Dawg83

State gets the sweep, Kentucky made it interesting late and I question the bullpen decision in the 9th a little bit, but I guess it eventually worked. UK is probably a borderline regional team but any sweep is a good sweep. State is still not hitting or defending particularly well but I’m fine with where they are record-wise three weeks in.

Never seen as many balls get lost in the sun as there have been at The Dude today. State up 4-2 going to the 6th, not out of the woods yet. Florida takes the final game from OM and wins the series. As we’ve discussed, nothing wrong at all with a 1-2 weekend for OM. Obviously the next two weekends are massive against Arkansas and State. Auburn up 5-2 in the 6th on Arkansas, would be a pretty stunning series win. And maybe not great news for State that Auburn is getting hot right when State is headed to The Plains next week.

State really has a chance to stay in the mix by virtue of their schedule. If they can sweep today I see at least 2-3 more possible sweeps on the schedule. But NEEDING sweeps to stay in the mix is a tough position to be in so I'd say it's probably unlikely they win the West or the SEC. The only time they've actually done it in the last 30 years was in 2016 and they had to finish 11-1 in their last 12 just to win the league on the last day of the season (the infamous "Thanks, Rebels" games). If Ole Miss wins today and then can split the six games against Arkansas and State then I would probably pick them to win the West. The schedule down the stretch is not looking as imposing for OM as it once did, other than the obvious series against Vandy. Which by then who knows what Vandy will look like if Corbin keeps extending Rocker and Leiter like he's been doing.

Nice win by Ole Miss, I almost want to say tomorrow doesn’t matter because 7 wins through three weekends is already a heck of a start. But if you do win then you’re in super position to lock up a Top 8 seed. Important series win for State, had to have at least two and they’ve gotten it with the opportunity to sweep still. Wasn’t easy or particularly pretty again, but you take it. Bednar and Sims are just really good. Hitting and defense will cost this team some games (as it already has) but the pitching can make this team a contender in the end.

While I don't think this is a very good LSU team, I also think they've had a pretty brutal schedule to open league play with. State. Tennessee, and Vandy are all Top 10 teams, and Vandy is frankly in a class of their own right now. It feels like it will take something fluky for anyone to beat Rocker or Leiter. My guess is once LSU gets to the Auburn/Alabama/A&M type teams on their schedule they will win the lion's share of those games just because they're LSU and they tend to get it figured out in April and May. But they're definitely not a national seed type team and probably not a host. In spite of their record I think Auburn is dangerous, so I'm not shocked that they won a game against Arkansas. They have talent and Butch Thompson is a really good coach. Obviously they've dug a big hole for themselves, but I think they are better than teams like Missouri or Georgia who just appear to be flat out bad this year. With Arkansas I think they're very good but if there's a hole on that team it's in the starting pitching, which I think is just very meh. Wasn't really their problem last night but I could see it causing them problems in the postseason when everybody can pitch and their hitting will likely be more subdued in Omaha.

He's in a conference where he can get the ship turned around quickly. Just look at what Kiffin did at FAU. Not saying Hall is a Kiffin level coach at this stage, just that a good coach can really make good things happen in that league. If he sticks around for about 3-4 years I bet he wins a conference title at some point.

MacLeod looked great but otherwise State wasn’t overly impressive. Kentucky was underwhelming too, seems like their record may have been inflated by their schedule, though they could always look much different the rest of the weekend, one game does not a series make. But right now I feel pretty good about State’s chances to win the series and possibly sweep. Ole Miss can get swept this weekend and still be just fine. Very little to lose thanks to that 6-0 start so any win you get in Gainesville is gravy. My guess is the teams split the next two games but I could see OM rallying to win the series or Florida sweeping.

I like Marks and Johnson but Ealy is on another level from those two, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Just wanted to carry over the discussion from the other board. State hosts Kentucky starting tonight, definitely a series you need to win if you don't want to fall behind the eight ball. I have no idea what to make of Ole Miss/Florida, but should be a really good series.

Jeffries hit the portal today and it sounds like he may be State bound. Big pickup if so. Of course the portal giveth and taketh away, and State did lose Deivon Smith today. I hate that, talented kid, and it now makes a transfer point guard a pretty imminent need.

There seems to be more smoke to the Jeffries deal than the Brooks thing right now but either or both of those guys would definitely help State. I also think they need another shooter (somebody in the Tyson Carter mold). If you can either get both of those guys or get one of those guys and a shooter then you're probably really pleased with your offseason. Next year is the big one for Ben, no doubt about it. He can't afford to miss the tournament no matter who is or isn't on the roster.