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Aaron Fitt
1:41
I think Michigan's 1.5-game edge over Indiana will be too much to overcome, particularly because I still believe the Wolverines can go to Nebraska and win that final series. Though that's obviously no gimme, especially after the Huskers showed some real character by fighting back to win that ASU series after losing the opener.
BadCane
1:44
If Stanford only wins one against OSU but wins 2 against ASU, can they still swing a national seed? (Just a curious Miss State fan)
Aaron Fitt
1:44
I'm thinking probably not. We haven't had Stanford as a projected top 8 seed the last two weeks, just because of the RPI and the lack of top 50 wins. They did move back up to 16th in the RPI and improved the top 50 record to 4-3 this weekend, but they still have work to do. If they win the Pac-12, I think they get a top-8 regardless of the RPI, but under the scenario you present they likely wouldn't win the Pac.
Braxton
1:44
Louisiana Tech destroys LSU and takes 2 of 3 from Western Kentucky. Despite that, their RPI falls a few places to 51. Is there anyway they can get back in the at-large discussion or is it win the tourney or you're out?
Kendall Rogers
1:44
Braxton -- Yeah, I just think La Tech is on the outside looking in right now with an RPI in the 50s and sitting so far behind the leaders in the C-USA standings. Tech needs to win the FIU series and go on a pretty hefty run in the conference tournament to get in as an ATL, IMO.
Clint
1:46
Hey guys.  Could a team from the Valley end up being a host somehow?
Aaron Fitt
1:46
Probably not, but DBU has put itself in the discussion now by moving into a tie for first place, with a 25 RPI and a solid 9-7 record against the top 50. Ultimately I still don't think a Valley team outside the top 20 has a realistic shot to host, and I don't expect DBU's RPI to get where it needs to be, but if they make a deep run in the conference tournament, you never know. I think the Patriots are the only Valley team with the metrics to have a shot.
Lloyd
1:46
Still a chance for UCSB to host a regional?
Kendall Rogers
1:46
UCSB -- Absolutely. Despite folks thinking UCSB's RPI would plummet at some point, the Gauchos went 4-0 and are still 15 in the RPI. If they win 7 of their last 8, as of now, they'd stay in the Top 20. 47-8 with a Top 20 RPI would get UCSB a host -- probably in San Bernardino.
Michael
1:47
In your humble opinions, if Oregon State takes two of three games from Stanford, in Palo Alto, will the Beavs vault back into the rated top eight?  Also, Washington is obviously fighting for a tournament spot. Would two victories against UCLA lock that down? How about one win and finishing about .500 in the PAC 12? And...how closely does this Washington team that has finally hit .500 resemble the team that went to Omaha last year? Thanks.
Kendall Rogers
1:47
Michael -- If the Beavers win their final two series, it would certainly be hard to think OSU won't be a top eight, but let's see what happens. How about the three-way tie in the Pac 12 right now? Pretty awesome finish here these final two weekends.
Bill
1:48
Can Georgia Tech get far with their pitching situation?  Losing Brant Hurter and (temporarily) Xzavion Curry makes their starting pitching far less deep and the bullpen is so erratic.  Can they win enough 13-10 games?
Aaron Fitt
1:48
They could bash their way to Omaha, sure... but yeah, I'm a little concerned about their chances if Curry doesn't come back strong, quickly.
Chris
1:48
This may be a question for Mark. Have any school outsides the power-5 received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament with a sub-500 conference record?
Aaron Fitt
1:48
This is indeed a question for Mark, so I asked him. He doesn't have his data with him at the office today, but he says he cannot remember an example like this. Neither can I...
Matt
1:52
Are Iowa’s at-large chances shot at this point, even with a 4-0 week and some work in Omaha? Or would that be enough to get the RPI back to a reasonable number?
Kendall Rogers
1:52
Matt -- Yeah, losing that Michigan State series at home was an absolute killer. Iowa will now have to win the Maryland series on the road and also do some serious damage in the conference tournament to get into the field. Iowa's RPI is down to 79 this week. Absolutely brutal.
Kevin
1:52
Kendall/Aaron --- sell me on East Carolina. They're RPI #5 and top 10 ranked, but I look at their schedule, and I just don't see too many marquee wins outside of a few midweek games (which I think we all know how we feel about midweek games). Are we really going to hang our hats on weekend wins vs Houston, UConn, and Maryland? What have they done to deserve such acclaim?
Aaron Fitt
1:52
Such is life for a mid-major -- the metrics are never going to compare to the top teams in the SEC or ACC, but all those teams can do is dominate their leagues and get some other quality nonconference wins wherever they can get them. ECU has thoroughly dominated the American and managed to put together an 11-6 record against the top 50, pretty good for an AAC team. Ultimately, the metrics don't tell the whole story for teams like this, just as they didn't for Coastal Carolina a few years ago when the Chanticleers won it all, or Stony Brook in 2012. Those were all really good, talented, experienced teams, they were not flukes. They just didn't get a chance to prove to everybody else how good they were until the postseason. ECU is in that same mold. Ultimately I don't think they're as good as Coastal was the year the Chants won it all, but I do think ECU is a legitimate Omaha-caliber team.
BeaverDon
1:53
Oregon State, UCLA and Stanford look to be Regional Hosts. Do ASU, Cal and Washington get in to the tournament?
Kendall Rogers
1:53
Arizona State and California will. Not liking Washington's chances right now with an RPI of 71 and a poor 4-12 mark vs. RPI Top 50. There's nothing about UW's resume that screams at-large team at this point.
Heel
1:53
The bottom of the hosting race appears to be wide open. Even with the Pitt loss this weekend, do you see UNC hosting if they hold serve against NCSU and have a decent ACC Tourney showing?
Aaron Fitt
1:53
I do. I think whichever team wins that UNC/NC State series probably ends up hosting, and the other one does not.
Billy G.
1:53
With Hancock and Schunk back, Georgia is mostly healthy, have they locked up a national seed?
Kendall Rogers
1:53
Billy -- Take care of business against Alabama as expected and I would say Georgia has solidified a Top 8 seed. It will certainly have deserved it.
Adam
1:54
How much does a Coastal Division title enhance Georgia Tech or Miami's resume? Could it be a difference-maker for Georgia Tech's national seed case?
Aaron Fitt
1:54
That would be a nice boost for either of them, certainly. But I don't think it's essential for Tech to get a top 8 or for Miami to host. They're both in pretty good shape as it is.
Darrell
1:55
What’s likelyhood that Miss State lose Jake Gautreau as an assistant at end of season. He’s going to be a rockstar HC and I’m not ready to see him go.
Kendall Rogers
1:55
Darrell -- Jake is not going to leave for anything but a premier job, so I actually think they hold on to him. Perhaps if Tulane opened up, I could see Jake going there. But even then -- Tulane's administration would have to change some things to get that deal done, and I also think Jew is coming back for another season. We'll see. Right now, I think Jake is a Dog at least another season.
cool 1
WVU alum
1:58
Chances of WVU to still host a regional?  Obviously need to go 4-0 in non-conference games this week, plus they can still finish 3d in the Big 12 ahead of Oklahoma St.  I have to think the latter would help.  Your thoughts?
Aaron Fitt
1:58
The Mountaineers are indeed still in the race after a nice 3-1 week on the road this past week. I think if they win those last four games against Pitt and GW, they'll have at least a shot to host even if OSU finishes ahead of them in the standings. The tricky thing here is if Baylor wins its final series against Oklahoma State, WVU could move ahead of the Cowboys in the standings, but then Baylor would likely win the Big 12 regular season title, which would probably earn it a hosting spot, even with a lower RPI ranking. So that would make WVU the fourth host in the Big 12, which only figures to send four or maybe five teams to regionals. Not sure I see that happening.
Joe LeCates
2:00
Hey guys, thanks for the chat. Too soon, but a 2020 Draft question: thoughts on Hancock and Wilcox and where they lineup as prospects? Hancock has performed amazingly, but it seems like Wilcox might have the more electric stuff. Maybe hyperbole, but do they almost lineup as Bauer/Cole type 1-2 punch for Georgia next year?
Aaron Fitt
2:00
Maybe not hyperbole, Joe -- I think Hancock and Wilcox are indeed Cole/Bauer caliber talents. Wilcox does have ridiculous stuff, and if he harnesses it all as a sophomore... wow, that's scary to think about how good that duo could be. Both guys have 1-1 kind of upside, and Hancock also is building a 1-1 kind of track record of performance.
PackFan
2:01
Thoughts on the pitching developments for NC State the last 2 weeks?  I know the schedule hasn’t been against any elite teams but team ERA is now back under 4 after being up near 4.4 after the Wake series.  Klyman & Feeney appear back in their closing roles which seriously can shorten games again.  Nick Swiney has been outstanding of late as a moment of truth swing guy and Cotter, Nelson, Justice have been solid in middle relief.  Can this current formula of 5+ inning solid starts + this pen carry this team to a super regional?
Aaron Fitt
2:01
Yeah I think that formula can work, especially if the offense gets hot at the right time, because we've seen how tough that offense is to stop when it's rolling. I did notice Feeney and Klyman have been much better lately; I'm looking forward to getting looks at both of them this weekend. Last time I saw them both, their stuff was way down. So I'll be curious to see what it looks like now. Stay tuned.
Matt
2:02
June 1 is right around the corner so the Pat Casey questions are inevitability heating up. In the event Pat Casey doesn't come back, how do you see Oregon State moving forward? Obviously Pat Bailey has been great. Long-term, though, isn't Nate Yeskie a great option? Yeskie's role in all of this seems to be overlooked. Your thoughts?
Kendall Rogers
2:02
Matt -- Great question. I think Pat Casey comes back next month. but let's say he decides not to hang it up. I do think OSU would just hire Pat Bailey. Yeskie being overlooked in this whole deal has been a little odd, and should the Beavers decide to move forward without him (and without Casey), it wouldn't shock me if he entertained some other offers. Ultimately, I do think Case returns and Nate stays put.
ATX Dawg
2:03
Clearly Texas got bitten hard by the injury bug, but what else needs to happen for David Pierce to turn it around next season?
laughing 1
Kendall Rogers
2:03
ATX -- The thing that concerns me about Texas next year is once again the offense is going to look very very lean on paper. I do think Phil Haig will figure out the bullpen woes in the offseason and they'll have a Preseason All-American in Bryce Elder on Friday nights. Ultimately, the Longhorns have to get much much better on the offensive side of things.
Theo
2:03
Who are your Regional and Super Regional "dark horses" this year? Meaning which mid-major, under the radar, 3-4 seeded teams making it to a regional championship or even a super regional?
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