North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Picked 3rd In Atlantic Division
1/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 28, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. — The college baseball season is still three weeks away, but baseball is in the news in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The league’s 12 head coaches voted this week on the predicted order of finish for the 2011 regular season, and picked NC State to finish third in the Atlantic Division.
The coaches picked the Wolfpack behind Clemson and Florida State, both of whom are ranked in the USA Today/ESPN coaches preseason poll, which has Clemson at No. 5 and Florida State at No. 11. Rounding out the Atlantic Division are the Wolfpack, followed by Maryland, Boston College and Wake Forest.
“The coaches in this conference have maintained for years that the ACC is the toughest conference in the country, and this year doesn’t figure to be any different,” Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent said. “Clemson and Florida State should be very strong this season, but for the coaches to pick us third in the Atlantic Division shows some respect for our program and for the players we have back. I think everyone knows we have a chance to be a dangerous team this year.”
In addition to ranking the two divisions in the ACC, the coaches were asked to pick their choice for overall league champion, and seven of the 12 picked Clemson. Three picked Florida State and two took Virginia, meaning the top two teams in the conference, in the eyes of the coaches, reside in the Atlantic Division.
Virginia was the coaches’ choice to take the Coastal Division in the regular season. The Cavaliers, ranked 14th in the USA Today/ESPN poll, are followed by Georgia Tech (No. 19), Miami (18), North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Duke.
The ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
Atlantic Division
Clemson (68/8)
Florida State (64/4)
NC State (46)
Maryland (27)
Boston College (26)
Wake Forest (21)
Coastal Division
Virginia (69/9)
Georgia Tech (56/2)
Miami (48/1)
North Carolina (40)
Virginia Tech (26)
Duke (13)
(total votes/first-place votes in parentheses)
