I think the cream rose to the top, outside of Arkansas- I really didn't predict it for them just because it didn't seem like their pitching had anything going towards the end. Didn't really watch any of their regionals, so I don't know. Fielding was suspect, too. Apparently Cohen saw it, who knows.<div>
</div><div>Florida- lot of talent. No reason for them to lose it last year. They may be coming for revenge this year... we'll see, I question their effort sometimes (relative to their level of talent).</div><div>
</div><div>USC is exactly where they should be. Slow starts don't worry me like slow finishes do, and this team has been building for this all year. We know Tanner is a good coach, but I think the way he managed this team this year shows a lot. He was extremely patient with them and brought them along on his schedule and nobody else's.</div><div>
</div><div>I like studying coaching a lot. Don't know why, but I've always been really fascinated by it. Everybody has personal preferences, but to me the best coaches are the guys that do it like Tanner. They know their team and know the type schedule they need to be on (this is my theory and how it makes sense to me).</div><div>
</div><div>I think Cohen did a terrific job with that this year until SEC Tourney. I think he (like many) got a little excited and probably overused some of our guys (we had a lot of chronic injuries to be going that many days in a row- overuse is easy to accomplish). Bash me if you want, but it's just what it I think. I think there's a lot of rhyme and reason to good coaching. I think you can go deep in the tourney, even win it, and still come out well in the end if you use your depth well and don't get anyone hurt. You have to have the right team for that, though. Like FL last year. If you don't have the personnel, I think it benefits you more to get out earlier and rest more- ESP. those injured. (This is, of course, relative to the current tourney format; if they change it, it may not apply.)</div><div>
</div><div>I am proud of our team and the trophy- no doubt. I don't blame Cohen one bit for wanting to win. But I wouldn't have minded doing without if it would have helped us later on. And, it may not have. I do think he's mentioned he thought we may could have used a little more rest, though. The one week is fine for most healthy guys, but not always for guys like Norris and Brownlee and especially Slauter (who did fine) who just played a week on bad joints that are pretty irritated. I do think it helped Arkansas- may have gotten them the bid they did. Not sure how in the world we got ours. You can certainly never predict that.</div><div>
</div><div>There's my sermon. I'm going to bed.</div>