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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: April 10
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Connor
1:39
Is USM in a good spot for the rest of the season? Feels like ODU & CCU have tough upcoming schedules.
Kendall Rogers
1:39
Connor -- I think USM is in a pretty good spot right now. The Golden Eagles have a top 30 RPI with a 7-4 mark vs. RPI Top 50 teams. Those are pretty good metrics for a bubble team. As you said, the remaining schedule is pretty favorable. I think we will look back and view that Dallas Baptist series sweep as a very big and important result.
CHANDLER
1:42
Thoughts on Nebraska's series win over Michigan
Kendall Rogers
1:42
Chandler -- really good series win. I liked the fact that the Huskers used strong pitching to win one of the games, and then used a barrage of offense to overwhelm Michigan in the series-clincher. The RPI is still in a very iffy spot at 78 -- but there's plenty of time to make up some ground.
cool 1
Dustin
1:42
How are the Huskers looking to get back in the tournament? 6-1 in weekend play this year. Win over Vanderbilt and 18-7 in their last 25.
Aaron Fitt
1:42
I'm still a little skeptical that Nebraska's RPI is going to get where it needs to be for an at-large bid, but the Huskers are definitely trending in the right direction, and I like their resumé more than the RPI does. They're going to need a torrid second half to get that RPI up from No. 78 into the top 50 or so, where it probably needs to be to have a shot at an at-large. Maybe they can do it too, they're playing great baseball. But it won't be easy.
Jacob
1:50
How worried are you about Alabama at this point? The State series loss feels almost like a panic button moment.
Kendall Rogers
1:50
Jacob -- I would be pretty surprised at this point if Alabama makes the NCAA tournament. I'd love for them to prove me wrong, but with Ben Hess on the shelf, that could be pretty difficult. Bama is one of those teams with an artificially bolstered RPI. There's really nothing worthwhile on Alabama's postseason resume right now, IMO. Taking that Auburn series would be a step in the right direction. And even then, it would still have a lot of work to do down the stretch, IMO.
ACC
1:51
Who do you see as the 3rd best team in the ACC behind Wake and UVA?
Kendall Rogers
1:51
I still think it's Louisville until proven otherwise. Sure, the Cards can be a little erratic on the mound at times, but I love what Ryan Hawks did last weekend and I'm a believer in Carson Liggett. I also think that lineup is very, very dangerous. I do think there's a slight step up from Louisville to Virginia ... and then another step up from UVA to Wake.
Gamecock Fan
1:53
Also, has SC done enough to truly be considered the “upper crust” with the LSU, Vandy, Florida, and Arkys of the SEC yet?
Kendall Rogers
1:53
I've watched South Carolina probably six times so far this season, and I think it looks like an elite team, no doubt. We will see if it holds up, but I like what I see right now. Impressive job by King and Co., to have that team ready this season. We (mainly Aaron) had a good hunch, which is why we had SC ranked coming into the season.
Spencer
1:54
What is going on with Tennessee’s starting rotation? It seems like since SEC play they are getting hit hard multiple games each series. A case of teams just making adjustments since last year or a sign of regression?
Aaron Fitt
1:54
I find it kind of baffling, Spencer -- I keep expecting those guys to really kick it into overdrive, and it just hasn't happened. Feels like Drew Beam has progressed, but Dollander and Burns just haven't gotten the results you'd expect considering the quality of their stuff -- and the fact that they still have high strikeout rates and reasonable walk rates. I still believe in the talent; it doesn't feel like regression as much as opponents making adjustments. But when it comes down to it, I want to go to war with those horses in the postseason.
Brock
1:54
Kendall, does Tennessee have an artificially bolstered RPI like you claim Alabama does?  Really no difference in resume IMO.  I know they started out so high, but they shouldn't be ranked.
Kendall Rogers
1:54
Sweeps over A&M and Gonzaga are better than anything over a weekend on Alabama's resume by a mile. Also, I don't think you're going to find many (if any) people who watch Tennessee and Alabama and go "Yeah, Bama is better' right now.
Colin N
1:56
With ASU sitting at 10-2 in PAC play. With their pitching staff pitching better every week, what do you think their PAC record will be at the end?
Kendall Rogers
1:56
Colin -- Not sure. Lord knows if I predict a record and am wrong, someone will blast it on twitter and say I'm clueless. What I will say about Arizona State is that I think it has more enough on the mound with Curtis and Co., and the offense is certainly solid. The thing I love about ASU is that its a club that knows who it is -- and it's a club that has defined roles. There are still plenty of teams right now who don't know the answer to either of those questions. That matters.
Spencer
1:56
Back to back series wins for the Terps to start Big 10 play. With a tough start in non-conference play, do they need to finish the regular season in the top 2 in the conference to make the postseason?
Aaron Fitt
1:56
Probably so. The RPI for Maryland isn't great (No. 68) despite playing what I consider a pretty rugged nonconference schedule. I think they really do need to finish at or near the top of the Big Ten -- and they're off to a great start against two of the most talented teams in the league, so I like their chances.
Dawson
1:57
So Bama cannot buy a series win, but yet there RPI is still 21, how much is the RPI gonna favor them sneaking in the back door of a regional if they avoid being swept the rest of conference play?
Aaron Fitt
1:57
They better start winning some series! But yeah, if they can get to 13 or 14 SEC wins, they'll have that classic bubble resumé with a strong RPI. Might come down to the SEC tourney play-in game.
Jake
1:59
Does Texas have to win the big 12 regular season to host?
Kendall Rogers
1:59
Jake -- Probably not. Texas is actually in a pretty solid spot from an RPI standpoint. The Longhorns are at 13 right now, while Oklahoma State is a few spots behind at 18. Then, there's TCU in the 30s and Texas Tech in the 60s. Texas would host if the season ended today.
Packman
1:59
NC state lost some tough ones to Wake.  Is it time to panic?
Aaron Fitt
1:59
It is not! NC State has a top 10 RPI and now the schedule really opens up, with home series against Clemson and FSU, road series at Notre Dame and UNC, then a home series against Pitt. I expect NC State to cruise into regionals, and quite possibly make a run at hosting. Still really like their roster. Wolfpack is going to make a torrid second-half run, you can count on that.
GeoDawg
2:01
Great content as always this week! How close is Southern Miss to cracking the top 25 after two strong showings in away series? After starting the conference slow, they've steadily been climbing the rankings and Tanner Hall seems back to usual form.
Aaron Fitt
2:01
I think Southern Miss was Team No. 26 this week -- our debate ultimately came down to TCU vs. USM for the last spot. Knocking on the door! A little worried about the Matt Adams injury, but I do like that the Southern Miss offense is coming alive.
Aaron Fitt
2:01
OK gang, that's all for me today. See you next week!
DUBking
2:02
CUSA race is looking to be a great finish between UTSA, DBU, FAU. DBU has been starting to hit their stride and should get Nate Humphreys and Zane Russell back soon. How do you think the Patriots will finish?
Kendall Rogers
2:02
I think I like DBU in the Conference USA regular season title race by a slim margin over UTSA. I saw UTSA a few weeks ago, and I loved Luke Malone and Simon Miller, along with some key offensive pieces. But If I'm being honest, I think I have a bit more conviction in DBU moving forward. With that said, UTSA would be a slam dunk postseason team for me no matter what right now. Really solid club.
Squash
2:05
Yall talked a few weeks ago about possibily adding more teasm in the CWS tournament.  DO you think there could ever be a baseball NIT tournament?  Maybe the last Four out in a round robin or a regional format?
Kendall Rogers
2:05
Squash -- There has been talk over the years to having an NIT tournament in college baseball. The issue is that I don't think players are going to want to play in it and risk injury for the MLB draft when the NIT would essentially have zero meaning at the end of the season. I do think we will expand the baseball tournament in due time, however. How much? Not 100 percent, but it would be an incremental increase.
Stephen
2:07
What RPI does Notre Dame need to be at to feel ok about being one of the last ACC teams in?
Kendall Rogers
2:07
Right now, Notre Dame is around .500 in the league with an RPI of 38. It would probably be 'in' as of today, but very much on the bubble. I would say they need to be above .500 by a few games in the ACC to make the tourney.
Zane
2:09
After a shaky past few weeks for GCU, where do you see the outlook of their season going? Is their only shot for regionals winning the WAC Tournament?
Kendall Rogers
2:09
Zane -- really bad timing to not have Jacob Wilson in the lineup, that's for sure. With an RPI of 125 right now, there is not a pathway for GCU to make the tournament without winning the WAC automatic bid right now.
ILoveAFitt
2:10
Is CUSA a two bid league?
Kendall Rogers
2:10
I would say two teams right now -- DBU and UTSA with FAU on the wrong side of the bubble. Still a lot of time, however.
Jeff W.
2:11
Big Longhorn fan in El Paso. Horns are now in 1st place in the Big 12. Do you see the Horns finishing in 1st? How many teams from the Big 12 will make regional play? Would Pierce be coach of the year if the Horns do finish in 1st. He would get my vote. Thanks for all the work yall do at D1 Baseball.
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