Clemson focusing on itself rather than foes

CLEMSON — History and familiarity exist in regular season play. The Clemson staff charts opposing ACC batters' tendencies. The coaches see conference players grow and develop, which is also true of non-league teams like South Carolina.

It is a contrast to the Clemson Regional experience.

The Tigers return to the NCAA Tournament against Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Friday knowing little of their guests traveling to Doug Kingsmore.

More than a decade has elapsed since Clemson faced Alabama or Oklahoma State, the regional's respective No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. The Tigers have faced No. 4 seed Golden Eagles just once, sweeping a midweek series in 2003.

As the Tigers prepared for the regional at the baseball complex Wednesday, head coach Jack Leggett preferred to steer the conversation to his group rather than the field.

"You can get so caught up in scouting reports you forget what you are doing," Leggett said. "We give (the players) information, we tell them what to expect, but it is a game of adjustments once it starts."

Rather than spending the majority of precious hours between Monday's selection show and Friday's opener analyzing opponents, the Tigers are focused on self-improvement. It is also a young Tigers team that Leggett might be wary of overloading with data.

"You don't have that much time to prepare," freshman shortstop Miller said. "We are not worried too much about the other teams. ... we have some information on the starting pitchers, we really just have to focus on being prepared."

College baseball scouting is unlike football and basketball in one major way: a lack of televised games, and hence, video evidence.

Even if Leggett wanted to analyze every Tennessee Tech game this season, it would be a challenge to accumulate tape.

The Tigers (40-19) say they are not looking past the Ohio Valley champ, noting No. 4 seeds are often playing their best baseball of the season advancing from tournaments.

The Golden Eagles hope ace Lee Henry, who will start Friday against Trey Delk, can give the Eagles an upset. Henry is 9-2 with a 2.96 ERA, striking out 74 batters in 76 innings.

While Tennessee Tech tape is scarce, Leggett said he will have some video on Alabama, which won 15 of its last 20 conference games to finish third in the SEC West (37-19, 18-11).

And it is No. 2 seed Alabama, scoring 501 runs in 56 games, which figures to be Clemson's greatest challenge.

The clear threat is slugger Kent Matthes, who recorded SEC bests with 28 home runs and 81 RBIs. Leggett said the Tigers would pitch to Matthes.

Austin Hyatt is the staff's clear ace (8-2, 3.14 ERA). Alabama has a 5.02 team ERA, but the competition of the SEC must be considered.

Several analysts were surprised that No. 3 Oklahoma State (32-22) made the tournament as an at-large, going 9-16 in the Big 12 Conference, but the Cowboys do have an outstanding bullpen to hand over leads to in Brad Propst (2.20 ERA) and Randy McCurry (2.45 ERA), and a talented left-handed starter in Andrew Oliver.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.