CBB Regional Preview: Tempe

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#1 Arizona State (45-11)

#2 Vanderbilt (40-20)

#3 Oklahoma (34-24-1)

#4 Stony Brook (34-24)

Arizona State is the host for the Tempe Regional for the second year in a row and third time in four years. Winkles Field – Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark will be the site of all the action. The Sun Devils are also the #3 National Seed.

Pat Murphy is the head coach of ASU and is also one of only two coaches on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. The Sun Devils are also the Pac-10 conference champions for the second straight year.

ASU is an explosive offensive team, averaging 9.8 runs per game (3^rd best in the nation) along with a 0.339 team batting average (5^th best in the nation). Brett Wallace is the Pac-10 leader in almost every single offensive category, and after winning the triple crown last year, he again leads the league in batting average (.412), RBI’s (78) and HR’s (20). Wallace also is tops in hits (89), runs scored (77), and total bases (165). League leaders in other categories were Ike Davis in doubles (25), Jason Kipnis in triples (6) and stolen bases (22) and finally Petey Paramore in walks (52).

Vanderbilt is lead by head coach Tim Corbin. The Commodores secured an at large berth out of the SEC this year after finishing in fourth place in the SEC East. Last year the Commodores were the #1 National Seed.

This will be Vanderbilt’s second trip to Tempe this year. The Commodores and Sun Devils faced off earlier this year in the DeMarini Invitational with ASU winning 18-6. Pedro Alvarez did not play in that game due to an injury sustained in warm-ups. Alvarez is currently tied for first place on the Commodores career home record book with 49.

Oklahoma returns to the Regional as an at large team from the Big 12 Conference. Sunny Golloway is the Sonners head coach.

The Sooners were the most offensive team in the Big 12 this season with a 0.316 team batting average in conference play. Jamie Johnson (0.393), Mike Gosse (0.360) and Aljay Davis (0.354) were among the top 10 in conference batting average. On the mound Andrew Doyle achieved success in the Big 12 Tournament, pitching a complete game and striking out 12 against Texas A&M. His effort earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Stony Brook heads west to Tempe for the Regional just like their sisters who came west for the softball Regional two weeks earlier. Matt Senk is the head coach of the Seawolves who won the American East Conference Tournament and thus an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Outfielder Steve Mazzurro was the MVP of the American East Conference Tournament after hitting 0.455 to go along with a season average of 0.368. While Mike Errigo helped the Seawolves win the Tournament by throwing a five hitter.

Schedule (Pacific Daylight Time)

Friday May 30

2:00 – #3 Oklahoma vs. #2 Vanderbilt (Game 1)

7:00 – #4 Stony Brook vs. #1 Arizona State (Game 2)

Saturday May 31

2:00 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 [Loser Eliminated] (Game 3)

7:00 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Game 4)

Sunday June 1

1:00 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 [Loser Eliminated] (Game 5)

6:00 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 (Game 6)

Monday June 2 [if necessary]

6:00 Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 (Game 7)