The Knicks have something special brewing as road to NBA Finals looks wide open
The Knicks are on a six-game winning streak and lead the 76ers 3-0, eyeing the NBA Finals!
Virginia baseball has a 32-16 record and is currently projected as a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, bracketologists suggest they may not host a regional, with some projections placing them as a three-seed in UCLA's regional.
Mentioned in this story
Photo courtesy of Virginia athletics
Virginia baseball has undergone a much-needed light stretch following their 0-3 showing at Pitt on NFL Draft weekend. The Cavaliers played just three total games in the ensuing 11 days, which consisted of a 5-1 win against George Mason, and two blowout victories over Radford.
In the year one of the Chris Pollard era in Charlottesville, his squad now sits at 32-16 (12-12 in conference play) with two weekends remaining in the regular season. Given UVA’s strength of schedule in the ACC, this is good for an RPI ranking of 18th, which entails that the ‘Hoos are in line for a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Most of the bracketologists agree, although Virginia may be further from hosting a regional than that metric suggests. D1Baseball’s latest bracketology has the Cavaliers as the 27th overall seed, and getting sent out to Lawrence, Kansas to meet the Jayhawks. PEAR Ratings, an analytically-based projection system, actually has the Wahoos as a high three-seed in UCLA’s regional.
Keep in mind that geography is important in the mind of the selection committee, so it is unlikely that the Cavaliers are to make that cross-country trip, but it provides a good idea of where the consensus lies on the quality of their body of work.
Looking ahead, the ‘Hoos will finish their season against a pair of programs with opposite trajectories. This weekend, they will host Cal, an ACC bottom-feeder that has recently found some life, which will be followed by a road trip to play a Louisville team that has lost five straight after a hot start.
Both of these teams are quite beatable, but even if Virginia pieces together a 6-0 or 5-1 stretch (and takes care of Richmond in the midweek), they should still enter the ACC Tournament with an uphill battle towards a hosting position. Meanwhile, barring a catastrophic ending to the season, the Cavaliers are virtually a lock to at least secure an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
Ultimately, the goal will be to get into the postseason playing their best baseball, and most importantly, healthy. Quite frankly, the offense has been lacking in the absence of senior shortstop Eric Becker, who is still working his way back towards playing shape from an upper body injury. The pitching staff has been more consistent, but the defense behind them has done no favors.
Virginia baseball has a record of 32-16 and is 12-12 in conference play.
Virginia is projected to be sent to Lawrence, Kansas, to meet the Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia baseball has an RPI ranking of 18th, which suggests they are in line for a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Knicks are on a six-game winning streak and lead the 76ers 3-0, eyeing the NBA Finals!
Mark Vientos shines with a homer and double as Mets top Diamondbacks 3-1!
Upper State boys track and field champions and state qualifiers revealed for May championships.
Knicks fan's outburst disrupts tribute to Nick Nurse's late brother
Mitch Marner's first playoff hat trick helps Golden Knights rout Ducks 6-2, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Victor Wembanyama drops 39 points as Spurs take a 2-1 lead over Timberwolves
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
At the end of the day, these final seven games of the regular season will be more about instilling confidence in the UVA clubhouse than adding last-minute data points to the resume.