[BCXtreme]

USA Today's Coaches Poll doesn't even have us on their radar.

Not true. Per both @LibertyBaseball and ESPN, we are #25 in that poll. Where did you see a version without us in it?

[Chippy]

USA Today's Coaches Poll doesn't even have us on their radar.

Not true. Per both @LibertyBaseball and ESPN, we are #25 in that poll. Where did you see a version without us in it?

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d ... aches-poll

I like espn's better

[adam42381]

What is the highest LU has ever been ranked in baseball?

This is the only time Liberty's ever been ranked by BA

That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure. Huge accomplishment.

[BCXtreme]

USA Today's Coaches Poll doesn't even have us on their radar.

Not true. Per both @LibertyBaseball and ESPN, we are #25 in that poll. Where did you see a version without us in it?

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d ... aches-poll

I like espn's better

The USA Today website (source) has the same list as the NCAA, but only lists 1-24. The USA Today website claims Clemson dropped out to what would be #26, but shows no #25 on the list. Very confusing.

[BCXtreme]

USA Today's website now has Liberty at #25 in the Coaches Poll as well. I would complain about them using our old logo to do so, but as it is none of the logos on that page look flattering, so kind of a moot point.

[01LUGrad]

My gosh. This is so much more fun than football season.

[ballcoach15]

When one thinks of how many teams playing D1 baseball, LU is doing amazing job.

[Chris Lang]

Liberty's chances of hosting a regional at this point are fairly miniscule. The loss at UNC hurt in that regard. Would require winning out to get close to the top 16 in RPI. Just don't see it happening. Radford and Coastal will both be very tough to sweep, not to mention the game at UVa.

The most realistic goal is finishing somewhere near 20 in the RPI and finding a way to get out of playing as a No. 2 at a seeded team.

[krh44]

Chris - I think you are right but nice to be in consideration.

here is some info. from Perfect Game

"• Other teams in the mix for an NCAA Regional host this week included TCU, Liberty, Oregon, Louisville and Vanderbilt. Liberty is the most intriguing team out of the bunch, as it's a Big South program with a fantastic RPI of 17 and a premier, new, facility that holds approximately 2,500 with room for more spectators. The Flames are 32-9 with a 1-2 mark vs. RPI Top 25, 5-2 record vs. RPI Top 50 and 14-4 mark vs. RPI Top 100. The Division I Baseball Committee loves to award host sites to “new” teams on the college baseball landscape, and Liberty would fit that billing."

[ballcoach15]

LU has a better facility than many of the teams that will be hosting.

As for the polls, it's great to see Liberty listed with Virginia, Florida State, South Carolina, LSU, Alabama, Miami, Florida, and Mississippi among others in the Top 25.

[Chris Lang]

Right, and that was written after the Clemson win and before the UNC loss. I definitely think Liberty is under consideration, but much like South Alabama last year, probably won't have the RPI numbers to get there in the end. Without the new stadium, this isn't even a discussion.

On the other hand, the Boyd's RPI needs report shows the Flames could finish as poorly as 4-4 and still remain inside the top 32, so Liberty is pretty close to being an at-large lock, which is an accomplishment in itself. Having High Point (RPI 38) on LU's side of the draw in Rock Hill in May will help boost the RPI number as well. HPU-Coastal would be the 4-5 game if the tourney started today. In years past, the host decisions were made before the conference tournament. That changed last year. Tech's Pete Hughes basically used the postgame sessions at the ACC tournament to stump for the Hokies to host.

[Chippy]

Right, and that was written after the Clemson win and before the UNC loss. I definitely think Liberty is under consideration, but much like South Alabama last year, probably won't have the RPI numbers to get there in the end. Without the new stadium, this isn't even a discussion.

On the other hand, the Boyd's RPI needs report shows the Flames could finish as poorly as 4-4 and still remain inside the top 32, so Liberty is pretty close to being an at-large lock, which is an accomplishment in itself. Having High Point (RPI 38) on LU's side of the draw in Rock Hill in May will help boost the RPI number as well. HPU-Coastal would be the 4-5 game if the tourney started today. In years past, the host decisions were made before the conference tournament. That changed last year. Tech's Pete Hughes basically used the postgame sessions at the ACC tournament to stump for the Hokies to host.

Am I wrong in thinking that because they would win the South Div CCU would be a 2 seed?

[Chris Lang]

Winthrop and CCU are tied right now. Winthrop holds the tiebreaker.

[flameshaw]

Agree with Lang, our chances are minimal at best. I don't see us winning out. That, along with the fact that we are fairly new to post-season play, doesn't help.
On the positive side, our team has many come-from-behind wins and has found a way to win close games. That is very unusual, considering our sports history/culture of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The coaching staff has done a great job with the guys this year as well.
I hope I am wrong about winning out, but I would not be surprised if we lose 2-3 before the tournament, which might not be all bad.
GO FLAMES.

[jinxy]

We will look to schedule another game atleast between now and seasons end. Kendall rogers confirmed that we are looking to add high rpi games. Its difficult to do but i bet i know one of the teams that declined so far.

[Chris Lang]

Toman is going to be very selective in terms of adding a game. Nothing lower than 30-35 in the RPI. They were looking to add something for today or tomorrow, which were the only days open due to the exam break, but nothing really has come of it. Tomorrow would have to be at home since it's reading day, he said. The fact that Toman is looking to still schedule aggressively will only help the program in the committee's eyes. That Clemson win will be huge because of that. The only real place left to add a game would be Thursday, May 8, Monday, May 12 or Wednesday, May 14. But then you start running into having to play four or five straight days again, and you wonder if it's worth it. A 6-2 or 7-1 finish to the schedule leaves Liberty as a solid No. 2 and probably away from the high seeds in the regionals. Not sure they really need to add again at this point.

[BJWilliams]

6-2 or 7-1 probably puts us in the 9-12 spot (more like 9 or 10)

[newoldschool17]

Like I said earlier, if we host it will be as a 2 seed and it seems like there will be at least 1 if not 2, 2 seeds that will be hosting bc of Houston and the multitude of SEC teams in top 16 rpi. The intrigue of our stadium and region will be the biggest factor. Finish pretty strong and we have a 2 seed locked up. Then let's hope for the best!

[newoldschool17]

Flames bubble in to host as 2 seed based on stadium and geography per Baseball America link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/ ... week-11-4/

[BJWilliams]

Odu winning actually helps us, especially should we win our matchup with them next week, seeing as we split with them in our two meetings this year

[newoldschool17]

Odu winning actually helps us, especially should we win our matchup with them next week, seeing as we split with them in our two meetings this year

You talking about the UVA game?? We didn't add ODU a game that hasn't been put out yet have we?

[BJWilliams]

I am...we split with ODU and if we beat Virginia the Monarchs beating them helps our RPI...really their win already has helped our case to a degree

[Chris Lang]

A long breakdown of how the RPI and host roles have intertwined in the recent past. Pour a cup of coffee and read it in the morning:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

[BCXtreme]

Polls for this week are starting to come out. In USA Today Coaches Poll, the Flames are in a three-way tie for the #24 spot. In Baseball America Top 25, the Flames remain steady at #22.

[PAmedic]

from LANG (for those who chose to believe him)

Chris Lang ‏@ChrisLangLNA 1h

Liberty baseball moves up three spots to No. 21 in Perfect Game's latest Top 25.