May 29, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bo Carter
214-753-0102
With 50 wins, C-USA title, Owls remain No. 1 for seventh straight week
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.

The Rice Owls won the Conference USA championship and head into the NCAA Tournament as the NCBWA's top-ranked team. The Owls are No. 1 in the land for the seventh straight week. Clemson won the ACC tournament and remained No. 2, while Cal State Fullerton secured its third straight Big West title and is ranked third.

The ACC, with seven teams in the poll, has the most ranked teams of any conference. Overall, this week's poll has representation by 13 different conferences among the 284 baseball-playing schools in the NCAA Division I ranks.

Rk. School Conference Overall Week Pvs.
1. Rice Conference USA 50-10 4-0 1
2. Clemson Atlantic Coast 47-14 4-1 2
3. Cal State Fullerton Big West 43-13 4-0 3
4. Alabama Southeastern 41-19 2-2 t6
5. Oregon State Pacific-10 39-14 1-1 t6
6. Virginia Atlantic Coast 46-13 1-2 5
7. North Carolina Atlantic Coast 45-13 0-2 4
t8. Georgia Tech Atlantic Coast 45-16 3-2 9
t8. Nebraska Big 12 42-15 3-1 t11
10. Texas Big 12 40-19 2-1 10
11. Kentucky Southeastern 42-15 0-2 8
12. Houston Conference USA 39-20 3-1 13
13. Georgia Southeastern 41-19 3-2 15
14. Tulane Conference USA 41-19 2-2 t11
15. Oklahoma Big 12 40-19 1-2 14
16. Notre Dame Big East 45-15-1 4-1 19
17. Mississippi Southeastern 40-20 4-0 t22
18. Arizona State Pacific-10 36-19 3-0 16
19. Arkansas Southeastern 38-19 0-2 17
20. Florida State Atlantic Coast 42-19 3-2 20
21. Oklahoma State Big 12 39-18 0-3 18
22. Pepperdine West Coast 40-19 2-1 25
23. College of Charleston Southern 43-15 4-0 28
24. Winthrop Big South 44-16 2-2 21
25. Hawaii Western Athletic 43-15 3-2 29
26. Miami, Fla. Atlantic Coast 36-21 1-2 24
27. N.C. State Atlantic Coast 38-21 3-2 30
28. Kansas Big 12 42-23 4-0 -
29. Michigan Big Ten 42-19 4-1 -
30. Wichita State Missouri Valley 44-20 1-2 t22
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Elon (44-16), Fresno State (43-16), Jacksonville (42-17), UNC Wilmington (41-20), San Francisco (38-21), South Carolina (37-22), Southern Miss (38-21), St. John's (40-19), Troy (45-14), UCLA (32-23), Vanderbilt (36-25)
Dropped out: South Carolina (26), Elon (27)
By conference: Atlantic Coast 7, Big 12 5, Southeastern 5, Conference USA 3, Pacific-10 2, Big East 1, Big South 1, Big Ten 1, Big West 1, Missouri Valley 1, Southern 1, Western Athletic 1, West Coast 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)