Baseball Tabbed 25th in NCBWA Preseason Top 35 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 13, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team has been picked 25th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which announced its preseason Top 35 poll Monday.
According to voting, the University of Texas is the preseason favorite to win the 2003 College World Series, June 13-21 in Omaha, Neb. The Longhorns return six position starters and eight pitchers from the team that won the 2002 national championship. Rice, Georgia Tech, Southern California and Stanford round out the Top 5.
The Buckeyes, which were the only Big Ten team ranked in the preseason Top 35, open the season Feb. 28-March 2 at the Tournament of Champions Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas. Ohio State will meet host Lamar, Oklahoma and Southwest Missouri State. All four teams played in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, while only Southwest Missouri State (27th) was ranked in the preseason poll. The home opener will be Friday, March 14 when the Buckeyes host Detroit and Eastern Michigan in doubleheader action.
Ohio State finished 38-20-1 in 2002 after advancing to the championship game against Notre Dame in the South Bend Regional.
The Buckeyes were voted 29th and 35th in preseason polls previously released by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America, respectively. The lone remaining preseason poll to be announced is the USA Today Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll.
NCBWA Preseason Poll
1. Texas
2. Rice
3. Georgia Tech
4. Southern California
5. Stanford
6. Florida State
7. Houston
8. Cal State Fullerton
9. LSU
10. Arizona State
11. Wake Forest
12. Richmond
13. Notre Dame
14. Baylor
15. South Carolina
16. Long Beach State
17. Miami (Fla.)
18. Nebraska
19. South Alabama
20. Mississippi State
21. Stetson
22. Clemson
23. North Carolina
24. Central Florida
25. Ohio State
26. James Madison
27. SMS
28. Virginia Tech
29. Florida Atlantic
30. East Carolina
31. Auburn
32. Virginia Commonwealth
33. Wichita State
34. Southern
35. Kent State
