The Final Four may be taking place on the hardwood, but the best action this weekend will be on the baseball diamond. As basketball is starting to wind down, Big 12 baseball is just starting to ramp up. For those not familiar with college baseball, it truly is an underrated sport. There’s always plenty of action and upsets going on during any given day. With the start of conference play in the Big 12, here are several things to keep an eye on this weekend.
Is Utah For Real?
One of the biggest surprises so far this season has been the Utah Utes. They are sitting at 5-4 right now with series wins over Arizona and Kansas State. While their pitching leaves a lot to be desired, it’s the bats that have put them over. In Big 12 play, Utah has a team batting average of .336 and have scored a total of 82 runs which only two other teams have done.
By no means does Kansas have elite pitching, so there is a chance for the Utes to once again rack up a bunch of runs this weekend. The question will be if their pitching can hold up against a good Kansas lineup. Plus, this is their first real test on the road in conference play. If they can take the series, then it may be time to start buying stock in the Utes.
It’s Now Or Never For Arizona
Last week, I talked about Arizona needing to turn things around sooner rather than later. Well, later is here and it’s now or never for the Wildcats. Picked to finish second in the Big 12 preseason poll, Arizona has lost three straight series and are sitting at 2-7 in conference action. They only team that are ahead of right now is Houston who is even worse at 1-8.
To make matters worse, the Wildcats weren’t very good in non-conference play either. They got out to an awful start and now find themselves with a 9-19 record. They have the pitching to be competitive, but the bats are still asleep as they are one of the worst hitting teams in the Big 12. Now they face in-state rival Arizona State who is one of the top tier teams. A win could help them try to save a season that’s already in shambles but another series loss may just put the final nail in the coffin.
We Get a Big 12 Championship Preview
Out of all the matchups this weekend in the Big 12, there is none better than the upcoming UCF vs. West Virginia series. In fact, one could argue that it’s one of the biggest in the entire country depending on who you ask.
Neither team has lost a series yet and both are at the top of the conference standings. What I love about UCF and West Virginia is the fact that they can do it all. Both teams have an elite pitching staff, and both teams can knock the cover off the ball.
There is no doubt in my mind that these are two are not only tournament teams but potential regional hosts as well. It’s only early April but I feel like this weekend will be a good preview of what the Big 12 title race will look like. Don’t be shocked to see them both finish in the top three of the conference standings at the end of the year.
