June 6, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bo Carter
214-753-0102
Top 5 teams remain the same; all advance to Super Regionals
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 remained the top-ranked team in the NCBWA poll as each of the Top 5 teams advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals. Rice is No. 1 for the seventh straight week. The Owls have won a national best 53 games heading into the round of 16. Five different conferences are represented among the NCBWA Top 5.

The ACC and the SEC, with six teams in the poll, have 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 53-10 3-0 1
2. Clemson Atlantic Coast 50-14 3-0 2
3. Cal State Fullerton Big West 46-13 3-0 3
4. Alabama Southeastern 44-19 3-0 4
5. Oregon State Pacific-10 42-14 3-0 5
6. North Carolina Atlantic Coast 48-13 3-0 7
7. Georgia Tech Atlantic Coast 48-16 3-0 t8
8. Georgia Southeastern 45-20 4-1 13
9. Oklahoma Big 12 44-20 4-1 15
10. Mississippi Southeastern 43-20 3-0 17
11. College of Charleston Southern 46-15 3-0 23
12. Miami, Fla. Atlantic Coast 39-21 3-0 26
13. Virginia Atlantic Coast 47-15 1-2 6
14. Texas Big 12 41-21 1-2 10
15. South Carolina Southeastern 40-23 3-1 -
16. Kentucky Southeastern 44-17 2-2 11
17. Nebraska Big 12 42-17 0-2 t8
18. Oral Roberts Mid-Continent 41-14 3-0 -
19. Stanford Pacific-10 33-25 3-0 -
20. Tulane Conference USA 43-21 2-2 14
21. Missouri Big 12 35-26 4-1 -
22. Oklahoma State Big 12 41-20 2-2 21
23. Florida State Atlantic Coast 44-21 2-2 20
24. Pepperdine West Coast 42-21 2-2 22
25. Houston Conference USA 39-22 0-2 12
26. Arizona State Pacific-10 37-21 1-2 18
27. Winthrop Big South 46-18 2-2 24
t28. Arkansas Southeastern 39-21 1-2 19
t28. Notre Dame Big East 45-17-1 0-2 16
30. Wichita State Missouri Valley 46-22 2-2 30
Teams participating in NCAA Super Regionals in boldface
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Baylor (37-26), Elon (45-18), Evansville (43-22), Fresno State (45-18), Hawaii (45-17), Kansas (43-25), Manhattan (34-23), Michigan (43-21), Mississippi State (37-23), North Carolina State (40-23), UNC Wilmington (42-22), San Francisco (39-23), Troy (47-16), Vanderbilt (38-27)
Dropped out: Hawaii (25), N.C. State (27), Kansas (28), Michigan (29)
By conference: Atlantic Coast 6, Southeastern 6, Big 12 5, Conference USA 3, Pacific-10 3, Big East 1, Big South 1, Big West 1, Mid-Continent 1, Missouri Valley 1, Southern 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)