Rice Baseball 2011: Conference USA in Action

2/17/11 6:00pm

Rice continued its indomitable reign in Conference USA last season, winning the regular season title and destroying C-USA tournament competition in its first three games before succumbing to the University of Southern Mississippi. While Tulane University is the only other C-USA team ranked in the preseason rankings, East Carolina and Southern Miss boast two of the top three pitching staffs in the conference and will make runs at NCAA berths. Still, Rice has the most raw talent of any roster in the conference and will look to win both regular season and tournament championships on its way to a national seed.UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

2010 record: (25-32, 11-13 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

After a disappointing 2010, the Cougars are returning seven seniors that hope to capital-ize on their last opportunity for success. New coach Todd Whitting, plucked from national powerhouse Texas Christian University, will hope to restore the University of Houston to the success he enjoyed there in the '90s as an assistant. Look for sophomore DH M.P. Cokinos, a member of the 2010 C-USA All-Tournament team, to provide pop in the middle of the Cougar order.

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UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

2010 record: (29-30, 12-12 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

Much like Marshall last year, Memphis enjoyed its best season since joining C-USA, placing third in the regular season. The team returns 18 letter winners, hoping to find even more success and compete for a C-USA crown. It has a di?cult schedule, however, playing 29 games against 30 win teams, leaving little margin for error.

MARSHALL UNIVERSITY

2010 record: (27-31, 12-12 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

Despite only having a .500 record inside Conference USA, 2010 was the Thunder-ing Herd's most successful baseball season since joining the league, with its fourth place finish being its highest ever. Senior catcher Victor Gomez has been named a NCBWA Preseason Third Team All-American and is currently tied with Anthony Rendon for active conference leader in home runs with 47.

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

2010 record: (32-27, 11-13 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

East Carolina returns 21 letter winners, a good chunk of the team that had moderate success last year, and will surely be looking to improve their Conference USA record. On the backs of its starting rotation, including Preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year Seth Maness, East Carolina hopes to put itself in possible position to make the NCAA Tournament.

TULANE UNIVERSITY

2010 record: (32-24, 10-14 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

Tulane, a team that had a 30-win season but a disappointing C-USA season, is returning all but one of its starters in 2011, hoping that this stability will bring it more wins in 2011. It is also returning two of its three key starters and one of the conference's best closers, meaning the Green Wave could very well compete for a conference title.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

2010 record: (36-24, 14-10 C-USA) '10 postseason: lost in Auburn, Ala.regional (1-2)

The only other team besides Rice in C-USA to make the NCAA Tournament in 2010 , Southern Miss is hoping to repeat as C-USA Tournament champs this season. The Golden Eagles lost quite a bit of talent from last season but still have Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year Todd McInnis, who is expected to break many school and conference records.

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- BIRMINGHAM

2010 record: (28-25, 11-13 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

UAB, a team in the middle of the C-USA pack last season, lost much of its talent from last season, meaning it has had to bring in 18 new players to campus, including 11 pitchers. The Blazers' success this season depends on how quickly these new players can adapt to the college level.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

2010 record: (33-22, 10-14 C-USA) '10 postseason: N/A

UCF, a bottom-feeder last season, has managed to bring in its second consecutive top 20 recruiting class, meaning that eventually; they have to become a competi-tor inside C-USA. The young, speedy team will have to come together to truly compete this year, but it is not beyond possibility that this talented group will start winning baseball games.

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