April 24, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bo Carter
214-753-0102
Top four teams remain the same
RICE TOPS NCBWA TOP 30 POLL

DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the ninth year with its 2006 preseason predictions and weekly surveys. Weekly polls will continue through June 27, following the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Despite have their winning streak snapped at 14 games at Oklahoma, the Rice Owls rebounded to sweep Southern Miss and keep their No. 1 ranking. While North Carolina, Nebraska and Cal State Fullerton round out a top four that remains unchanged, Georgia Tech and Oregon State each made a big climb in the poll with perfect weeks. The Yellow Jackets are ranked 5th and the Beavers moved up to No. 6.

The ACC, with eight teams in the poll, has the most ranked teams of any conference. Overall, this week's poll has representation by 12 different conferences among the 284 baseball-playing schools in the NCAA Division I ranks.

Rk. School Conference Overall Week Pvs.
1. Rice Conference USA 35-9 3-1 1
2. North Carolina Atlantic Coast 34-8 3-1 2
3. Nebraska Big 12 32-6 4-1 3
4. Cal State Fullerton Big West 31-10 3-1 4
5. Georgia Tech Atlantic Coast 32-9 4-0 9
6. Oregon State Pacific-10 28-9 3-0 11
7. Clemson Atlantic Coast 29-13 2-3 6
8. Alabama Southeastern 31-12 4-0 14
9. Texas Big 12 28-15 1-3 7
10. Oklahoma Big 12 32-10 4-0 16
11. Arkansas Southeastern 30-12 3-2 12
12. Florida State Atlantic Coast 33-10 0-4 5
13. South Carolina Southeastern 30-11 1-3 8
14. Virginia Atlantic Coast 34-10 3-1 18
15. Notre Dame Big East 32-8 5-0 22
16. Arizona State Pacific-10 28-14 1-3 10
17. College of Charleston Southern 33-9 3-2 17
18. N.C. State Atlantic Coast 31-13 1-3 13
19. Mississippi State Southeastern 29-11 3-2 15
20. Tulane Conference USA 27-15 4-0 23
21. Houston Conference USA 28-15 4-0 27
22. Old Dominion Colonial 35-8 2-2 19
23. Wichita State Missouri Valley 31-14 4-1 28
24. Winthrop Big South 31-12 2-2 21
25. Troy Sun Belt 32-10 5-0 29
26. Kentucky Southeastern 30-10 4-0 -
27. Miami, Fla. Atlantic Coast 27-15 1-2 24
28. Wake Forest Atlantic Coast 30-14 2-2 30
29. LSU Southeastern 26-16 0-4 20
t30. Kansas Big 12 29-16 4-1 -
t30. Vanderbilt Southeastern 25-16 0-4 26
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Baylor (25-16), Charlotte (27-12-1), Connecticut (26-12), Florida (24-20), Jacksonville (30-13), Lamar (30-13), Louisiana-Lafayette (27-13), Michigan (23-14), Mississippi (26-15), UNC Wilmington (30-11), Ohio State (24-12), Pepperdine (27-16), Rhode Island (22-8), South Alabama (29-15), USC (23-19), Southern Mississippi (27-15), UCLA (23-16), Washington (27-15), West Virginia (27-13)
Dropped out: Southern Miss (24)
By conference: Atlantic Coast 8, Southeastern 7, Big 12 4, Conference USA 3, Pacific-10 2, Big East 1, Big South 1, Big West 1, Colonial 1, Missouri Valley 1, Southern 1, Sun Belt 1

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 Pro-Line Cap/NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors the Pro-Line Cap Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.

2006 NCBWA Polls (No. 1 Team):
Preseason (Texas)
Feb. 6 (Florida)
Feb. 13 (Florida)
Feb. 20 (Florida)
Feb. 27 (Rice)
March 6 (Rice)
March 13 (Georgia Tech)
March 20 (Florida State)
March 27 (Florida State)
April 3 (South Carolina)
April 10 (North Carolina)
April 17 (Rice)
April 24 (Rice)
May 1 (Rice)
May 8 (Rice)
May 15 (Rice)
May 22 (Rice)
May 29 (Rice)
June 6 (Rice)
June 13 (Rice)