Dec. 22, 2006

WACO, Texas -- Baylor baseball was ranked 21^st nationally in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40, released by the publication Friday. The Bears are one of five Big 12 teams in the preseason rankings.

Rice claimed the nation's top spot, followed by Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, North Carolina, Miami, Fla., Texas, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Virginia. Baylor was the next highest-ranked Big 12 team; Oklahoma State was 24^th and Oklahoma was 34^th. Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas Tech were among teams receiving votes, along with defending national champion Oregon State.

Eight non-Big 12 opponents on Baylor's 2007 schedule appeared in the rankings. Along with two games against top-ranked Rice, Baylor faces eighth-ranked Vanderbilt once, No. 15 TCU twice, No. 29 Oral Roberts three times, No. 32 Mississippi State once, No. 33 Houston twice, No. 36 San Francisco twice and No. 37 Winthrop twice.

Baylor returns 18 lettermen, including five starters and eight pitchers, from a squad that went 37-26 and reached the NCAA Houston Regional championship game last season. The Bears open the 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the Astros Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston, facing Houston, Rice and Vanderbilt.

Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Top 40

2007 Baylor opponents in bold

Rank School ('06 Final Record) Points Final '06 Rank

1. Rice (57-13) 497 3

2. Clemson (53-16) 492 5

3. South Carolina (41-25) 490 12

4. Arkansas (39-21) 488 25

5. North Carolina (54-15) 487 2

6. Miami, Fla. (42-24) 483 6

7. Texas (41-21) 482 17

8. Vanderbilt (38-27) 479 -

9. Nebraska (42-17) 477 22

10. Virginia (47-15) 474 20

11. Georgia Tech (50-18) 472 8

12. Cal State Fullerton (50-15) 469 4

13. Florida State (42-21) 467 24

14. Arizona State (37-21) 464 -

15. TCU (39-23) 462 -

16. Tulane (43-21) 459 27

17. Wichita State (46-22) 456 -

18. Tennessee (31-24) 453 -

19. Pepperdine (42-21) 450 30

20. Mississippi (44-22) 448 11

21. BAYLOR (37-26) 447 26

22. Georgia (47-23) 444 7

23. Stanford (33-27) 441 15

24. Oklahoma State (41-20) 438 23

25. Southern California (25-33) 435 -

26. UCLA (33-25) 433 -

27. Arizona (27-28) 431 -

28. Evansville (43-22) 429 19

29. Oral Roberts (41-16) 426 14

30. Long Beach State (29-27) 424 -

31. Louisiana State (35-24) 421 -

32. Mississippi State (37-23) 420 -

33. Houston (39-22) 417 21

34. Oklahoma (45-22) 414 10

35. Troy (47-16) 412 -

36. San Francisco (39-23) 409 -

37. Winthrop (46-18) 407 -

38. Michigan (43-21) 406 -

39. Notre Dame (45-17-1) 403 -

40. Ohio State (37-21) 401 -

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Oregon State, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Hawaii, McNeese State, Missouri State, Jacksonville, Maine, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, UC Irvine, Fresno State, San Jose State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Stetson, North Florida, Washington, Washington State, California, Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Rhode Island, Louisville, Minnesota, Cal Poly SLO, UC Riverside, Old Dominion, Southern Mississippi, East Carolina, Memphis, Central Michigan, Kent, Ball State, Creighton, San Diego State, Samford, Army.