may 31st, 2024

I love late May/early June for many reasons (girls in shorts, NBA/NHL Playoffs, having your dick smell like a opened pack of bologna that’s been sitting on the counter for three days ‘cause of the sweltering north Texas heat and humidity), but one of my favorites is the Division I NCAA Baseball Tournament. I unabashedly love college baseball, probably because I played a bunch of it as a much younger and handsomer man (over 130 games and 240 innings pitched, no big deal). If you’re reading this, there’s an excellent chance that you’re already a fan of the sport. If not, though, no worries, as I’ve prepared a handy guide to this week’s action.

First, though, a quick primer on the tournament structure via Q and A:

How many teams are in the tournament? 64. There are 32 conferences in NCAA Division I, and each conference champion gets an automatic bid to the tourney.

How are conference champions determined? Typically, through a conference tournament; the West Coast Conference is the only Division I conference that doesn’t hold a postseason tournament. 

Wait, a conference tournament? Didn’t these teams already play a bunch of games against each other in the regular season? Why yes, yes they did. So why a postseason tournament that lasts four or five days to determine the champion instead of the 20-30 conference games the teams have already played against each other during the preceding couple of months? Money, brah. Always money. Even a mid-major conference like the Colonial Athletic Association can make tens of thousands of dollars by hosting a postseason tournament. For the major baseball conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 12) you’re talking millions of dollars when you factor in ticket sales and streaming/broadcasting rights. As always, capitalism is undefeated.

Okay, so the 32 conference champs that get in makes up half the field. What about the rest of the teams? Similar to the NCAA Basketball tournament, the rest of the teams are selected at-large by a committee that consists of NCAA officials, conference commissioners, various athletic directors, and other folk.

Hold up, conference commissioners and various athletic directors? You mean that the people that have a vested interest in certain schools making the tournament are part of the committee that determines who makes the tournament? Yes. And, as you might guess, the bigger conferences and schools are typically the ones that get selected to be on the committee. Cronyism is also undefeated.

Doesn’t this create a massive conflict of interest? Obviously. And every year a couple of smaller schools get horse fucked out of an at-large bid because a guy that works for the NCAA plays golf and swaps Brazzers logins with the deputy commissioner of a Power 5 conference. It’s, uh, not a great system (unless you directly benefit from it, of course). The teams that caught the business end of a giant equine member this time around: College of Charleston and Lamar University.

Okay, so we’ve established that the selection of teams is usually not done in the most equitable fashion. How do they determine where the games are played? 16 schools will host three other teams in what are called Regionals. Essentially, there will be 16 double-elimination mini tournaments at each host site.

The process of selecting the hosts must be uncomplicated and fair, right? Oh, to be that stupid and naïve. Of course not, dipshit. It’s about money, and making sure the guy that’s letting a Power 5 athletic director drill his wife stays happy. Y’know, so that the Power 5 athletic director will get to keep drilling the guy’s wife.

Wow, so the NCAA Baseball tournament field is determined in a shady and corrupt way, but is ostensibly decided on merit in a display of high-level skill and heart-pounding drama that engrosses millions? Is there a chance that this tournament is a perfect microcosm of the modern American experience? [LOUD AND LENGTHY BALD EAGLE SCREECH]

Okay, now that I’ve got most of the cynicism and jaded feelings towards the selection process out of the way, let’s look at each regional. Remember, there’s 16 of them, with four teams at each site, and each team is seeded for the purpose of competitive balance, although that doesn't always happen (as we’ll see). Let’s dive right in: 

Knoxville, Tennessee Regional

Tennessee Volunteers (host and #1 seed; Southeastern Conference champion)

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (#2 seed; Sun Belt Conference champion)

Indiana Hoosiers (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 10 Conference)

Northern Kentucky Norse (#4 seed; Horizon League champion)

Favorite: Tennessee is the #1 overall seed in the tournament, and a huge favorite to advance to the next round of tournament, which is called a Super Regional (simply a best two-out-of-three series between two teams).

Biggest Asshat(s): Tony Vitello. If you don’t know much about college baseball, the Tennessee head coach is the Ryan Day of the sport: really good at his job, but is clearly a 99th percentile douche. He’s also super handsome and successful, making him easily the most punchable coach in the entire tournament. I would be shocked to learn that Tony Vitello isn’t dodging multiple haymaker attempts each day. 

Best Mascot/Logo: Duh, the Norse of Northern Kentucky easily bests an eagle, Davy Crockett, and whatever the fuck a Hoosier is.

Tastiest Matchup: Tennessee/Southern Miss. They’re not natural rivals and don’t play that often, but Southern Miss’s brand of hard-nosed, blue collar, “Fuck you, let’s brawl” baseball should be fun to watch against Tennessee and its brand of polished, athletic, “Fuck you, we’re better than you” baseball. Styles make fights, and such. 

Greenville, North Carolina Regional

East Carolina Pirates (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Sun Belt Conference)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

Virginia Commonwealth Rams (#3 seed; Atlantic 10 Conference champion)

Evansville Purple Aces (#4 seed; Missouri Valley Conference champion)

Favorite: Probably Wake Forest, even though they’re the #2 seed. They have the most electric righty in the tournament in Chase Burns, whose fastball is thrown at around 217 miles per hour. Unfortunately for him his slider was recently banned in most eastern North Carolina counties because some folks thought it was the product of witchcraft, but he should be able to overcome that. The Deacs also have the best offensive player in this regional, lefty Nick Kurtz, a no-doubt 1st rounder in the upcoming MLB draft.

Biggest Asshat(s): Whomever pulled the trigger on the lilac uniforms that East Carolina will wear on occasion. Just brutal. They look like a bunch of fucking Peeps.

Best Mascot/Logo: This is a great regional for mascots, but the Purple Aces take it. Unique, interesting, and the purple/white/black combo always plays.

Tastiest Matchup: ECU/Wake Forest. These teams don’t like each other, and this shit will get tense quickly, especially if there’s a trip to a Super Regional on the line. The over/under on drunken fist fights in the stands during any ECU/WF game is typically around 1.5; at a regional it’d be around 3.5, with the smart money on the over. 

Lexington, Kentucky Regional

Kentucky Wildcats (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Indiana State Sycamores (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Missouri Valley Conference)

Illinois Fighting Illini (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 10 Conference)

Western Michigan Broncos (#4 seed; Mid-American Conference champion)

Favorite: Kentucky, the regular season SEC champions. You win more times than everyone else in that conference over 30 games, you’re gonna be the favorite in any regional.

Biggest Asshat(s): Whomever was involved in the decision to send Indiana State on the road. The Sycamores were the regular season Missouri Valley champs, hosted a regional last year, and are currently #10 in the country in RPI (ratings percentage index, a tool used by the committee to rank teams across different conferences based on whom you play and whom your opponents play). The ‘Mores enter this year’s postseason tournament with a giant chip on their shoulder, as they earned the right to host a Super Regional last year. However, a scheduling fuck up with their stadium forced them to travel to TCU, where the Frogs were able to sweep them to advance to the College World Series. If there was any karmic justice in the world, ISU would be hosting again this year. Instead, they go on the road to play at the campus of the team that won the goddamn SEC.

Best Mascot/Logo: Western Michigan. I like the UPS softball team vibe the Broncos have with their brown/yellow ensemble.

Tastiest Matchup: Kentucky/Indiana State. The deep, talented, burgeoning major conference power versus a mid-major that easily could have gone to the CWS last year if not for some bad luck. Oh, and ISU will likely be fired up that they’re not hosting. This one will be a banger, folks. Don’t miss it. 

Corvallis, Oregon Regional

Oregon State Beavers (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Pac-12 Conference)

University of California-Irvine Anteaters (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Big West Conference)

Nicholls State Colonels (#3 seed; Southland Conference champion)

Tulane Green Wave (#4 seed; American Athletic Conference champion)

Favorite: Oregon State, who has one of the best pure hitters in the country in Travis Bazzana. The lefty from Australia is slashing .418/.581/.939 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) and has almost as many homeruns this year (26) as he does strikeouts (32). Offense is up all across college baseball this year, but that’s still ridiculous production for the junior infielder, a likely top-5 pick in the MLB Draft.

Biggest Asshat(s): Not many Asshats in this group, so I’ll go with the folks responsible for breaking up the Pac-12. It’s a shame that one of the most storied conferences in college baseball history will no longer exist in a few weeks. At least we’ll get some storied Big Ten matchups between natural rivals USC and Rutgers out of the deal.

Best Mascot/Logo: Really deep group of kickass mascots here. Normally it would be the Beavers (mainly because I’m perpetually a 14-year-old), but I’ve got to with the Anteaters here. Anytime you have a chance to celebrate a mascot that’s a euphemism for an uncircumcised dick, you’ve gotta take it. Eaters edge the Beavers. (BTW, the preceding sentence is one I couldn’t be more proud of.)

Tastiest Matchup: Tulane/Nicholls State. They’ll likely play in an elimination game early on Day Two, but know there is zero love lost between these programs. The campuses are only 50 miles apart, they play multiple games almost every season, and have a healthy disdain for one another. If somehow both teams can win their first game, their winner’s bracket matchup would be appointment viewing. 

Bryan-College Station Regional

Texas A&M Aggies (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Sun Belt Conference)

Texas Longhorns (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 12 conference)

Grambling State Tigers (#4 seed; Southwestern Athletic Conference champion)

Favorite: As much as it kills me to say, the fucking Aggies will probably win this regional. Their lineup is loaded, and Jim Schlossnagle is on the short list of best coaches to not win a College World Series. Goddamn Aggies.

Asshat(s): Everyone involved in this horseshit, as well as those who condone it.

Best Mascot/Logo: Ragin’ Cajuns. Regular ass Cajuns are batshit enough, but a Ragin’ Cajun like Farmer Fran? Pack a lunch. I’m assuming a typical night out with a Ragin Cajun’ includes ingesting homemade shine and speed balls, going into town for a light felony or two, checking the shrimp traps a few times, hooking up with the hottest toothless broad you’ve ever seen, and waking up with a baby alligator clamped to each of your nipples. 

Tastiest Matchup: Texas/Texas A&M. Remember how I said teams are seeded 1-4, and that the reason for the seeds is supposed to be competitive balance? That’s how most of the regionals work out, but sometimes the NCAA powers-that-be force feed a bigtime matchup. Texas probably deserved to be a #2 seed, and even if they are a legit #3 seed, they’re one of the better #3 seeds and shouldn’t have been sent to a regional hosted by the team that finished 4th in the SEC. Horns versus Ags with a trip to a Super Regional on the line, however, is about as bigtime a game there is in college baseball, and hopefully we get it. Full disclosure: I fucking hate everything about Texas A&M. I hate the whoops, and the stupid bullshit chants, and the shitty North Gate bars full of girls from places like Katy and Friendswood that give dry parking lot handies, and the faux militaristic fetishization, and the stupid sacred piece of grass that I really want to take a shit on, and that dipshit dog, and the cultish tendencies, and the “More Texan than thou” haughtiness…all of it. I’ve been a lifelong UT fan, but I also experienced the worst night of my life on a baseball field at Olsen Field twenty-something years ago, and I can’t even try to pretend to be objective about those cocksuckers. Hook ‘Em. (Now watch Louisiana go 3-0 this week.) 

Santa Barbara, California Regional

Univ. of California Santa Barbara Gauchos (host and #1 seed; Big West Conference champion)

San Diego Toreros (#2 seed; West Coast Conference champion)

Oregon Ducks (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Pac-12 Conference)

Fresno State Bulldogs (#4 seed; Mountain West Conference champion)

Favorite: UC-Santa Barbara, who is a top-15 RPI team and has not lost a single game at home this year. The Gauchos have played 25 games on campus, and won all 25. The west coast regionals are typically extremely competitive, but I’d be very surprised to see anyone but UCSB in a Super Regional.

Biggest Asshat(s): Not many asshats in this group, so again I’ll go with the folks responsible for breaking up the Pac-12. The conference with the most College World Series won with 27 will be no more soon, but those Oregon/Maryland battles should be bangers.

Best Mascot/Logo: San Diego. A torero is a bullfighter, which is the most baller of all the professions, and the color scheme plays, too. Ducks are a close second.

Tastiest Matchup: Santa Barbara/San Diego. Oregon may have a small chance here, but the Gauchos and Toreros will likely play multiple times this week.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina Regional

North Carolina Tar Heels (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

LSU Tigers (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Wofford Terriers (#3 seed; Southern Conference champion)

Long Island University Sharks (#4 seed; Northeast Conference champion)

Favorite: The Tar Heels are the favorite, but they can’t be too excited to see the Bayou Bengals in their regional. LSU, the defending champs, have struggled a bit this year, but that’s to be expected after you lose the first and second overall picks in the MLB Draft. Tommy White is still finding barrels at an exorbitant rate, and head coach Jay Johnson has his squad hot at the right time.

Biggest Asshat(s): Pretty Asshat free group. LSU fans can be annoying, but they’ll also let you drink their liquor and eat their crawfish, so they shan’t be shat upon here. There’s just not much to quibble with when it comes to these teams. I guess we’ll go with whomever decided that a shark was a suitable mascot for a school in Brooklyn.

Best Mascot/Logo: Wofford. The Wofford logo is objectively awesome, allowing the Terriers to eke out a win here over Mike the Tiger.

Tastiest Matchup: UNC/LSU. These two 21st century college baseball powers should meet more than once over the next few days. 

Tucson, Arizona Regional

Arizona Tigers (host and #1 seed; Pac-12 Conference champion)

Dallas Baptist Patriots (#2 seed; Conference USA champion)

West Virginia Mountaineers (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 12 Conference)

Grand Canyon Antelopes (#4 seed; Western Athletic Conference champion*)

Favorite: It just might be the Dallas Baptist Patriots. DBU is loaded, with leadoff hitter/second baseman and Johnson County native Miguel Santos having another huge season. They’ve also got a starting pitcher, Ryan Johnson, that not only throws sidearm but is a certifiable maniac, in the best possible way. Just a super fun team to watch, and hopefully head coach Dan Heefner and the Pats can finally get over the hump and get to Omaha.

Biggest Asshat(s): The NCAA. Always the NCAA. You see the asterisk next at the end of the line denoting the Grand Canyon Antelopes as the WAC Champions? That’s ‘cause they didn’t win the WAC Tournament. The Tarleton State Texans, from Stephenville, won the WAC Tournament, but are ineligible for postseason play this year because they recently moved up to Division I from Division II (teams must wait five years before they can participate in the NCAA tournament). In their stead, Grand Canyon will go. Just a stupid, asinine rule, but that’s kind of the NCAA’s thing, right?

Best Mascot/Logo: The ‘Lopes from Grand Canyon. Not a big fan of the school itself, but their mascot/logo/color scheme situation is pretty kickass.

Tastiest Matchup: I’m looking most forward to the Day One game between Dallas Baptist and West Virginia. Ryan Johnson and his 147 strikeouts in 100 innings versus a Mountaineer lineup that’s averaging nearly seven runs a game and features an iron clad first rounder in lefty JJ Wetherholt? Yes please. 

Fayetteville, Arkansas Regional

Arkansas Razorbacks (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (#2 seed; at-large bid from Conference USA)

Kansas State Wildcats (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 12 conference)

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (#4 seed; Ohio Valley Conference champion

Favorite: The Razorbacks and their force of nature lefty Hagen Smith. Smith has been an absolute dynamo on the mound for Arkansas, piling up 154 strikeouts in just 79 innings. Do some quick math, kids, and realize he’s punching out close to two hitters per inning…as a pitcher that’s made 10 out his 15 starts against SEC schools. Just an unreal season for the future first rounder. Don’t be surprised to see Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn save Smith for their Day Two game.

Biggest Asshat(s): The Arkansas fanbase. I don’t dislike the ‘Backs as much as I do the Aggies or the Sooners, but the “Pig sooie” shit is so fucking stupid. Reminds me of a classic joke: “How’d the University of Arkansas graduate meet his wife? He called the hogs." Get it? ‘Cause she’s really fat.

Best Mascot/Logo: The Redhawks from Southeast Missouri. I played with a couple guys from SEMO back in my college summer league days, and those dudes were cooler than shit. Cats could drink whiskey like it was room temp water, too.

Tastiest Matchup: Arkansas/Louisiana Tech. They don’t play every year, but these two squads are close enough to each other to have played 37 times overall, and Arkansas’s arms versus Tech’s lineup is a battle worth checking out. 

Charlottesville, Virginia Regional

Virginia Cavaliers (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

Mississippi State Bulldogs (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Saint John’s Red Storm (#3 seed; Big East Conference champion)

Pennsylvania Quakers (#4 seed; Ivy League champion)

Favorite: Coin flip between the Cavs and the ‘Dawgs. Mississippi State probably feels like it was robbed of a hosting spot and will be looking to take it out on the Hoos. This SEC/ACC battle will likely be waged multiple times this week in central Virginia.

Biggest Asshat(s): Mississippi State fans. Dudy Noble seems like an awesome place to watch a ballgame, but their faithful are insufferable. 

Best Mascot/Logo: Penn Quakers in a landslide. 

Tastiest Matchup: Virginia vs. Mississippi State. Another SEC/ACC throwdown that will likely decide who moves on to a Super Regional.  

Clemson, South Carolina Regional

Clemson Tigers (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

Vanderbilt Commodores (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Sun Belt Conference)

High Point Panthers (#4 seed; Big South Conference champion)

Favorite: The host Tigers, although they’re likely not too pleased to see the ‘Dores sent their way. Or Coastal Carolina, for that matter. This oughta be a very competitive regional, with a bunch of well-played and entertaining ball games.

Biggest Asshat(s): The Vandy Whistler; he just might be the biggest asshat in the entire tournament. Such a fucking clown, and if I ever see him in person I’ll be whistling a right hook directly into his stupid face. 

Best Mascot/Logo: Coastal Carolina. A chanticleer is a rooster that, in certain mythologies, had seven wives. Definition of cock strong, na’mean? Color scheme is strong, too.

Tastiest Matchup: Clemson and Vandy should be good, but Coastal Carolina versus Clemson is the matchup most likely to result in a stadium wide brawl. These two Palmetto State clubs do not like each other, and I’ll be front and center if they hook up. 

Stillwater, Oklahoma Regional

Oklahoma State Cowboys (host and #1 seed; Big 12 Conference champion)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (#2 seed; Big Ten Conference champion)

Florida Gators (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Niagara Purple Eagles (#4 seed; Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion)

Favorite: The ‘Pokes from OSU. They just ran through the Big 12 tournament, are averaging over eight runs a game, and have hit 111 home runs. Expect some football scores this week in central Oklahoma, and the hosts to advance.

Biggest Asshat(s): Whomever was involved in the decision put Florida in the tournament over more deserving teams. They do have the most exciting two-way player in the country in Jac Caglianone, and I suppose I wouldn’t be shocked if the Gators won this thing, but man…a bunch of good teams got fucked over here.

Best Mascot/Logo: Niagara. The Purple Eagles from the MAAC have a mascot named Monte. If you need an explanation for why that’s awesome, you probably haven’t read this far.

Tastiest Matchup: OK State and Nebraska. The former Big 8/Big 12 rivals should be the last two standing here 

Athens, Georgia Regional

Georgia Bulldogs (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks (#2 seed; Colonial Athletic Conference champion)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

Army Black Knights (#4 seed; Patriot League champion)

Favorite: UGA. They’ve got the best offensive player in the country in third baseman Charlie Condon, as he’s hitting .443/.558/1.043 and has 55 extra base hits in 54 games; please reread that last part. Dude will almost certainly be the Golden Spikes winner (the college baseball version of the Heisman), as well as the #1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. He’ll also likely hit multiple bombs this week, and help his team advance to a Super Regional.

Biggest Asshat(s): Pretty good group here, as far as asshattery goes. I played with a guy from UNCW that may be the biggest clown I’ve ever known, though, so I’ll give it to Gus. I haven’t seen Gus in 23 years, but I’d be willing to bet folding money that he’s on at least his third marriage and that none of his kids can stand him. Dude had a sick slider, though, and could roll a hell of a blunt.

Best Mascot/Logo: Army. Their logo is one of the best around, and c’mom…it’s a team of kids that play ball, go to school, and are soldiers. Much respect.

Tastiest Matchup: Good Old-Fashioned Hate. Georgia versus Georgia Tech is one of the most bitter, shit talkingest rivalries in all of college athletics, and hopefully they get a chance to dance at least once this week. 

Raleigh, North Carolina Regional

NC State Wolfpack (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Athletic Conference Conference)

South Carolina Gamecocks (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

James Madison Dukes (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Sun Belt Conference)

Bryant Bulldogs (#4 seed; America East Conference champion)

Favorite: NC State is a slight favorite, but this a tough group. South Carolina is South Carolina, one of the preeminent college baseball programs of the last 25 years, and James Madison is a top-50 RPI club that ain’t scared of nobody. Whoever advances from this group will have earned it.

Biggest Asshat(s): Whomever came up with the lights off home run celebration at Dail Park, site of this particular regional. Some of the celebration stuff that’s come to be the last few years I don’t mind, but keep the goddamn lights on. I love professional wrestling, and always will, but leave that type of shit for WWE.

Best Mascot/Logo: Gamecocks, no doubt. But the Dukes of JMU are pretty close, and I really dig how NC State incorporates the NwO Wolfpac theme into their game presentation. 

Tastiest Matchup: NC State versus South Carolina. YES, ANOTHER SEC/ACC MATCHUP!!! What can I say? They’re the two best conferences in college baseball, by a fairly significant margin. 

Tallahassee, Florida Regional

Florida State Seminoles (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the ACC)

Alabama Crimson Tide (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference)

Central Florida Golden Knights (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big 12 Conference)

Stetson Hatters (#4 seed; Atlantic Sun Conference champion)

Favorite: Florida State, although this is a tough draw for the host team. Whichever team advances out of this group will have more than earned it.

Biggest Asshat(s): Whomever came up with the Tomahawk Chop horseshit that FSU still does. Folks, it’s 2024; time to retire the racist chant.

Best Mascot/Logo: Great group of mascots, but give me the Hatters of Stetson over Osceola, the elephant, and a poor imitation of Army’s logo. 

Tastiest Matchup: Florida State versus Central Florida. Which team can win? Which programs will claim dominion over north/central Florida? Which fan base can out white trash the other? So many plot lines. 

Norman, Oklahoma Regional

Oklahoma Sooners (host and #1 seed; at-large bid from the Big 12 Conference)

Duke Blue Devils (#2 seed; at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference)

Connecticut Huskies (#3 seed; at-large bid from the Big East Conference)

Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (#4 seed; Summit League champion)

Favorite: OU’s the favorite, but Duke is loaded with talent and had a pretty strong case to host.

Biggest Asshat(s): That stupid motherfucking wagon.

Best Mascot/Logo: Golden Eagles. You ever been to Oral Roberts? It’s in Tulsa. Excellent baseball program that’s making its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance, but a weird place. You drive up and the first thing you see is this giant statue/monument of praying hands. It’s way too clean, too. Just a strange, culty vibe to the whole campus, like if Texas A&M was founded by Joel Osteen.

Tastiest Matchup: OU versus ORU is as close to a rivalry game this regional has, but Sooners/Blue Devils is the marquee matchup here. It should be contested more than once, and likely decide who advances to a Super Regional. 

Whoooooo, son, a new Arm Side Fun today record at almost 4500 words…on the NCAA Baseball Tournament!!! In a lot of ways my life has been building to this achievement, and it was everything I hoped it would be. I hope all 11 of you that read it enjoyed it.

You know the drill. ArmSideFun@gmail.com if you need to get in touch; @ArmSideFun on Twitter.

I'll have a Mavs/Celtics Finals preview next week, and hopefully a Stars Stanley Cup series to write about.

Enjoy the games this weekend, and don’t be an asshole.