Jayhawks looking to make a push to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
The KU baseball team hasn’t played in the NCAA Tournament since 2014, but that could change as soon as this year, head coach Dan Fitzgerald’s second season with the program.
The Jayhawks currently sit at 29-18 (15-12) at 6th place in the 13-team Big 12 Standings. Kansas has won more conference games this year than the previous two seasons combined; KU is 14-4 over its last 18 and has strung together two separate winning streaks of 6+ games this season.
Most prognosticators have KU on the bubble, but just barely. This evening, the Jayhawks begin their final regular season three-game series; if Kansas can win the series at Texas – or better yet sweep – they’ll be in a position to garner serious at-large consideration pending their performance at the conference tournament in Arlington, TX (May 21-25).
KU is struggling with its RPI and SOS, but it’s been historically difficult for a Big 12 team that has 18 conference wins to not make the NCAA Tournament. Baseball America currently has KU in its “Next Four Out” meaning if the season ended today, the Jayhawks would be one of the top eight teams that miss the Tournament. Similarly, D1baseball.com has KU missing the field of 64 at this time as well. Interestingly, On3 does not even have Kansas on the bubble.
The Jayhawks are currently second in the Big 12 in batting average and have four players in the top 20 in hitting in the conference (conference play only stats). KU also boasts the second-best team ERA, with two starting pitchers in the top-10 in the conference.
Whether or not KU can grab an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament may depend somewhat on how other games go across the county. However, if Kansas can win the series at Texas and go .500 or better in the Big 12 Tournament while avoiding calls like this, then I feel pretty good about their chances of getting selected.