After falling in the SEC Tournament semifinals, the question of whether Florida baseball has done enough to earn a top-eight national seed remains uncertain.
The Gators blew a six-run lead as Georgia rallied to defeat UF 8-7 to end their conference tournament run on Saturday, May 23.
Before the game, D1baseball.com and Baseball America each projected Florida as the No. 8 seed. An additional win against Georgia would have likely locked up that seeding, but now the selection committee’s decision is much less clear.
“Although it was disappointing, I am really proud of the way our team played this week,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I think we opened up some eyes to other people around the country that may have not seen us play. We have come such a long way. I think this weekend puts us in a position for our team to be ready for the postseason.”
The Gators seem to be in a three-horse race for the No. 8 overall seed, which would guarantee a Super Regional in Gainesville should UF advance past a regional.
“I think we definitely did,” said Florida designated hitter Caden McDonald when asked if he felt this team was deserving of the national seed. “I mean, we had convincing wins here. The last month or so stretch that we have been on, we have been playing some really good baseball. Look at all the comparisons. I think the numbers are there, and I think we definitely pass the eye test.”
The Gators’ win against Alabama helped their cause as UF now holds a 16-12 record vs Quad 1 teams, which is the second most in the country, and has an RPI that currently sits at No. 11.
Florida received help from Auburn as Texas A&M went one-and-done in the SEC Tournament to drop the Aggies’ RPI to No. 14. The Aggies hold a 10-13 losing record against Quad 1 teams, but are 9-0 vs Quad 2 teams, and not to mention have a series victory over UF.
As for Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles sit at No. 12 in the RPI, hold a 7-6 record against Quad 1 teams and are 17-4 vs Quad 2 teams.
Yet a loss to Troy in the Sun Belt semifinals may plummet USM’s RPI stock. However, the Sun Belt conference tournament is double-elimination, and if Southern Miss responds by winning the title and defeating Louisiana in the championship, then it could still put the Golden Eagles over.
While O’Sullivan is unaware of how the committee will lean, he believes that his team is playing like one of the top eight teams in the country.
“We’ve got three good starters,” O’Sullivan said. “Our bullpen is healthy for the very first time. We’ve got our lineup pretty much set now. We’ll see what happens with the draw. I know a lot of people have asked if we should be a top-eight national seed, and my answer every time is the same thing – it’s out of my hands. It’s in the committee’s hands. I do think that we are one of the top eight teams in the country, but it’s not my decision to make.
Regional host sites will be announced on Sunday, May 24, at 8:30 p.m. E.T., while the Selection Show will air on Monday, May 25, at noon E.T.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Has Florida baseball done enough to earn a top 8 NCAA Tournament seed?
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
