DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 19th year with its 2016 weekly surveys. Polls will be circulated from Feb. 22-June 30 (weekly through June 6) following the 70th annual NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., at TD Ameritrade Park.
The Texas A&M Aggies (48-14) are No. 1 for the third time this season along with the March 28 and May 30 surveys. Mississippi State grabbed the No. 1 post on May 23 for the first time in 16 after Florida dominated that poll spot 12 times in the initial 14 weeks. Miami (Fla.) was atop the poll for the initial time in school history on April 11. UF (preseason No. 1 and Feb. 22-29-March 7-14-21, April 4-18-25-May 2-9-16) also has held No. 1 spot over all or parts of five months. The 2016 poll voters come from 40 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. There have been four different No. 1 schools in 2016 while in 2015 and ·13 there were five different schools at No. 1 slot. In 2014 there were six different top-ranked squads in 2014.
The eight No. 1 seeds in the 16 NCAA Championships 64-team bracket are NCBWA poll No. 3 Florida as top seed, No. 6 Louisville as second seed, No. 2 Miami as third seed, No. 1 A&M as fourth seed, No. 11 Texas Tech in the fifth slot, No. 4 Mississippi State in sixth, No. 10 Clemson at seventh, and No. 5 LSU as the NCAA·s eighth seeded squad in the bracket. Seven of these eight seeds advanced to the next round. All eight NCAA Super Regional hosts are among the NCBWA Top 30 this week.
The current survey has representation by 10 different conferences (and 16 for the season) among the 300 baseball-playing schools in the 2016 NCAA Division I ranks. The rankings of 2012 had a NCBWA-poll record 22 22 different DI conferences and independents rated at least one week while 16 separate circuits had team rankings in '15. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to ncbwa.com.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.