Last college baseball season the North Carolina Tar Heels had a below 500 conference record but their strength of schedule was 19. When it came time to pick the 64 teams for the NCAA playoffs the Tar Heels stayed home. Their 19th ranking was the lowest ever to not make the playoff field.
Mike Fox and his Tar Heels are putting together a season that there is no doubt the Heels will be in this years tournament unless they have a total collapse over the last month. They stand 29-8 and third in the RPI. Their strength of schedule is even better than last year at this point eighth.
That eighth is a magic number in baseball. The top eight selections in the tournament get to host a regional and if you win the regional would be a super regional host.
NC State is playing the part that Carolina had last year. They were rated in pre-season as high as sixth to 14th..They this year have not had the pitching that baseball America called the best Wolfpack pitching staff in history. Early on their hitting was sparce but that lately has improved. The pitching seems to be coming around but a 20-17 record is far from assured an invite to the NCAA tournament.
Their RPI is good at 39 and their strength of schedule is 11. Their remaining conference games are BC, Virginia Tech, Pitt and they finish with a toughie in Clemson. If they are to put a push for the NCAA the next three conference series are winnable.
ECU record is very similar to the Pack's. 20-18 overall 81 in the RPI and SOS is 39. They need to get going if they plan on having the type run in the NCAA's last year.
The ACC is loaded with power house teams with 5 in the top 25 in the polls. Louisville who will be hosting the ACC tournament is 31-5, Clemson 31-7, Virginia 31-9, Wake Forest 28-11 and Florida State 24-15.
Carolina had their streak where they went to the College World Series five of six years. They have missed the last two. They have a real shot atm going back to Omaha.
Friday, April 21, 2017
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