Favorable draw for Clemson
By Travis Sawchik
CLEMSON —Jack Leggett's Tigers learned Sunday they were returning to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year sabbatical, their hopeful road to Omaha beginning at home. On Monday the Tigers became acquainted with their guests as the field of 64 was revealed.
No. 1 seed Clemson hosts No. 4 seed Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The winner advances to play either No. 2 seed Alabama or No. 3 seed Oklahoma State, which open play at 3 p.m. Friday in the double-elimination format.
The winner of the Clemson Regional will face the winner of the Tempe Regional.
The best-of-three super regional would be played at Tempe, Ariz., if Arizona State advances. The Sun Devils are one of the eight national seeds. If Arizona State does not advance, a super regional site will be announced by the selection committee.
Clemson has not faced the Cowboys or the Crimson Tide since 1996.
Alabama holds a 12-11 series lead against the Tigers, but Clemson has won four of the last six NCAA meetings. Clemson is 2-1 all-time against Oklahoma State.
Jack Leggett
"We won't be intimidated, but they won't either,'' Leggett said. "We are coming into this with some confidence, so hopefully that will continue. We have three new teams that we have not played this year, so we have no opinions going into the games except that these are good teams."
The draw appears favorable for Clemson, though selection committee member Brian Quinn spoke of the strength of Alabama and the SEC, which tied with the Big 12 for most teams in the tournament (eight).
The ACC has seven teams in the field.
"Any team coming out of the SEC is a very good,'' Quinn said.
Still, Georgia and Arkansas were more highly regarded SEC No. 2 seeds according to RPI, and Baseball Prospectus's Bryan Smith said in his post selection show chat: "I still can't believe that Baylor and Oklahoma State got into this tournament.''
In the Baseball America poll, Alabama is the only team ranked (20th), outside of Clemson (16), in the Regional. According to RPI, Alabama is a weak No. 2 seed (29th), Oklahoma State is ranked 27th and Clemson opens against 153rd slotted Tennessee Tech.
The Tigers also figure to have a significant advantage playing at home. Clemson is a perfect 8 for 8 in postseason hosting situations since 1999.
Both Alabama (37-19, 18-11 SEC) and Oklahoma State (32-22, 19-9 Big 12) are much better at home than on the road. Alabama is 10-10 on the road; Oklahoma State is 8-10.
Alabama boasts the most powerful bats in the regional. Kent Matthes has hit an SEC-best 28 homers, and 81 RBIs and Brandon May has 12 homers and 68 RBIs. Alabama has put up 501 runs in 56 games.
The Tide has a 5.02 staff ERA, but have an ace in Austin Hyatt (8-2, 3.14 ERA). He has 86 strikeouts and 13 walks in 100 innings. Oklahoma State has a better ERA (4.60) than Alabama, but its offense is less potent, with 390 runs in 54 games.
Tennessee Tech, 1-1 against power-conference schools this year, is a major underdog with just 36 home runs as a team and a 5.15 staff ERA.
"It will be a tough tournament,'' Leggett said. "These teams will provide a very good challenge for us."
Single-game tickets for Games 1 and Game 2 go on sale to the general public today and can be purchased at clemsontigers.com or by calling 1-800-CLEMSON. Reserved seats are $12 per game and general admission seats are $8 per game.
Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com. and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
theronce (anonymous) says...
The entire tournament will be tough this year. CU has got to show up start to finish.
May 26, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
I think LSU knows something that nobody else has figured out. When they host a Regional, which occurs pretty much every year, they play the 1-4 game as the 1st (early) game of the opening day.
In conference tournaments and most Regional tournaments, the home team plays the evening game. LSU treats the 1-4 game like a day at the office and by 4 or 5 P.M., they are ready for dinner and relaxation. This probably started during the Skip Bertman years and LSU's success speaks for itself.
In conference tournaments, the host plays late to get the crowds, but most host teams at Regionals sell out, regardless of the game time. Clemson would sell out if the game were played at 6 in the morning.
With weather being like it is this time of year, more teams should follow LSU's example and play the early games and let the 2-3 teams worry about the weather and/or lateness of the hour.
May 26, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whopper (anonymous) says...
overrated tigers. it's like a broken record or tractor with them. did they even win the acc or acc tourney this year? They would be 12th in the sec as their record against the sec is pitiful the last 5 years but yet they get to host a regional. Didn't an overrated clemson squad already play alabama?
May 26, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fantasy5 (anonymous) says...
Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL! Rogers Hornsby was my manager, and he called me a talking pile of pigs***. And that was when my parents drove all the way down from Michigan to see me play the game. And did I cry? NO. And do you know why? Because there's no crying in baseball. THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL! No crying!
Listen to Jimmy Dugan there SmallFry, and while you're at it quit crying about EVERY sport we cruch you in!!
May 26, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfer (anonymous) says...
"crunch you in"
You must be smoking some good stuff there bud. Take another look at the Carolina/Clemson baseball series historically and in the past few years as well, and lay off the crack.
May 26, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston_grown (anonymous) says...
Clemson vs SC baseball historically
(165-120-2) Clemson leads
Clemson vs SC baseball last 5 years
(11-9) SC leads
what are you talking about surfer???
May 26, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston_grown (anonymous) says...
correction last 5 years is (12-8) with SC leading.....as a result of last years 4 game sweep
May 26, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fantasy5 (anonymous) says...
Surfer, I apologize for my typo, please forgive me! Charleston_Grown, well-played!! The waves are pretty decent today by the way, what are you doing on here?Poser...
May 26, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfer (anonymous) says...
Actually the waves suck today, they were good last week. I wouldn't consider that crunching. Looks like someones posing to be a baseball fan.
May 26, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sptiger (anonymous) says...
surfer - where you at? no smarmy reply or comeback? who should lay off the crack again?
May 26, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfer (anonymous) says...
Nope, not really. I just call it like I see it. We've been pretty darn even the past ten years (but man that double header victory against y'all in Omaha was sweet, and so was the sweep last year!) which is what matters right now. Historically y'all have the edge, but it's not been a dominant one for the most part. The crack comment was in regards to the ridiculously redundant and excessive nature of his/her earlier post. On the other hand my reply was also a bit over the top and uncalled for, but that's what happens when you're passionate about something. I took my chill pill, and looks like (s)he did too. You take the passion out of it and neither of us has a whole lot to hang our hat on in regards to baseball though, and what's the fun in it if you can't rib each other every now and then, right? I'm sure you got a little power trip asking me about the crack comment and lack of "smarmy" reply. Furthermore as I already mentioned the other day, good luck! I'd love to meet again in Omaha and break this stalemate for the season series this year.
May 26, 2009 at 10:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Shared
- Upper King on rise: Hotels, apartments, restaurants changing face of downtown area
- Missing woman case gets murkier
- Missing woman's fiance found dead in his home
- Body of missing woman's fiance was found near handgun
- DAVID SLADE: S.C. offers hybrid car tax credit
- Pinterest: Pinning hopes and dreams
- Black women today: Strong. Resilient. Ambitious.
- Facebook posts may cost you a job
- Isle of Palms wants to patch beach
- Advocating for cyclists
