of his stint Nicholls got across the plate twice.

There were a lot of questions answered last night, the remaining question is will the outing produce any ill effects in his continued recovery? Let’s hope not, glad to have you back Tim. Stay healthy.

A quick (audio) interview of Louisiana's (middle inning) game caller Todd Hamilton after the 2002 Western Kentucky baseball series at Tigue Moore Field.<br>

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<table border=15 bordercolorlight=#FFFFFF bordercolordark=#b40903><td width=300 height=50><EMBED SRC="https://forumeus.com/audio-video/interviewtoddafterwkugame.mp3" WIDTH=320 HEIGHT=50 VOLUME="50" AUTOSTART=false></td></table>

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I am usually around after the games and I see what goes on with the team and those who work behind the scenes. A lot of time is spent by various individuals wrapping up just that game before they can move on to the next one. Not an easy job.

Game 1

South Alabama won the first game early, 5-1 and only had to hold on the rest of the way.

The difference in the game for me was good defense for South Alabama Jay & Todd were constantly (it seemed) giving out "red ?" awards.

Their pitcher allowed a lot of bat on balls 14 or so fly outs, but their defense got under every ball, or so it seemed. Errorless ball was the key.

Louisiana's starter Justin Gabriel gave up as many bat on balls but the defense was not where the balls were hit, thus he gave up eight hits, although only two came after the fourth inning.

As usual Jay & Todd called a great almost error free game. I heard Todd use "ULLafayette" for the first time in ages. But I also heard Jay use "Louisiana" a fair number of times.

Louisiana needs wins in the next two games if it hopes to go into the last series of the season in first place.

Chase Lambin comes up HUGE in the Cajuns victory in game 2!! Just need to concentrate on winning tomorrow and the Conference will be in our hands next week!!

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

15-8 sure is nice. If Gabriel had gotten just 6 we would have won Saturday.

Does anyone know what our record would be if we scored 15 points every game?

Turbine-I finally got to see the video clip. That is great. I wish you could do more of that for the last regular season games.

<b>A few rules on the running lane</b><hr>

The runner must be out of the lane AND cause interference.

He is not out simply for being outside the lane.

He could be called for interference even while in the lane. This is a judgment call.

The runner may step out of the lane a step or two before the base if he moves from within the lane to out of it.

If he is out of the lane the whole distance to the base and is hit with a throw, he should be out.

16. The running lane should enter an umpire’s decision-making process only when the ball is being fielded to first from behind the runner.

The lines are part of the lane.

A batter-runner is legally in the lane if he is hit by the throw while his left foot is touching the foul line or his right foot is touching the running-lane line.

A batter-runner is legally in the lane if he is hit by the throw while his left foot is in the air but would have come down touching the foul line or his right foot is in the air but would have come down touching the running-lane line. If the umpire determines that either of those examples would have landed outside the line then interference is the call.

The quality of the throw should help determine whether or not interference has occurred. If the throw had no chance of retiring the runner, the umpire should not call interference.

The batter-runner must leave the running lane the last step before reaching the base. When he is hit at that moment, the umpire should not call interference.

The following are my Regional Host and National Seed predictions as of 5/15. Note that these are not the selections that I believe should be made. These are my predictions of what the NCAA will do.

National Seeds
1. Clemson
2. Wake Forest
3. Alabama
4. Rice
5. South Carolina
6. Stanford
7. Texas
8. Florida State

Commentary:
Wake Forest could easily grab the #1 national seed by winning the ACC. Wake Forest finishes at Duke while Clemson hosts Florida State. Both are even in the loss column with five. Florida State must play well against Clemson to maintain a national seed. Else, they could lose it to Houston.

Texas becomes a national seed by virtue of winning the tough Big XII. The Horns have also swept Rice this year.

Regional Host Sites:
Clemson (#1 seed)
Wake Forest (#1 seed)
Alabama (#1 seed)
Rice (#1 seed)
South Carolina (#1 seed)
Stanford (#1 seed)
Florida State (#1 seed)
Texas (#1 seed)
Nebraska (#1 seed)
LSU (#1 seed)
Southern California (#2 seed)
Florida (#1 seed)
Ohio State (#2 seed)
Rutgers (#2 seed)
Boston College (#2 seed)
North Carolina (#1 seed)

Commentary:
The region of Louisiana/Texas/Mississippi houses a number of potential regional sites. But the new geographical restrictions will likely force one or more regionals in this area to migrate elseware. I look for this region to obtain roughly twelve bids to the NCAA tournament. The state of Oklahoma will add three more schools. Houston could be the school most affected by the new travel restrictions that the NCAA would like to implement. However, if Houston can gain national seed status, the NCAA could grant the city of Houston two regionals.

I have roughly six schools making the NCAA tournament in the northeast. The NCAA will need at least one site in the northeast. If Boston College (whom plays Notre Dame this weekend) can win the Big East regular season title, I see a regional being played at Fenway Park. Mark it down, the Big East will have a host school. Whether that school is Boston College, Notre Dame, or Rutgers, will depend on this coming weekend. In fact, the northeast really needs two sites. With respect to geography, Rutgers makes the most sense and is my pick for the second northeastern regional.

The north will also need at least one regional. I think the best bet right now is the winner of the Big 10 (Minnesota or Ohio State). The Golden Gophers and Buckeyes meet this weekend and are separated by only half of a game. Nebraska or Wichita State will also host.

The winner of the Georgia Tech/North Carolina series could decide the last regional site host. The middle east coast will need three or four regionals as I have at minimum fourteen schools making the tournament in this part of the country. The NCAA might decide to award a regional to a school like Richmond, instead of a fourth ACC school, as the Virginia/Maryland corridor will likely have three representatives in the tournament.

Brian

<table width=475 cellspacing=1><TR ALIGN=CENTER><td class="s2"><b>Stats through 05-14-2002</b></TR></TABLE></CENTER><P><TABLE border=1 cellPadding=2 cellSpacing=1 width=475><TBODY><TR ALIGN=CENTER><td class="s2"><b>#</b></TD><TD><b>Player</b></TD><TD><b>AVG</b></TD><TD><b>GP-GS</b></TD><TD><b>AB</b></TD><TD><b>R</b></TD><TD><b>H</b></TD><TD><b>2B</b></TD><TD><b>3B</b></TD><TD><b>HR</b></TD><TD><b>RBI</b></TD><TD><b>TB</b></TD><TD><b>SLG%</b></TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>24</TD><TD>COLES, Corey.</TD><TD>0.367</TD><TD>52-49</TD><TD>199</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>107</TD><TD>.538</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>20</TD><TD>SNEED, Bryan.</TD><TD>0.298</TD><TD>52-50</TD><TD>181</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>88</TD><TD>.486</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>2</TD><TD>CARBONI, Scott.</TD><TD>0.296</TD><TD>29-19</TD><TD>71</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>.465</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>4</TD><TD>LAMBIN, Chase.</TD><TD>0.293</TD><TD>53-51</TD><TD>191</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>108</TD><TD>.565</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>23</TD><TD>WILSON, Jason.</TD><TD>0.289</TD><TD>45-38</TD><TD>149</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>.362</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>17</TD><TD>SALOOM, Brad.</TD><TD>0.282</TD><TD>45-34</TD><TD>124</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>.411</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>30</TD><TD>MORRIS, Dallas.</TD><TD>0.275</TD><TD>32-20</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>.362</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>12</TD><TD>BOURQUE, Justin.</TD><TD>0.259</TD><TD>49-42</TD><TD>158</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>.392</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>5</TD><TD>REDMOND, Charles.</TD><TD>0.256</TD><TD>44-22</TD><TD>78</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>.321</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>27</TD><TD>HAWKE, Phillip.</TD><TD>0.255</TD><TD>47-36</TD><TD>106</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>.358</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>40</TD><TD>SHELTON, Robert.</TD><TD>0.241</TD><TD>39-28</TD><TD>87</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>.379</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>28</TD><TD>KABEL, Mike.</TD><TD>0.206</TD><TD>35-28</TD><TD>97</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>.309</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>29</TD><TD>ELLIS, Lloyd.</TD><TD>0.186</TD><TD>29-16</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>.254</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>19</TD><TD>PREAU, Kevin.</TD><TD>0.167</TD><TD>29-9</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>.222</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>8</TD><TD>VICKNAIR, Doug.</TD><TD>0.224</TD><TD>25-18</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>.552</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>25</TD><TD>MORGAN, Justin.</TD><TD>0.171</TD><TD>35-8</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.171</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>1</TD><TD>VERRET, Chad.</TD><TD>0.171</TD><TD>44-5</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>.268</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>22</TD><TD>REED, Scott.</TD><TD>0.167</TD><TD>9-1</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>.25</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>6</TD><TD>RAMOS, Alberto.</TD><TD>0.118</TD><TD>16-3</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.118</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>32</TD><TD>DEES, Ray.</TD><TD>0.091</TD><TD>15-1</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>.091</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>31</TD><TD>ARDOIN, Kevin.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1-0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>15</TD><TD>GABRIEL, Justin.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1-0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>0</TD><TD>Totals.</TD><TD>0.268</TD><TD>53-53</TD><TD>1797</TD><TD>325</TD><TD>481</TD><TD>86</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>47</TD><TD>273</TD><TD>736</TD><TD>0.41</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>0</TD><TD>Opponents.</TD><TD>0.251</TD><TD>53-53</TD><TD>1822</TD><TD>238</TD><TD>458</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>208</TD><TD>682</TD><TD>0.374</TD></TR></TABLE></CENTER>

<table width=475 cellspacing=1><TR ALIGN=CENTER><td class="s2"><b>Stats continued</b></TR></TABLE></CENTER><P><TABLE border=1 cellPadding=2 cellSpacing=1 width=475><TBODY><TR ALIGN=CENTER><td class="s2"><b>Player</b></TD><TD><b>BB</b></TD><TD><b>HBP</b></TD><TD><b>SO</b></TD><TD><b>GDP</b></TD><TD><b>OB%</b></TD><TD><b>SF</b></TD><TD><b>SH</b></TD><TD><b>SB-ATT</b></TD><TD><b>PO</b></TD><TD><b>A</b></TD><TD><b>E</b></TD><TD><b>FLD%</b></TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>COLES, Corey.</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0.402</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>18-21</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0.962</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>SNEED, Bryan.</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.365</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37480</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.985</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>CARBONI, Scott.</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.44</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>37479</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>0.731</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>LAMBIN, Chase.</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.362</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>37386</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>126</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>0.917</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>WILSON, Jason.</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.327</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>19-22</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>SALOOM, Brad.</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37576</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.966</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>MORRIS, Dallas.</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>37351</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0.923</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>BOURQUE, Justin.</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.369</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>14-17</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>117</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>0.934</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>REDMOND, Charles.</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.383</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>15-19</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.913</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>HAWKE, Phillip.</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.441</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37292</TD><TD>335</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>0.978</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>SHELTON, Robert.</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.398</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37320</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0.924</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>KABEL, Mike.</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0.252</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>37257</TD><TD>200</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0.974</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>ELLIS, Lloyd.</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.342</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>37320</TD><TD>142</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>PREAU, Kevin.</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.286</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37350</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.947</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>VICKNAIR, Doug.</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.318</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37259</TD><TD>114</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.984</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>MORGAN, Justin.</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.216</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0-3</TD><TD>126</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>VERRET, Chad.</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.244</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>37352</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>REED, Scott.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.167</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0-0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.875</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>RAMOS, Alberto.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.118</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>37258</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>DEES, Ray.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.091</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>37318</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.875</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>ARDOIN, Kevin.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0-0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0.889</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>GABRIEL, Justin.</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0-0</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0.949</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>Totals.</TD><TD>211</TD><TD>63</TD><TD>417</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>0.361</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>124-170</TD><TD>1420</TD><TD>588</TD><TD>83</TD><TD>0.96</TD><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD>Opponents.</TD><TD>195</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>439</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>0.334</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>56-82</TD><TD>1395</TD><TD>527</TD><TD>97</TD><TD>0.952</TD></TR></TABLE></CENTER>

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Turbine
Wow very imressive work.

Who do you think has the edge between Wichita and Nebraska?

---

With respect to strength of the squads, as determined by the NCAA, they are evenly matched. The NCAA might give Wichita State a slight edge due to the single game victory over Nebraska in Lincoln.

As far as a regional is concerned, Nebraska has an edge because they are further north. Having a regional in Lincoln will be more conducive to hosting schools such as Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Minnesota (provided they do not host themselves), ... etc.

Brian

Evidently, not one northeast school submitted a bid to host an NCAA baseball regional this year (deadline is today, initial paperwork deadline was May 3rd). In addition, Richmond did not bid. Hence, neither Boston College nor Rutgers will be hosting.

A recent article quoting the NCAA's Jim Wright was rather interesting. ?It is not going to have anything to do with if you?re a top seed or how good your bid is,? Wright said. ?It?s all going to be about geography. That means there?s no guarantee that a top-seeded team would host.?

What is going to happen now with respect to regional sites? Who knows?

Brian

2002 NCAA Baseball Tournament Projections
The following are my predictions for the entire field of 64 as of 5/22. Note that these are not the selections that I believe should be made. They are my predictions of what the NCAA will do. These projections will be updated at the conclusion of the conference tournaments (Sunday) to account for any upset bid winners.

Process:
1) Select the tournament field of 64 teams
2) Select the sixteen #1 seeds and from that list declare eight national seeds
3) Select the regional host sites with primary emphasis on the geographic representation of the tournament field. Secondary considerations include the criteria used in past years.
4) Allocate tournament field to regional sites based on geography. Schools from the same conference cannot meet in first round games.
5) Seed teams within regional.
6) Pair regional sites for super-regional matchups. These super-regional matchups will take into account:
a) Strength of the #1 seeds representing the respective regionals
b) Geography of the regionals
c) National seed regionals must be paired with non-national seed regionals
d) #1 seeds from the same conference cannot be paired against each other in a potential super-regional matchup (I am assuming this rule still applies ? so until further notice)

2002 NCAA Tournament Field:
The field consists of 30 conference automatic qualifiers and 34 at-large selections. Regular season champions, and in the case of the Pac 10 ? regular season leaders, are assumed to win their respective conference automatic bid.

Boyd Nation?s pRPI is listed in [].

America East Conference: (1)
Maine (projected automatic bid) [81]

Atlantic Coast Conference: (5)
Florida State (projected automatic bid) [2], Wake Forest [3], North Carolina [12], Clemson [1], Georgia Tech [5]

Atlantic Sun Conference: (3)
Central Florida (projected automatic bid) [44], Florida Atlantic [48], Stetson [25]

Atlantic-10 Conference: (1)
Richmond (projected automatic bid) [15]

Big East Conference: (3)
Notre Dame (projected automatic bid) [49], Virginia Tech [67], Boston College [68]

Big South Conference: (2)
Coastal Carolina (projected automatic bid) [32], Elon [39]

Big Ten Conference: (2)
Minnesota (projected automatic bid) [82], Ohio State [106]

Big 12 Conference: (6)
Texas (projected automatic bid) [10], Nebraska [17], Texas Tech [22], Oklahoma [29], Oklahoma State [42], Baylor [24]

Big West Conference: (3)
California-State Northridge (projected automatic bid) [37], California State-Fullerton [23], Long Beach State [30]

Colonial Athletic Association: (3)
James Madison (projected automatic bid) [21], North Carolina-Wilmington [41], Delaware [45]

Conference USA: (4)
Houston (projected automatic bid) [6], Louisville [33], Texas Christian [43], Southern Mississippi [54]

Horizon League: (1)
Illinois-Chicago (projected automatic bid) [134]

Ivy Group: (1)
Harvard (automatic bid already secured) [191]

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: (1)
Marist (projected automatic bid) [65]

Mid-American Conference: (1)
Bowling Green State (projected automatic bid) [146]

Mid-Continent Conference: (1)
Oral Roberts (automatic bid) [145]

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: (1)
Bethune-Cookman (automatic bid already secured) [66]

Missouri Valley Conference: (3)
Wichita State (projected automatic bid) [20], Creighton [50], Southwest Missouri State [46]

Mountain West Conference: (1)
San Diego State (projected automatic bid) [84]

Northeast Conference: (1)
Central Connecticut State (automatic bid already secured) [197]

Ohio Valley Conference: (1)
Southeast Missouri State (projected automatic bid) [92]

Pacific-10 Conference: (3)
Southern California (projected automatic bid) [31], Washington [83], Stanford [11], Arizona State [34]

Patriot League: (1)
Navy (automatic bid already secured) [173]

Southeastern Conference: (6)
South Carolina (projected automatic bid) [4], Alabama [13], Florida [9], LSU [8], Auburn [23], Georgia [16]

Southern Conference: (1)
The Citadel (projected automatic bid) [98]

Southland Conference: (1)
Northwestern State (projected automatic bid) [63]

Southwestern Athletic Conference: (1)
Southern (automatic bid already secured) [75]

Sun Belt Conference: (2)
South Alabama (automatic bid) [18], Louisiana [14]
Western Athletic Conference: (2)
Rice (automatic bid already secured) [7], San Jose State [55]

West Coast Conference: (1)
Pepperdine (projected automatic bid) [161]

Independents: (1)
Miami [19]

Bubble Teams:
Arkansas [36], East Carolina [38], Florida International [26], George Washington [72], Indiana [103], Michigan State [79], Mississippi [27], Mississippi State [47], Oregon State [77], Rutgers [53], South Florida [40], Texas A&M [52], Tulane [56], Western Kentucky [62]

Commentary:
Conference play is extremely important to the NCAA committee. No team with a losing record in conference play has made the NCAA tournament since the inception of the new format in 1999. Hence, winning in conference and conference finish is paramount. I performed a little data mining exercise on the 2000 and 2001 NCAA tournaments (1999 data not available at press time). With respect to at-large bids, not once in these two tournaments did the NCAA award an at-large bid to a school placing behind a fellow conference school not receiving a bid to the tournament.

Florida International finished the season above .500 in Sun Belt conference play by sweeping Middle Tennessee State on the final weekend. However, the Golden Panthers still finished fourth in the conference, two games in the loss column behind Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky also swept Florida International this year. The NCAA likely will not issue Florida International an at-large bid without Western Kentucky in the tournament. A Western Kentucky ? Florida International SBC Tournament final will likely earn Florida International a spot in the NCAA tournament. This is because a) either Western Kentucky wins the SBC tournament (gaining an automatic bid) and the NCAA does not need to skip over Western Kentucky in the standings to get to Florida International or b) Florida International wins the tournament and the automatic bid. The bottom line is that Golden Panther fans should be pulling for Western Kentucky to either win the SBC tournament or lose in the finals to Florida International. Upsets in conference tournament championships will hurt these bubble teams. That is, teams that normally would not make the NCAA tournament field winning automatic bids and gaining that conference an additional bid it would not have had the upset not occurred. Schools such as Western Kentucky, Florida International, Delaware, Southern Mississippi, Boston College, and Southwest Missouri State will be affected most if these upsets occur.

Texas A&M and Mississippi (pRPI of 27) likely played themselves out of at-large bids this weekend. Mississippi failed to make the SEC conference tournament and finished under .500 in SEC play. Mississippi has lost their last six SEC games and is 3-7 over their last ten games. Mississippi is done for the season. Texas A&M finished one game under .500 in Big XII play. Unless the Aggies perform well in the Big XII tournament, their season is likely over.

East Carolina (pRPI of 38) lost 2/3 this weekend to finish sixth in Conference USA. I do not see the NCAA leapfrogging Tulane to admit East Carolina to the NCAA tournament field. Not unless East Carolina makes the finals of the Conference USA tournament. The NCAA is not going to take seven Conference USA teams.

National Seeds:
1. Florida State
2. South Carolina
3. Texas
4. Rice
5. Wake Forest
6. Clemson
7. Houston
8. Stanford

NCAA Regional Tournament #1 Seeds:
Florida State, South Carolina, Texas, Rice, Wake Forest, Clemson, Houston, Stanford, Georgia Tech, LSU, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Wichita State, South Alabama, Nebraska

Commentary:
Florida State made an impressive run to close the season and win the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Seminoles are deserving of a #1 national seed, but they will need to prove themselves in Omaha. The College World Series has not been kind to Florida State.

Texas is moving up and ran away with the Big XII title in impressive fashion. A season sweep of Rice earns the Longhorns the #3 seed. Houston creeps into the national seed picture with its impressive out of conference schedule, strong pRPI, and Conference USA championship. An SEC tournament championship could vault surging LSU into the national seed picture.

The NCAA will undoubtedly, once again, emphasize conference regular season champions and conference tournament champions when determining #1 seeds.

NCAA Regional Hosts:
Clemson
Wake Forest
Alabama
Rice
South Carolina
Stanford
Texas
Florida State
LSU
Florida
Wichita State
Nebraska
Ohio State
Notre Dame
California State-Fullerton
Southern California

Commentary:
The Louisiana/Texas region houses a number of potential regional sites. But the new geographical restrictions will likely force one or more regionals in this area to migrate elsewhere. Houston could be the school most affected by the new travel restrictions that the NCAA would like to implement. The state of California really needs a third regional, which could cost the Cougars a chance to host the second regional in the city of Houston.

The north, especially the northeast, is hurting for regional sites. Boston College and Rutgers failed to submit bids. This means that there are a number of northern schools that must travel. Richmond might have also been a possibility, but the Spiders do not have the facilities to host and did not want to host in the local minor league ballpark. Hence, a bid was not submitted. Notre Dame is a very likely host site as is Ohio State. Minnesota is another candidate.
NCAA Regional Projections:

Tallahassee, Florida
1. Florida State (N1)
2. Central Florida
3. Miami
4. Bethune Cookman

versus

Gainesville, Florida
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Stetson
4. Florida Atlantic

Columbia, South Carolina
1. South Carolina (N2)
2. Coastal Carolina
3. Virginia Tech
4. Citadel

versus

Lincoln, Nebraska
1. Nebraska
2. Creighton
3. Minnesota
4. Illinois-Chicago

Austin, Texas
1. Texas (N3)
2. Texas Tech
3. Texas Christian
4. Oral Roberts

versus

Fullerton, California
1. South Alabama
2. California State-Fullerton
3. Arizona State
4. Washington

Houston, Texas
1. Rice (N4)
2. Louisiana
3. Oklahoma State
4. Maine

versus

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1. LSU
2. Baylor
3. Northwestern State
4. Southern

Winston Salem, North Carolina
1. Wake Forest (N5)
2. James Madison
3. Elon
4. Delaware

versus

Wichita, Kansas
1. Wichita State
2. Oklahoma
3. Southwest Missouri State
4. Southeast Missouri State

Clemson, South Carolina
1. Clemson (N6)
2. Richmond
3. North Carolina-Wilmington
4. Navy

versus

Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Southern Mississippi
4. Central Connecticut State

Columbus, Ohio
1. North Carolina
2. Louisville
3. Ohio State
4. Bowling Green State

versus

South Bend, Indiana
1. Houston (N7)
2. Notre Dame
3. Marist
4. Harvard

Palo Alto, California
1. Stanford (N8)
2. California State-Northridge
3. San Jose State
4. Pepperdine

versus

Los Angeles, California
1. Georgia Tech
2. Southern California
3. Long Beach State
4. San Diego State

Commentary:
Note that the #1 seeds not hosting will likely be traveling to remote areas. The NCAA will sacrifice one team traveling in order to keep two or more teams close to home. Also note that the Big XII has six schools in the tournament. Yet, there are only two Texas regionals. Therefore, it will be difficult to have an all Louisiana regional in Baton Rouge. Since no more than two Big XII schools can be assigned to any one region, there is a decent chance that a Big XII school will be assigned to Baton Rouge with the University of Louisiana traveling to the state of Texas. This allows four or five Big XII teams to stay in the Texas/Louisiana corridor while keeping Baton Rouge a mostly Louisiana regional. It also helps balance the regionals while keeping schools close to home. Should the University of Houston be awarded a regional, this would change. But this would cause problems in other part of the country, as regional sites are needed elsewhere.

Brian

An extremely ironic twist will occur on Thursday. Louisiana's Justin Gabriel will face Sunbelt "Baseball Pitcher of the Year" and WKU pitcher Ryan Bicondoa.

After suffering a couple of Friday losses going up against the likes of Ryan Bicondoa, Justin was moved to Saturday rotation.

What comes to mind is the coaching staff not wanting Justin to have to go toe to toe with the Bicondoa's of the Sunbelt?

Well after just his second weekend of getting first nod Andy Gros gets rocked in the second inning against USA, and the Cajuns end up losing 10-3. This is an ironic twist in itself, as 3 runs was the only margin needed for all the other victors in the Sunbelt on Wednesday.

So on Thursday it is Justin Gabriel up against Ryan Bicondoa. I just thought we were trying to avoid this scenario? Perhaps this time there will be a different result.

Justing Gabriel retires the first nine batters he faces.

A masterful pitching duel through nine innings. 1-1

Louisiana 4-1 on the year in extra inning games.

Bottom of the 10th after Robichaux had Gabriel intentionally walk a WKU player, Justin loses control and gives up a bases loaded walk.

Waiting for the NCAA

Shame that Justin couldn't have had Bicandoa's scalp at least once.