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The only podcast covering all things Arizona State athletics! We bleed maroon and gold, and love talking about the Sun Devils no matter what sport.
Tom Hardon (00:01)
Welcome one, welcome all to a special Memorial Day Monday recording of Echo from the Buttes. I'm your host, Tom Harden. With me is Andrew Hazlet, and ⁓ we got a lot to a lot of ground to cover with you guys today. obviously big news with the baseball tournament selection show earlier today on this Monday. But before we get into that news of the day, one season ends as the postseason is continuing for another ⁓ another
Andrew Hayslett (00:05)
Thank you.
Tom Hardon (00:31)
team that is the softball season ending yesterday with a five nothing ⁓ five nothing loss to Texas in the super regional but absolutely incredible season ⁓ in the fourth season for Megan Bartlett and a great run for the ladies winning the Big 12 for for the first time and giving Sundevil fans another excellent program to watch and get excited about.
Andrew Hayslett (00:58)
Yeah, absolutely. It like like you said, Tom, it's an it's another program doing well. The more programs I th that are doing well, the better your athletic department is as a whole and I think that just shows the culture that Arizona State is has set under athletic director Graham Rossini because y you look back and this is the second year now, you've seen ⁓ steps of improvement with with softball and baseball, even while while still have
the same coach it it it shows this this is ⁓ a a a culture shift where things are getting better in the building. Even men's basketball Tom I think it under Bobby Hurley did take steps forward in in in the past year or two from what they worked a few a few years bef before coming out out of Covid to an extent. But
it it's I I think that just shows what everything what what Rossini has done in in the two years bo year compared to what that that last year of what Ray Anderson's was was kind of a a forgettable year starting with football and kind of just trickled on down.
Tom Hardon (02:16)
Time really just starts with Graham Rossini. Let's just leave it at that. We we we don't need to go into the dark ages there, but you know, we we've set it ad nauseum. Gram Rossini, just the excitement that he brings to the athletic program and across all levels, it's it's palpable. The buzz in Tempe is real around all these programs, and it's exciting to see what's in store for the future and what next steps can be taken. Who which program is going to be that next step to do it? The you know.
Things are wide open for for Sundevel Athletics. the entire athletic program is in a good place. And it's just really exciting to see the ⁓ the real turn from the last couple of years. But before we hop into the ⁓ hop into the baseball news, there is one other ⁓ one other program that is currently playing in their national tournament. That is women's golf, currently playing the fourth round.
over in Carlsbad, California. This is the final round of the ⁓ of the ⁓ of the all-stage play before cutting down to the top eight teams and as we're looking at it right now the Sun Devil ladies are in tenth place right now playing at an eight over par. Cut line is projected to be three over par right now Duke is holding down the
eighth and final spot in ⁓ for ⁓ to play on through into tomorrow but still lots of lots of room to to make that move up the sound devils are playing in a in a later time slot so that does help out in the in the roll in the long run currently on ⁓ on hole twelve or thirteen but it's ⁓ this will be fun to keep an eye on and can the ladies ⁓ advance to play to the next day
With with men's the men's tournament coming up next weekend as well, right back in Carlsbad at that omni course.
Andrew Hayslett (04:21)
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see from for both teams. women's team doing doing good. ⁓ you'd like to see make the the the next stage, but if if not, and that's another NCAA tournament team this year, ⁓ you can count you have to count on two hands, I I I think to with all all the teams that have made various tournaments it it feels like. ⁓
Tom Hardon (04:23)
Yeah.
Andrew Hayslett (04:51)
men the men's team there's ⁓ guys like FIFA Laupakti, I believe it's pronounced, who who's played the Masters this this year and is gonna play the ⁓ the the open as well and
I believe it's gonna be in England this year, but regardless, it ⁓ i i golf is ⁓ Arizona State's a golf school for a reason.
Tom Hardon (05:18)
And and for for the women's side right now as as we're looking at the current round, Paula Schultz-Hansen and ⁓ Pimpisa Pim Pimpisa Rebron, currently the the low ladies on the day at one under par. ⁓ Rebrong and Beth Coulter, the low ladies for the entire weekend, playing to even par so far in their fourth round. ⁓ fingers crossed that the ladies do pull out the
⁓ pull out the the strokes to get into that top eight and play on this week.
We're on to on to the news of the day with the baseball tournament selection show took place at nine AM this morning and the Sun Devils are going dancing again, back to back years, and this year getting to the Lincoln Regional as the number three seed. Andrew, you were there on site as the announcement was made. What was the ⁓ what was the feeling in the room? Obviously, ⁓ it was it was very ⁓ it was
very much assumed that the cent of send devils would be in the tournament, ⁓ teetering on that two, three seed line depending on what bracketology projection you're looking at. ⁓ was there a sense of disappointment of being a three seed or is this a sense more of okay this is our this is what we drew, this is what we have to do.
Andrew Hayslett (06:43)
⁓ more of the latter. It was it was I think it was a surprise to most most of the team because ⁓ a lot of projections I saw had ASU as a two seed. A lot of ⁓ it was kinda surprising to to some of the players 'cause although they pr try to avoid it, they're online just like the rest of us. They have Instagram, have Twitter and you're inevitably gonna see it and what well I think the ⁓ everyone was saying is that Arizona State
was not really expected to go to Lincoln and wasn't ⁓ really to be expected to be a three seed. So it's just more surprised to say, okay, this what what we gotta do now, gotta go take on Ole Miss ⁓ in in the first game and if if you win you get to go play Lincoln and if or pro or probably Nebraska, not Lincoln. But regard regardless i if if if not, you'll probably play South Dako South Dakota if I could speak right now. But
Point being is that i i it it's play these games, figure out what matchups are best, how how you wanna tack and and that that's what you gotta do moving forward.
Tom Hardon (07:55)
And you you called it out earlier today on on Twitter how this is really not a not an easy draw for the Sun Devils. Obviously the the host team, Nebraska Corn Huskers is the one seed, Ole Miss coming out of the SEC as the two seed, and South Dakota State coming out of the Summit League as a sub five hundred overall, but did get on a a good run to win their conference tournament. ⁓ would you say this is the
the so called region of death for the Sun Devils, or is that a little bit of hyperbole?
Andrew Hayslett (08:30)
Yes and no. I think it's gonna be the region of death because y I think there's three fairly strong teams in said r the regional and if you look at some of these other regions, or you you might just say, there's only two strong teams there. Like I believe the Eugene Regional, which has Oregon, Oregon State, your two strong teams who I think Oregon State should be hosting, but that's neither here nor there. Washington State and Yale.
I I see two s two strong teams there. ⁓ I think that's just a part of being a three seed. There's probably one or two really weak two seeds, ⁓ I think that that you could point to in in the bracket. ⁓ I do think Ole Miss is on the weaker side 'cause I I'm just not a huge believer in in whatever this is the the sixth best SET SEC team this year, seventh best some somewhere down there.
I I think that's on a little bit on on the on the weaker side, ⁓ but you ha you still look at it it it's still two C D it's it's in s instead of being ⁓ that's
You're you're as is three seed, you're playing the two seed instead of playing a three seed, which might have been more favorable if if you with you looking at some of some of the other regionals. So so yeah, I think Nebraska is a good team. I do think they deserved to host. So so yeah, that that's kind of my thoughts on it it's it's one where I think there's three teams you can put in a in a in a shaker and any one any one of might win. but
Which makes it easy on one hand but makes it hard on the other hand is that yeah, it's there's there's two teams that could easily win it just it just as well as you might, so I I think it's not a really favorable draw at the end of the day.
Tom Hardon (10:22)
We got a woman.
We you talk about that Eugene Regional. We got a we got a little bit of that Pac-Twelve throwback with with three former Pac-Twelve teams going up there. But coming back to to Lincoln and we'll we'll clue in first on Arizona State's first opponent in the Ole Miss Rebels. And this is a a matchup that features high strikeout potency out of the out of the pitching staffs, ⁓ both in the top ten nationally in strikeouts.
Ole Miss leading the country in swings and misses, but ASU right behind them, ⁓ both over thirteen hundred swing and misses during the season. ⁓ this is the on paper at least this shapes up to be a very low scoring, grinded out, you know it it would it would look like it favors Ole Miss being the the designated home team as the higher seed in that matchup, but
with the ⁓ with the staff that Arizona State's put together and being able to get those swins and misses in key times, ⁓ th this is gonna be a a a true pitcher's duel if you are a fan of that sort of thing.
Andrew Hayslett (11:38)
I'm I'm being honest, Tom. I think it's might be the opposite. I I think ⁓ when Arizona State was at its best they were scoring a lot of runs. Arizona State in in the Big Twelve are i is the they strike out the least. I which which will be interesting to see. If if if if Ole Miss is successful, I think it'll be more of a pitcher's duel, like you said, Tom, getting the swings and misses. But if ASU is successful
They'll have to not strike out, which they've done a great job of all years making contact. We we saw it in the Cincinnati game with three errors that Cincinnati made, ⁓ allowed ASU to score a few runs, really put them away. I think if you can get contact, things happen which are generally good, instead of just line outs to center or wherever. ⁓ if you can get contact that you'll get offense and that that's how you that's how you win this this
first game, yeah, I I think it the higher the higher scoring I think is the more it favors ASU.
Tom Hardon (12:43)
And that that's something that we saw at least in the first game of the the Big Twelve tournament against Cincinnati, being able to get that solid contact, swing together hits, but just running into the ⁓ the buzzsaw of West Virginia really shutting down ⁓ shutting down the bats and not really getting any sustained ⁓ sustained momentum going. And ⁓ it it comes down to just taking the you know taking a a very ⁓
very easy approach to the p to the at bat and not trying to go for the home run ball every single time but string together those ⁓ you know play that small ball that that people harp on all the time and string together a rally. You know, that that's really to me the key to be able to to get around this olmus pitching staff. I don't know about what you feel on that as well.
Andrew Hayslett (13:38)
Yeah, t to ex to expand upon that thought, I think if if you do have that that small ball approach, I look at guys like Austin Rolig, not a huge contact or power guy, but he has con a good contact in his bat. P J Mutzeritas, if he gets going the sh the shortstop, I think that'll be another key player to watch w with that attack. ⁓ y you look at Matt Polk, another guy who isn't a super powerful bat but I think i i is
very well rounded, he's another guy. I don't really expect your ⁓ if if you're going small ball your your your big boppers like Dean Toygo, Dominic Smaldino, they might have quieter nights, but y so you'll have to look at other places. You're gonna have you you're gonna want someone to get in front of Landon Harrison. His his hot bat. He can always hit home runs whenever. But he he's still batting like
over four hundred. So if you get guys on in front of him you'll you'll likely score score runs and that's really I look to Mootsuritas if he's starting. We've seen Beckett Zavor get s ⁓ starts at short ⁓ at times of late. He's had a really hot bat. I would like to see him personally. ⁓ but yeah. Beyond that, who whoever gets the DH roll is gonna need to produce because Arizona State has had absolutely n almost nothing coming from that spot of late.
Tom Hardon (15:04)
And and I'm glad you bring up Matt Polk because to me he was the you know, really the the consistent bat in the in the Big Twelve tournament, named to the Big Twelve all tournament team out of the outfield position. ⁓ I I think, you know, being able to keep his you know, his mini streak going that he is on right now, in addition to obviously Landon Harrison, Dean Toigo, you know, the big power guys, I I think he's really going to be a key in the lineup to
keep things moving, even you know, he could be a guy that's coming up with two outs and you're you're looking at him to get on base to extend the inning and he's gonna do absolutely that. I I think that he has no shortage of ability to be able to extend innings and get to the neck you know, keep the lineup rolling.
Andrew Hayslett (15:54)
I I agree, Tom, that ⁓ you say that he he's gonna be a a key piece. I voted for him to be on that big twelve all tournament team myself. But I l looking at it, he has experience. He's played an SC C Vander Vanderbilt for three years. ⁓
played in in this tournament they're you're they're gonna have to rely on him because I I look up and down that lineup I s I see the two Cal transfers, ⁓ Toygo, Rolig. That's four guys off the top my head that I don't I that that didn't really get the chance to play postseason ball re re a as of recently. so you have to rely on the guys who have done that.
Harrison played postseason ball last season. Polk obviously medically registered, but he's he's done it in the past. it's Beckett Zavork had spot starts in the postseason last year. Brody Briggs ha I believe had ⁓ a started catcher last year in in the regional. You you have to rely on on those those guys that have done it for you and or or or done it for you or or other teams in the past.
to help lead this team say, okay, this is what we can expect from from these these games and this is how you have to execute.
Tom Hardon (17:26)
Absolutely. You said it very very, very perfectly. And you know, looking at looking at Ole Miss and what they you know what they bring, you know, they're they're coming off of being a number nine seed in the SEC tournament, but losing ten to eight to number sixteen seed in Missouri. How much is that going to be an obstacle for the Sun Devils to overcome in Friday night's game?
Andrew Hayslett (17:55)
they're ⁓ obviously gonna be a little bit frustrated, the rebels are, because losing to a Missouri team which i i isn't good and they didn't make the tournament is gonna put a fire on under them, especially and then they lo lost to two of the final three games i in in their
R final regular season series. So th this team is is a little cold as of late, but
they could be they could all of a sudden heat up at the right time and AC would be on the wrong end of it. So y you just gotta regardless of of winning or losing, you always have to beware of teams, because anyone can strike.
Tom Hardon (18:48)
And you know looking looking at the the pitching staff for for Ole Miss, it wouldn't you would think that their top arm of Hunter Elliott will be getting the start on ⁓ on Friday. Pitched to a five and three record, but a five point seven ERA in his seventy one innings pitch, ninety six strikeouts against thirty four walks. ⁓ you know this
Yeah, he has a lot of strikeouts, but like you said, the Sendables do not strike out often. And I think that ⁓ forcing counts, working deep counts, not settling for first and second pitch in the at-bat, but forcing him and forcing Elliott to ⁓ to really grind through at bats is going to be the big key against ⁓ against their top line ace.
Andrew Hayslett (19:37)
Yeah, absolutely. Th the walk ratio walk strike up to walk ratio, like like you said, very good. ⁓ looking at
Home runs. He doesn't really allow that many home runs I either. Opposing teams bat just 249 against him. So y you gotta s put back to back to back hits to score runs. And it's it's it's probably like you said, Tom, gonna be ⁓ singles, doubles, triples, maybe that
Arizona State has will have to do to to win the that game.
Tom Hardon (20:21)
The the other thing that I that I see that ⁓ that works in Olmus's favor is their their veteran roster, you know, not not necessarily rebuilding from year to year, but they've had a decent amount of returning players. I'm looking at Tristan Besetta and Daniel Pisella, ⁓ both big power guys in the middle of their lineup. ⁓ they they will certainly be the anchors to get through for
presumably Cole Carlone going on Friday and ⁓ the rest of the arms coming out of the bullpen after him.
Andrew Hayslett (20:55)
the the guy I have circled Tom is Judd Uttermark, is who's who's a really really good player for for Olmes, OPS over a thousand, sixty eight hits, sixty eight runs on the season. doesn't have the RBI numbers ⁓ that that you might expect from what ⁓ a player such as him, but still really good offensively.
You gotta keep an eye out for him too.
Tom Hardon (21:27)
And it it's it's not gonna be a ⁓ not gonna be an easy road. Again, you know, everybody always says the SUC it just means more, but one thing to keep in mind is the Sun Devils did play against Olmus in the two thousand seven Tempe Super Regional. ⁓ going ⁓ they're three and all time against Olmus, so that ⁓ that's something that works in the Sun Devils back pocket for ⁓ for historical relevance. But no, this game will be
Obviously you know must see for for everybody here in Tempe. That game will be ⁓ will be starting at six PM Arizona time on Friday night for the right to face the winner of the game between Nebraska and South Dakota State. And we we wanna take a look at the rest of the teams in this region and
Andrew Hayslett (22:16)
I I d I do
wanna in interrupt real quick, Tom. I'm looking at Olmus's schedule. there they played a f a few times against common opponents. ⁓ ASU in in in those games with the three SEC teams in Baylor went when a combined three and three this season, whereas Ole Miss
crunching the numbers real quick here. They went
Give me ⁓ Owen they they lost to Baylor, got swept by ⁓ Mississippi State in their conference play, took two and one from Tennessee, lost mit to Mississippi Mississippi State again in the midweek and then took two and one from from A and So that that that's really interesting, Tom, to me, because they went
four and seven against common points where ASU went three and three to me I this this is a on paper or should be a really close game.
Tom Hardon (23:30)
Absolutely, you hit it right on the head there too. So that that's something to to keep an eye on and you know something that the Sun Devils will have been able to get a feel for what ⁓ what they could be up against for Ole Miss. ⁓ looking at the other matchup here in the in the Lincoln regional, you have the the number one seeded Nebraska Corn Huskers against the number four seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits. ⁓ looking at Nebraska
The thing that jumps off the page to me right away is the home field advantage. Twenty three and one from Haymarket during the regular s n during the season. that that's really an undeniable advantage to the Corn Huskers when when you break it down.
Andrew Hayslett (24:13)
absolutely. That's something you rarely see in in in college baseball. And and the only loss at home was to Kansas, who is arguably the best team in the Big Twelve. ⁓ so yeah, they they've they've played some good teams at home. USC who who's a s who's solid. ⁓ Iowa who's good, but un undefeated at home, that's that's huge for them. ⁓
So we'll we'll we'll not exception that one game, but look looking at at it, they they they didn't get a lot of those top big ten teams at home, which I think it's a that record at is at home is a little bit deceiving, but it it does show that they do have a home field advantage there.
Tom Hardon (25:06)
Yeah, fifteen and ⁓ in ⁓ in Big Ten play at home. ⁓ and when they're when the Cornhuskers are playing postseason baseball in the state of Nebraska all time a seventeen and eight record. ⁓ you know that that's something that Cornhusker fans will be leaning on heavily for ⁓ for historical value there. But ⁓ this is another offense that ⁓ you know their key is also going to be just scrappy.
High contact, you know, not going for not going yard every at bat, but stringing together hits left and right. It's you know, very disciplined team, willing to get on base however they c you know, however they can, whether it be a single hit by pitch, walk, you know, this team will work counts, this team will ⁓ it'll be death by a thousand cuts with this Cornhusker offense.
Andrew Hayslett (25:59)
Yeah, ⁓ that kinda reminds me of what West Virginia was ⁓ this season is they w they weren't a home run hitting team, but you look at what what they did against Arizona State is ⁓ string together a rally. ⁓ string together a rally. ⁓
I look looking at Nebraska's top home run hitters is Dylan carry at fourteen home runs. Not su not super high, but you look at their lineup, all their guys pretty much are batting over three hundred. So, like you said, Tom, it's it's you're gonna have to limit th those rallies and I I think I think to me that is an advantage to them 'cause I think Arizona State is
is w when pitching at its worst gives up those rallies instead of a a home run, home run, home run, home run. So that that's more scary to me than a home run hitting team.
Tom Hardon (27:01)
Yeah, I I I would much rather go against a team that that does hit a lot of home runs because then you're looking at at this team and you're like, okay, you know, yeah, they've got a lot of power, but can they get on base? You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna tap the sign of Billy Bean and Moneyball, you know. He gets on base. That's what scares me as as somebody looking at any of these teams. You know, who can get on base the most? Who can ⁓ who can the Sun Devils limit in their opportunities? And Nebraska, at least on paper.
is going to be a challenge to be able to limit their opportunities. And you know it's it's not just their not just their methodical offensive style, but they this is a very disciplined team on defense. Tied for tops in the nation with a 985 fielding percentage. ⁓ this team is not going to give anybody free outs. That that's the the cut and drive it. You're going to have to earn your way on base against this team. You're going to have to ⁓
you know, not o not only earn your way, but you have you'll have to match their discipline when you're on the field as well. And that's something that we we've seen we've seen moments this season where ⁓ where defensively there are lapses and that's led to beginnings against the Sun Devils.
Andrew Hayslett (28:18)
Yeah, you look at the most recent game against West Virginia, Landon Harrison had a had a throw that was ruled an error. I don't think it was really necessarily that bad of a throw. It just happened to hit where the runner was sliding and caused it to bounce funny. And then Brody Briggs on corked a throw from behind home plate that went into the outfield. So you do look at those errors and and and say, Okay, you you have to fix that, moving into
the this game in particular.
Tom Hardon (28:54)
And you know, on the other side of the ⁓ on the other side of the the bracket here you have South Dakota State and once again coming out of the summit league. ⁓ this and this team, you've you see it all the time with with these these four team regions and there's some team that just happens to be able to
string together the right you know, the right the right mix of being able to being able to ⁓ keep their role going and you know South Dakota State could be that team that does that. You know while yes they're overmatched on paper, this team did play Nebraska earlier on in the season. ⁓ granted this is back on March fourth, teams are still getting, you know, getting getting ready for the you know
Getting ready for conference play and shaking the rust off from the offseason and a midweek game. Maybe you're not throwing your best arms out there, but South Dakota State did give Nebraska a little bit of a scare with a five-four loss. You know, that could be something that the Jack Rabbits are pointing to and saying, Hey, this is what we learned out of this game. We know that they may not have had their their best lineup out there against us, but
We've seen this team, we know what we can do against this team.
Andrew Hayslett (30:21)
Yeah, absolutely. also th they've played an ⁓ extra inning loss to to Minnesota and which again, ⁓ not not not a not a tournament team, but this is team that can i if you l let any of these so called bad teams in, I say that in air quotes 'cause no no big college baseball team's really bad.
extent, especially in this this tournament. If you but if you let any of these teams hang around
gonna take advantage you have to continue to stay focused ⁓ knock them off before they knock you off because they're hungry they want it just as much as you they have the motivation to to upset you you just say okay we gotta want it too and then if if if you do want have that talent will take over from there
Tom Hardon (31:26)
And the this team culminated their Summit League championship run by taking down regular season champion Oral Roberts with a nine-six win just this past Saturday. Oral Roberts is, you know, one of the the mid-major powerhouses in college baseball, a very recognizable name to college baseball fans. So, you know, that is definitely a springboard into the national tournament here for the Jack Rabbits.
Andrew Hayslett (31:54)
Absolutely. Oral Roberts good t good i they feel like they're a good team every year. ⁓ a few years a yeah, it was last year in in the second series of the year, ASU played Oral Roberts. I think only only got two of those games. Just d just it just shows you you can't take games off against these teams where where you say, yeah, I should be able to be easily beat such and such team. Well
all of a sudden you might not be because you y you s you say I should doesn't mean you will.
Tom Hardon (32:31)
And it it's the exact wrong mentality to be going into a double elimination tournament. It's a wrong mentality to be going into any game really, but especially when the stakes are highest playing the the hypothetical we should. We you know we probably will. You're resting on laurels and playing off of the hypotheticals and not you know not playing out the
the reality of it and letting you know putting yourselves behind the ball and having to chase from behind.
Andrew Hayslett (33:04)
Absolutely.
Tom Hardon (33:06)
It it will be a a very action-packed regional for for the Sun Devils and the rest of the Lincoln Regional Field. ⁓ Nebraska and South Dakota State will be playing at one PM Arizona time with the Sun Devils and the Ole Miss Rebels at six p.m. ⁓ both games Friday, winners advancing to play each other on Saturday, losers bracket earlier in the day on Saturday.
And you know, really the the easy key that that I'm gonna throw out here and Andrew, I know you're going to agree with me on this one is just win the day. That's something that Coach Boomquists that Coach Bloomquist says in just about every postgame conference, win the day and let the rest take care of itself.
Andrew Hayslett (33:55)
Yeah. I I I look at this and and you you you do have to win the day, you have to be there with the fundamentals, ⁓ as Bloomquist always says, but I look at this and and and say this this with with this whole tournament I I think
You just have to take one game at a time. You just have to take w one swing at a time, one pitch at a time to be successful. As ⁓ the Cincinnati head coach said here, in in his postgame presser after they the Bearcats lost to the Sun Devils on Thursday, ⁓ talking about RPI and such. ⁓ he he's he he
He he's on the committee and ⁓ he said that to throw RPI out with this team, which Arizona State's RPI i i is poor and that's why they were a three-seed. ⁓ he he said that if you put that team on a three line in any region, there's gonna be a pissed off one, two, and four seed because they're a really good team, and we know that. Simple as that.
I think I think there there's ⁓ I think Ole Miss and Nebraska are probably frustrated that Ariz they have to play Arizona State as as three as a three seed, which the Sun Devils have to use that to advantage is I I think looking at everything in in in this this bracket, Tom, the Big Twelve kinda got the short and the stick with some of their teams. Arizona State who I think should have been a two seed, ⁓
a two seed. ⁓ I look at Kansas and West Virginia who I would have put cl around that eight nine overall seed line we saw it was West Virginia was it was a double digit ⁓ or a single digit team last week and Kansas was thirteen ⁓ according to D one baseball. They both moved back surprisingly ⁓ which
to to the the I think the last two seeds, ⁓ if two if not definitely two of the last three, which is ⁓ quite simply hedge scratching to me. I I think both the these teams are better than a a a handful some of these upper s these upper one seeds ⁓
which i it's frustrating me. I I I I get it. It's SCC a lot. I'm just not a fan of how the Big Twelve was placed. Oklahoma State I think was placed pretty close to to fair. UCF I I agree I I ⁓ with that one as well. Cincinnati they're they're all right in the bucket same bucket. TCU is a team who I think should have should have been in over over some of these other teams like
I I'm not moved by ⁓ just just trying to pick one or two out here. I'm not especially moved by a a a Tennessee or a Virgin Virginia to an extent this year. Th there there's some of these teams where I I think you you can argue yeah
B the big twelve I I think just kinda got the short and the stick more often than that. And that that that's to me frustrating, Tom.
Tom Hardon (37:44)
Yeah, you know, you know, you're looking at the the team that really didn't impress me on the whole was Mississippi State getting ⁓ getting a regional host. ⁓ you're talking about Kansas and West Virginia, both are fifteen and sixteen right behind Mississippi State. ⁓ and Cincinnati is in that Starkville regional as the two seed. You know, it's I I think that Cincinnati could have had ⁓ a a better draw than than they were given, but at the end of the day
These teams just need to to play the cards that they're dealt and you know, six big twelve teams in the tournament. ⁓ i is a solid accomplishment and it'll it'll be ⁓ it'll be a wild ride to to get to Omaha.
Andrew Hayslett (38:30)
Absolutely. I'm looking forward to it.
Tom Hardon (38:33)
As am I, and we will have all the coverage for you on our on our website, echo from the beautes dot com. Andrew and I will also both be providing coverage via Twitter, via Instagram. We will have you covered all the way through until the final pitch of the Sun Devil season.
for Andrew Hazlet and for everybody else on our team at Echo From the Buttes. I'm Tom Harden. Thanks for listening. And as always, give them hell devils.