Conference USA is a major player in college baseball and in some years will be a top 4 or 5 baseball league and never worse than 6th. Obviously, it's your site and you can do what you want, but that league is much closer to the 5 that you are reviewing than it is to any "best of the rest".

We realize Conference USA is a "major player in college baseball." We just don't have the resources to cover all of the conferences. We chose to preview five conferences on Monday through Friday and made the decision to go with those mentioned.

Rice and Tulane will get their due, as will a number of other teams around the country, on Saturday in what we have tabbed as the Best of the Rest (for lack of a better term). It is not our intention to slight any team outside of the Big West, Pac-10, Big 12, SEC, or ACC.

Conference USA definitely improved this year with the addition of Rice. Like the Big West (Fullerton and LB St.), Conference USA is rather top-heavy (Rice and Tulane.) Southern Miss is good, too. No doubt Conference USA will be one of the better "best of the rest" conferences.

as much as i love baseball, i just cant get too excited by the start of the college season. I usually dont pay too much attention until its getting closer to the end of the year. I just try to keep tabs on the 'all-stars', and stay aware of the top teams. I think the reason can be summed up with one word:
"PINNNNGGGGGGG!"

Its just not the crack of the bat, y'know?

I agree Conference USA is solid-- TCU, Eastern Carolina and UH give some big schools a problem.

As for Texas, I think this team is Augie Garrido's best yet. Not only does he have Stubbs and Danks but more recruits that will make a quick impact (Jace Fuller, Kyle Russell)..not to mention key returners Carson Kainer, Chance Wheless and Nick Peoples. Lineup 1-8 is strong.

And oh yeah, they return their entire starting rotation. The Horns' will be deadly.

Rose Bowl rematch in Omaha?

I do see the top heaviness of Conference USA, but when you include the bottom of the league USA is hardly any better than the Sun Belt, and no one is crying that they don't get included.

And just because I read this site everyday, and because they never get any press, could you at least include one sentence on University of Louisiana(you can even include the Lafayette part if you want). Yeah we lost an amazing number of players, but we did win 45+ last year, and are a consistent top 30 program. In the 4th best state in the Union(after Texas, FLA, and Cali obviously) UL is just as good as LSU, and when we do get a chance to play Tulane we are very competitive.

Also, I go to Auburn, please don't embarass us with a mention. We are terrible.

"I do see the top heaviness of Conference USA, but when you include the bottom of the league USA is hardly any better than the Sun Belt, and no one is crying that they don't get included."
That's just a ridiculous statement. We agree on Rice and Tulane. Houston and ECU - 2 super regional appearances EACH in the last 5 years (Houston may have 3 in 6 years). Southern Miss - 4 regional appearances in the last 5 years. Central Florida - several regional appearances in the last 5 years. There are 3 teams that are non factors: UAB, Memphis and Marshall. That's SIX of NINE members who are post-season regulars.
The sun belt is nowhere close to that record in quality or in depth.

could you at least include one sentence on University of Louisiana

We will go beyond your request and include THREE sentences. Here you go...

Louisiana-Lafayette wasn't included in Baseball America's Top 25, Collegiate Baseball's Top 40, or NCBWA's Top 30. In fact, they didn't even receive a single vote in NCBWA's poll despite the fact that 57 other schools did. Louisiana-Lafayette was one of 37 schools to pick up an honorable mention vote in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

Yes, well they started there last season as well. However, it's where they end the season that is generally important. They finished 48-19 last season, ranking 13/20/23 in the polls.

And the conference argument was horrendous. I'll admit that.

However, They have one of the handful of best C in the college game Jonathan Lucroy(.380 with more BB than K as a freshman) and are projected to finish 2nd in a damn solid conference. This has been one of my favorite teams since the CWS appearance and I have kept a close eye on them since then. They lost an unbelievable amount of talent from last year, and certainly won't be in contention for a super regional berth this year, but they have a damn good shot at making the regional tournament. And since "Our articles will highlight the teams most likely to make the playoffs with a particular focus on All-Americans and potential first- and second-round picks in the amateur draft in June." I figure its a team worth mentioning. They are in fact likely to make the playoffs, they have a number of top prospects on the team(though most are too young to be eligible this year), and its a team that has been very good rather recently.

But hey, instead of saying no you just be snide to your readerbase.

I love baseball and am in high schol and i WILL attend your school and be your next all start pitcher that wins you another championship!!!!!!

I love baseball and am in high schol and i WILL attend your school and be your next all start pitcher that wins you another championship!!!!!!

Posted by: Brad Sears at January 30, 2006 06:28 AM

Hopefully, young Brad is better on the hill than he is on the keyboard...

What do you think of the University of Florida Gators?

The Florida Gators are undoubtedly one of the favorites to earn a spot in Omaha next June. Matt LaPorta is the best amateur slugger in the country, and he has a strong supporting cast in Adam Davis, Brian Jeroloman, and Brian Leclerc.

Darren O'Day is one of the better pitchers in the conference. If the Saturday and Sunday starters come through, look out for your Gators this year.

baseball is my favourite sport but with a metal bat a pitcher could get killed if a shot is hit back at him