Ncaa announces top 25 pre season picks

[Bouldersdad]

USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll - Preseason 2014

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Final 2013 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.
Rankings
Rank Team Record Points Previous
1 Tennessee (7) 52-12 729
2 Oklahoma (17) 57-4 720
3 Washington (1) 45-17 702
4 Florida (6) 58-9 684
5 Michigan (1) 51-13 652
6 Alabama 45-15 604
7 Arizona State 50-12 593
8 Oregon 50-11 576
9 Nebraska 45-16 572
10 Texas 51-10 532
11 Texas A&M 42-18 383
12 Kentucky 41-21 374
13 Louisiana-Lafayette 47-15 367
14 Missouri 38-14 357
15 Florida State 44-19 317
16 UCLA 40-20 282
17 LSU 42-16 269
18 Baylor 42-17 244
19 Louisville 48-13 235
20 South Alabama 48-9 194
21 UAB 40-19 181
22 Stanford 39-21 164
23 Georgia 40-21 149
24 California 38-19 125
25 South Florida 45-16 98
Others receiving votes:

Hawai’i (86), Arizona (45), Arkansas (28), Hofstra (27), Tulsa (23), Wisconsin (21), N.C. State (16), Auburn (10), Long Beach State (8), Notre Dame (8), Virginia Tech (8), Houston (6), BYU (5), Oregon State (3), North Carolina (2), Western Kentucky (1)

 

[JJsqueeze]

must be a source of papa pride to see your DDs team ranked in the top 20. Hope she kills it this season.

 

[knightsb]

I am surprised OU didn't drop any lower than 2nd after loosing Rickets and Gascoigne. DD and I met their pitching staff a couple of weeks ago, but didn't get to see any of them pitch.

 

[CoogansBluff]

Does anyone else think that it's based very largely on last season and not a closer look at who graduated and who returned?

I don't know the teams well enough to answer that, but as Knightsb made reference, OK lost some major impact players, and the team that I do follow - Georgia - returned almost everybody and figures to return to its previous form of World Series contender (not ready to win it, but the kind of team that has a shot to make the final 8). I would've thought they'd be ranked 11-15 or so.

 

[knightsb]

Does anyone else think that it's based very largely on last season and not a closer look at who graduated and who returned?

Yeah, I agree.

Mizzou lost Thomas. They have two very talented Freshman pitchers, Finucane & Stangle.

Good luck to your Bulldogs.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

I agree. Preseason polls tend to be based on prior year and reputation. There will be lots of movement over the course of the season.

CS Fullerton is hosting 4 early season 'tourneys' this year and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot these teams play. Oklahoma is opening their season there in 2 weeks along with Kentucky. Louisville is there Feb 28. The Judi Garman Classic March 6-9 is loaded with Washington, Michigan, ASU, Nebraska, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin and Houston.

 

[gophert]

I was a little surprised to see my Lady Vols at the #1 spot. Yes they are returning their #1 pitcher, and other core defensive players, but they lost so much Offensively with Gibson and Chavanne. They will always be tough so it will be fun to watch.

 

[Bouldersdad]

Yeah, I agree.

Mizzou lost Thomas. They have two very talented Freshman pitchers, Finucane & Stangle.

Good luck to your Bulldogs.

The cards square off against Mizzou Feb 14th in Jacksonville, Im really looking forward to seeing how both teams look. It should be a pretty good indicator for the rest of the season

 

[humpty]

Coogan. Uga has the bats but do they have the pitching?
Tn lost a lot. My Gators should win the SEC.

 

[CoogansBluff]

Coogan. Uga has the bats but do they have the pitching?
Tn lost a lot. My Gators should win the SEC.

Got to hope their two sophomore pitchers take it to the next level this season. Chelsea Wilkinson had her moments - the 14-strikeout game vs. Florida, shut out LSU, allowed only 4 runs in two games vs. Arizona State. Geri Ann Glasco is the other and was 17-8, but was not dominant.

The SEC coaches' predictions are probably more 'accurate' than the national top 25 -

1. Florida (10)
2. Tennessee (2)
3. Alabama (1)
4. Georgia
5. Kentucky
6. Missouri
7. Texas A&M
8. LSU
9. Arkansas
10. Auburn
11. South Carolina
12. Mississippi State
13. Ole Miss