One of the reasons I love Sports so much is because of the Postseason. Bowl Games, Tournaments, Playoffs, you name it. One of my goals this upcoming month is to force my love of the NCAA Baseball Tournament on to you guys.
In this post you will find out everything you wanted to know (and more) about the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Yes, there will be MANY hours of watching Gametracker.
Click the jump if you are ready to go hardcore into the world of aluminum bats.
So, we'll start with the basics. The NCAA Baseball Tournament includes 64 Teams. 30 Teams earn Automatic Berths by winning their Conference or by winning their Conference Tournaments. The other 34 Teams earn At-Large Bids.
Now you're probably wondering what the Beavers have to do make this magical field of 64 Teams. I've heard all the theories, from Bloggers, to Radio announcer Mike Parker, to Kendall Rogers (Rivals.com College Baseball Writer). The consensus is pretty much this: Go 3-1 in our final four games, and we are for sure in. Go 2-2, we are also probably in, but we won't be getting any sleep on Sunday Night. Anything less then that, we'll be left out.
Just as the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Beavers can get help from other teams across the country. There are 26 Conference Tournaments. If the favorite in these tournaments, usually the Regular Season Champion, wins the tournament, then that is good for Oregon State. If a Cinderella, that can only get into the Field of 64 by winning their tournament, wins the tourney, then that takes away another Bubble spot.
Below is a list of the Conference Tournaments, and who we want to win them.
America East: Binghamton
Atlantic 10: Charlotte
ACC: Virginia
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast
Big 12: Texas
Big East: Louisville
Big South: Coastal Carolina
Big Ten: Minnesota
CAA: James Madison
C-USA: Rice
Horizon League: Wright State
MAAC: Canisius
MAC: Central Michigan
MVC: Wichita State
MWC: TCU
NEC: Sacred Heart
OVC: Tennessee Tech
SEC: Florida
Southern: The Citadel
Southland: Texas State
SWAC: Jackson State
Summit League: South Dakota State
Sun Belt: Florida Atlantic
WAC: Fresno State
I'll have a post up on Sunday about the results of these tournaments, and our odds going into Selection Monday.
What to expect from Building the Dam
Building the Dam will be your home for 2010 NCAA Baseball Tournament Coverage. You'll find Open Threads, Recaps, and possibly a Tournament Challenge. Each year, Baseball America holds a Bracket Challenge on their website. There haven't been groups in the past, but if you are going to enter, tell me your entry name, and then I'll post the standings of all the BTD Entries. I'll have a post on that in the future.
Below is a calendar of what to expect.
Sunday, May 31st-Conference Tournament Recap, Selection Monday Preview Post
Monday, June 1st-Selection Monday Open Thread
Friday, June 4th-NCAA Tournament Regionals Day 1 Open Thread
Saturday, June 5th-NCAA Tournament Regionals Day 2 Open Thread
Sunday, June 6th-NCAA Tournament Regionals Day 3 Open Thread
Monday, June 7th-NCAA Tournament Regionals Day 4 Open Thread
Tuesday, June 8th-NCAA Tournament Regionals Recap
Friday, June 12th-NCAA Tournament Super Regionals Day 1 Open Thread
Saturday, June 13th-NCAA Tournament Super Regionals Day 2 Open Thread
Sunday, June 14th-NCAA Tournament Super Regionals Day 3 Open Thread
Monday, June 15th-NCAA Tournament Super Regionals Recap
We'll have more on our College World Series Coverage later.
Go Beavs!