Last Eight In: Coastal Carolina, Washington, Mississippi, NC State, Old Dominion, Indiana, Charlotte, Texas
First Eight Out: Tennessee, Connecticut, Southeastern Louisiana, Oklahoma State, South Alabama, UCLA, Missouri, Georgia Tech
This weeks schedule features a pair of big time matchups, as TCU will travel to Texas Tech for a Big 12 series, while North Carolina hosts Clemson in an ACC series. TCU currently holds a two game lead on Texas Tech at the top of the standings, making the series a battle for the top spot. With just three conference series remaining for each team, a series win for TCU would give the Horned Frogs a comfortable lead atop the standings. If Texas Tech is going to challenge TCU for the title, they need to win the series. Not doing so would put the Red Raiders at least 4 games back with two series to play, a deficit that is likely too much to overcome. In the ACC, Clemson and North Carolina are in a similar situation. Both teams have a 16-5 conference record, but they are in opposite divisions. North Carolina has a four game lead in the Coastal Division and a series win this weekend would likely cement their place there. Clemson on the other hand trails Louisville by one game in the Atlantic division, so this is a must win series. Clemson plays Louisville in three weeks, but if they lose the series to UNC, it will be tough to make up the ground. Louisville has yet to lose a weekend series this season and, if Clemson were to drop their series with North Carolina, they would likely need to sweep Louisville to jump them in the standings. This weekend will not make or break any of these team’s conference title hopes, but winning the series would be a huge boost for each club down the stretch. All four teams are likely going to be national seeds barring a collapse down the stretch, so this weekend should serve as a nice test for each team as they get ready for the postseason.
ACC: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest
American: Houston, UCF, South Florida
Big East: St. Johns
Big 12: Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Big Ten: Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska
Pac-12: Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington
SEC: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
A-10: VCU
America East: Binghamton
A-Sun: Jacksonville
Big South: Liberty
Big West: Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State
CAA: Charleston
C-USA: Charlotte, Southern Miss, Old Dominion
Horizon: Illinois-Chicago
Ivy: Yale
MAAC: Fairfield
MAC: Kent State
MEAC: Norfolk State
MVC: Missouri State
MWC: New Mexico
NEC: Bryant
OVC: Tennessee Tech
Patriot: Navy
Southern: Mercer
Southland: McNeese State
Summit: Oral Roberts
Sun Belt: Coastal Carolina, Louisiana
SWAC: Jackson State
WAC: New Mexico State
WCC: San Diego
