Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released its preseason poll Dec. 20 and though Northern Illinois did not receive votes in the poll, 11 of the Huskies 28 opponents in 2012 received votes in the first edition. Florida was the voters top-prediction to win the 2012 national championship, upending two-time reigning national champion South Carolina.
Three of the teams in the poll (Arizona State, Oregon State and St. John's) appeared in the top-40, while the rest of the eight teams also received votes and are considered to be in the top-100. There are 300 teams in the NCAA's Division I fielding baseball programs. The Huskies will open the season Feb. 17 at Tennessee at 3 p.m. central time and are one the team's also receiving votes.
To view the poll in its entirety, click here.
HUSKIES OPPONENTS RECEIVING VOTES
11. St. John's
17. Arizona State
24. Oregon State
OTHER TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES
Kent State, Tennessee, Winthrop, Illinois, Texas Tech, Central Michigan, Illinois State, Austin Peay
Former Northern Illinois baseball player Andy Deain (2006-09) recently made headlines in the Northwest Herald this week as he was named the pitching coach at Prairie Ridge High School, his alma mater. Deain was one of Prairie Ridge's top pitchers in his two varsity seasons before missing his senior season, finishing 22-1 his sophomore and junior seasons. With the Huskies, Deain had an outstanding pitching career (mostly in relief) finishing with a 14-3 record, 11 saves and 122 strikeouts.
To read the full story, click here.
