DALLAS - Texas and Rice rank one-two in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason poll announced Monday.
The NCBWA poll is the second which lists the Owls number-two heading into the 2003 season. Baseball America had the Owls listed at number-two behind Georgia Tech, and Collegiate Baseball tabs the Owls at number-four.
At 52-14 a year ago, Rice will be going for its eighth consecutive conference title in '03. Coach Wayne Graham returns 15 lettermen from a year ago, four of whom have already received preseason all-America mention this year.
Heading that list of returnees is senior pitcher Steven Herce, sophomore first-baseman Vincent Sinisi, sophomore pitcher Philip Humber and junior pitcher David Aardsma.
Rice will open its 2003 season on Feb. 11 against UT-San Antonio at Reckling Park and will play in the Astros College Classic at Minute Maid Park later that week.
The NCBWA continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the sixth year with its 2003 preseason survey. Weekly polls will continue through the Monday (June 23, 2003) following the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb.
The first poll of the 2003 season has representation by seven different conferences and top independents among the 284 baseball-playing schools in the NCAA Division I ranks.
NCBWA Preseason Poll1. Texas
2. Rice3. Georgia Tech
4. Southern California
5. Stanford
6. Florida State
7. Houston
8. Cal State Fullerton
9. LSU
10. Arizona State
11. Wake Forest
12. Richmond
13. Notre Dame
14. Baylor
15. South Carolina
16. Long Beach State
17. Miami (Fla.)
18. Nebraska
19. South Alabama
20. Mississippi State
21. Stetson
22. Clemson
23. North Carolina
24. Central Florida
25. Ohio State
26. James Madison
27. SMS
28. Virginia Tech
29. Florida Atlantic
30. East Carolina
31. Auburn
32. Virginia Commonwealth
33. Wichita State
34. Southern
35. Kent State