I said four weeks ago that the baseball season was over, and I still believe that.
That said, we have advantages this season that we did not have last season.
1) Last season we finished the season with 5 wins vs. top 50 teams. This season we have 9 wins already, and have at least 4 more opportunities against top 50 teams. If Tulane and UConn, move up a few spots, we will have 11 wins vs. top 50, which would be the most in our conference, and as many top 50 wins as Miami has.
2) Last season our end of the year strength of schedule was #48. Currently we have the 23rd strongest schedule in the country, and that's before we play a three game series against the #29 RPI team.
3) Last season The American was the 6th best conference in the country according to the RPI. This season the AAC is the 3rd best conference in the country. That should translate to at least 4 bids.
Any other season, winning 2 out of 3 against the #29 RPI team to end the season would be a great result. However, 2 out of 3 leaves us at 11-13 in the conference, and I don't see the committee picking an at-large team from the AAC with a losing record in conference. That means we have to either sweep USF, and win 2 or 3 games in the tourney, or win the tourney outright. I realize neither one of those scenarios is very likely, but "there's still a chance."
That said, we have advantages this season that we did not have last season.
1) Last season we finished the season with 5 wins vs. top 50 teams. This season we have 9 wins already, and have at least 4 more opportunities against top 50 teams. If Tulane and UConn, move up a few spots, we will have 11 wins vs. top 50, which would be the most in our conference, and as many top 50 wins as Miami has.
2) Last season our end of the year strength of schedule was #48. Currently we have the 23rd strongest schedule in the country, and that's before we play a three game series against the #29 RPI team.
3) Last season The American was the 6th best conference in the country according to the RPI. This season the AAC is the 3rd best conference in the country. That should translate to at least 4 bids.
Any other season, winning 2 out of 3 against the #29 RPI team to end the season would be a great result. However, 2 out of 3 leaves us at 11-13 in the conference, and I don't see the committee picking an at-large team from the AAC with a losing record in conference. That means we have to either sweep USF, and win 2 or 3 games in the tourney, or win the tourney outright. I realize neither one of those scenarios is very likely, but "there's still a chance."
