Baseball Season Begins This Week For Real

The Big East kicks off conference play this week weather permitting with baseball games on Tuesday and Friday.  The overall records of every team so far are not impressive but like every teams non conference record we will not know the quality of the team's until the playoffs begin.  You can bet the race will be wide open probably right down to the last game.  Let's take a look at the conference as we know it right now.

Fike:  5-2 so far.  Many teams in Big East have played many of the same teams that others in the conference have played.  Fike so far has the best overall record.  They are averaging 7.5 runs per game and their pitching and defense has held their seven foes to 4.5 runs.  Might have best pitching staff in league.

Southern Nash:  5-4 thus far.  For several years Southern has not been a factor in baseball but starting last year were trouble for everyone.  Scoring seven runs a game and giving up nearly seven a game.  Can the Firebirds improve on the most improved team last year?

Rocky Mount:  4-3 to date.  Their hitting over the past few years is improved as they are scoring right  at eight and  a half runs per game.  What was thought in the preseason as the best parts was the pitching but as a team not showing it so far.  Despite only giving up four point five runs per game.  Could be dangerous if the expected pitching comes around.

Northern Nash:  3-3 early on.  The defense is giving up less than five runs per game but to this point scoring at a three and a half runs per game.  Their problem last year was scoring runs.  Looks as though  pitching is again strong point  and if hitting comes around could be a contender.

Nash Central:  3-6 right now.  Biggest changes in the conference with Tony Guzzo retiring at Christmas.  Struggling to score just a tad over three runs per game while the defense and pitching allowing over five a game which is not bad.  Need a good start to get momentum.

Hunt:  2-7 at this point and time.  So far has played the toughest schedule of any team in the league.  Will this pay off against other members of the league.  Not quite scoring four runs per game and giving up just over four.  To me this indicates their record means nothing.  Will be a player in the run for the conference title.

Schedule this week Tuesday:

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Fike @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Hunt

Friday

Rocky Mount @ Hunt
Nash Central  @ Fike
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash

Let the games begin,

ACC Dominance

Duke has once again made it to the sweet 16 under coach K.  Despite how short handed they might be  K is the most tactical coach alive.  There is of course a limit to how far coaching can push a team that is short handed.  I doubt the Devils survive next weekend.

The mystery of the Virginia Cavaliers continues.  The first half against Butler the Cavs scored but 23 points to trail by two.  The second half they scored 54  to best Butler by eight.  To me Virginia has five guys that can handle the ball and when they attack the basket they are awesome on offense.   I can't see any reason now that Michigan State is gone that Virginia will not win twice next weekend.

This mixed up tournament the ACC has Miami in the Sweet 16.  Their road block could be Villanova if Nova survives Sunday.  The way this tournament has gone surviving to play another game has been interesting.  Arizona already out of the way Miami still has Kansas the top seed and Nova number two ahead.

Carolina played both games in Raleigh just the way they needed to.  They took the best shot that both Florida Gulf Coast and Providence had and kept their foot on the gas.  Carolina's defense has been much better over the past three weeks and they are of course excellent on offense.  Next week in Philadelphia they have Indiana.  That will be tough but I see the Heels winning twice next week.

This weekend Roy Williams passed Dean Smith as the second winningest coach in NCAA tournament history.  Carolina is heading to the 27th Sweet 16 the NCAA record.

The ACC sent seven teams to the tournament.  Through Saturday night  the conference is 10-1 overall.  They have four of the eight teams in the Sweet Sixteen so far and can get two more on Sunday.  This is just maybe the best year ever for the ACC but it will not finish up as the best if one of the teams does win the title.  The ACC has sent two to the final four several times but they have never had three.  This could be their best chance ever.

I know many of you  have money in some bracket some where as  I have three locally.  I think we all guess and hope we pick the right game when the upsets occur.  The way I do mine is my first bracket is my first impression once I see the brackets.  My second one I flip the games that I call tossup games.  There were eight of those.  My third bracket is my wild one when I pick the underdogs who just might win one game and I had eight of those.  My problem this year was when I have missed a game I missed on all three brackets.  Never had that problem before.