Jan. 19, 2005

WACO, Texas -

Baylor baseball received a preseason ranking of No. 21, according to the Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. The Bears, which finished 29-31 in 2004, are the highest-ranked team that was not ranked in last season's final poll.

Texas edged defending national champion Cal State Fullerton for the top spot despite the Titans edging the Longhorns 16-15 in first-place votes. No. 3 Miami, Fla., also received one first-place vote, while No. 4 Louisiana State received two and No. 5 Tulane received six. Stanford, South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona State and Texas A&M round out the top 10.

Including three-game series against the top-ranked Longhorns, the ninth-ranked Sun Devils and the 10^th-ranked Aggies, Baylor plays 19 games against seven teams in the preseason coaches' poll. The Bears also face No. 14 Rice, No. 16 Long Beach State, No. 22 Vanderbilt and No. 25 TCU.

Several other Big 12 Conference schools were among those also receiving votes for the poll, including Oklahoma State (the first team out of the Top 25), Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Baylor's first two opponents of 2005 - Houston and Tennessee - also were among teams receiving votes.

Baylor opens its 2005 season Feb. 11-13 at the Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston, Texas. The Bears face Houston (3:30 p.m. CST, Feb. 11), No. 34 Tennessee (3:30 p.m., Feb. 12) and No. 18 Rice (2:30 p.m., Feb. 13).

2005 SPORTS WEEKLY/ESPN COACHES' PRESEASON TOP 25

(Baylor opponents in bold)

1. Texas

2. Cal State Fullerton

3. Miami, Fla.

4. Louisiana State

5. Tulane

6. Stanford

7. South Carolina

8. Georgia

9. Arizona State

10. Texas A&M

11. North Carolina

12. Washington (tie)

Arizona (tie)

14. Rice

15. Georgia Tech

16. Long Beach State

17. Florida

18. Mississippi

19. Florida State

20. Notre Dame

21. BAYLOR

22. Vanderbilt

23. Clemson

24. Arkansas

25. TCU

Others Receiving Votes: Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Wichita State, Virginia, East Carolina, Nebraska, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma, Central Florida, Winthrop, Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Hawai'i, Southern California, Cal Poly, Tennessee, UCLA, UC Irvine, Fresno State, UNC Wilmington, Charleston, Pepperdine, Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern Mississippi, Coastal Carolina, Houston, North Carolina State, Michigan, Stetson, UNLV, Southwest Missouri State, Alabama, Creighton, San Diego, South Florida, Minnesota, Texas Tech, California, Nevada, Northwestern State, UC Santa Barbara.