Latest news with #PaulMainieri
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for 2026 season
Similar to years past, the SEC was likely the premier conference across college baseball in 2025. As to why, not only did the SEC have a majority of its' teams ranked within the Top 25 polls nationally throughout the season, but the conference also followed that up with a memorable postseason as well. During the postseason, the SEC sent a total of 13 teams to the NCAA Tournament, but nine however saw themselves be eliminated in the regional round. As a result, only four advances to super regionals, as well as two to the College World Series in Omaha. Both teams in Omaha would impress as well, one of which was the last team standing in college baseball to bring home the SEC's sixth consecutive national championship. Looking ahead to 2026 however, the SEC is once again set to be college baseball's premier conference, chasing their seventh-straight national title. However, who are some of the SEC's top teams shaping up to be next season? Here is a look at our way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for the 2026 season. 16. Missouri Tigers Missouri is coming off a rough 2025 campaign in which the Tigers finished with a 16-39 overall record, as well as a 3-27 mark in SEC play to finish at the bottom of the conference. The Tigers are also retaining head coach Kerrick Jackson this offseason, and will need a major bounce back campaign in order to be in SEC contention in 2026. 15. South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina struggled in year one under head coach Paul Mainieri, concluding the season with a 28-29 overall record, as well as a 6-24 mark in SEC play. Similar to Missouri previously, South Carolina will likely need a massive bounce back season in order to contend in the SEC in 2026. 14. Kentucky Wildcats Led by head coach Nick Mingione, Kentucky made a regional appearance in the NCAA Tournament by going 31-26 overall, as well as 13-17 in SEC play. The Wildcats will likely be in contention to make the NCAA Tournament again next season. 13. Texas A&M Aggies After entering this past season with a significant amount of hype, Texas A&M struggled in 2025 by finishing at 30-26 overall (11-19 in SEC) to miss the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies are also retaining head coach Michael Earley going into next season, but will need a bounce back campaign that will not be an easy task after likely losing Jace LaViolette, among others, to the MLB draft. 12. Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma's first season as a member of the SEC included a NCAA Tournament appearance in which the Sooners went 38-22 overall, as well as 14-16 in conference play. The Sooners should be positioned to make another NCAA Tournament appearance next season, even despite likely losing ace Kyson Witherspoon to the MLB draft. 11. Mississippi State Bulldogs Mississippi State is the lone SEC team set to begin a new era in 2026, as Brian O'Connor takes over a Bulldogs team that made the NCAA Tournament at 36-23 overall, as well as 15-15 in conference play. O'Connor comes to Starkville from Virginia, and has already landed multiple impact additions so far this offseason through the transfer portal. 10. Florida Gators Florida is coming off what was likely a down 2025 in which the Gators made the NCAA Tournament at 39-22 overall, as well as 15-15 in SEC play. As with every offseason, the Gators will reload, and Florida should be back in NCAA Tournament contention in 2025. 9. Alabama Crimson Tide Led by head coach Rob Vaughn, Alabama is coming off a season in which the Crimson Tide went 41-18 overall (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are currently set to return one of the SEC's top players next season in shortstop Justin Lebron, and should be in NCAA Tournament contention. 8. Ole Miss Rebels The Ole Miss Rebels had likely their best season in years during 2025, ending with a 43-21 overall record (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. One of the SEC's surprise teams from this past season, all eyes will be on the Rebels again in 2025 to see if they can repeat their success. 7. Auburn Tigers Auburn reached the super regionals of the NCAA Tournament this past season with a 41-20 overall record (17-13 in SEC). The Tigers will likely lose some key names off this past season's team such as Ike Irish, but should still be one of the top teams in the SEC. 6. Vanderbilt Commodores The 2025 SEC Tournament champions, Vanderbilt had an early exit from the NCAA Tournament following earning the No. 1 overall seed, and as a result, ended the season at 43-18 overall (19-11 in SEC). Tim Corbin and Vanderbilt will reload once again this upcoming offseason, and will be back in NCAA Tournament in 2026. 5. Georgia Bulldogs Georgia had a memorable 2025 season in which they went 43-17 overall, as well as 18-12 in SEC play, but saw an early exit occur in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. Wes Johnson and the Bulldogs have been one of the top SEC winners in the transfer portal so far this offseason, and should be back among the top of the conference next year. 4. Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament this past season, reaching the College World Series where the Razorbacks were one win away from the Finals, ending the year at 50-15 overall (20-10 in SEC). The Razorbacks should be back in the NCAA Tournament next season, despite some likely significant losses in Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root, and Gage Wood, among others. 3. Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee fell just short of Omaha this past season, falling in the super regionals to conclude the year at 46-19 overall (16-14 in SEC). Tony Vitello and the Volunteers will reload in the offseason to contend in 2026, even with likely departures to prominent names such as Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen, and Andrew Fischer. 2. Texas Longhorns The SEC regular season champions announced their entrance to the conference in a big way in 2025, finishing with a NCAA Tournament appearance at 44-14 overall, as well as a 22-8 mark in SEC play. Led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns will be back among the SEC's best in 2025 led by returning Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis. 1. LSU Tigers LSU was college baseball's final team standing in 2025, winning the national championship after a perfect run at the Men's College World Series to end the season at 53-15 overall (19-11 in SEC). The Tigers' second title in the last three years, LSU will be back in title contention yet again in 2026, despite some likely key losses in Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, and Jared Jones. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Carolina baseball losing star shortstop to transfer portal
South Carolina baseball lost its 15th player to the transfer portal on Friday morning. Gamecocks shortstop Henry Kaczmar has entered the transfer portal, The State has confirmed. The news was first reported by On3's Pete Nakos, who said that Kaczmar had entered with a 'do not contact' tag. While it's not always be the case, such a tag generally indicates a player already has their next destination in mind. Advertisement Kaczmar was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season for the Gamecocks, who finished 28-29 and 6-24 in the SEC under first-year coach Paul Mainieri During his lone year at South Carolina, he started in all 53 games that he played and recorded a .315 batting average (third best on the team) along with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs and 28 RBIs. He also slugged .486 and had a .394 on-base percentage. Kaczmar led the team with a .333 batting average in SEC games. Prior to his time in Columbia, Kaczmar, an Ohio native, spent two years at Ohio State. He was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team member in 2023 and earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in his sophomore season (2024). USC baseball 2025 transfer portal tracker Committed to South Carolina (4) Advertisement Transferring out of South Carolina (15)
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU baseball schedule: Complete TV info and times for weekend series vs South Carolina
LSU baseball schedule: Complete TV info and times for weekend series vs South Carolina LSU baseball starts its final regular-season SEC series on Thursday against South Carolina. The top-ranked team in the country faces its former head coach in current Gamecock leader Paul Mainieri. Head coach Jay Johnson's squad comes into the weekend fresh off a series win against No. 3 Arkansas with a 17-10 conference record. The Tigers claimed two victories, one in extra innings and another via run rule. Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson each picked up wins on the mound. Daniel Dickinson currently rides a four-game hit streak and a nine-game on-base streak, topped off with three hits against the Razorbacks on Sunday. Jared Jones leads the team with 70 hits and 61 RBI while Derek Curiel leads with a .352 batting average. In its inaugural season under Mainieri, South Carolina ranks second to last in the SEC with just five wins against conference opponents. Its lone series win came against No. 11 Ole Miss and it snapped a six-game skid with a midweek win over Winthrop. Thursday, May 15 The series in Columbia starts Thursday at 6:00 PM CT. It will broadcast on the SEC Network. Streaming options include FUBO and ESPN+. Friday, May 16 Saturday's contest with be streaming only on SEC Network+ and ESPN+. It begins at 6:00 PM CT. Saturday, May 17 The regular season finale starts at 2:00 PM CT. It will also be streaming only on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
American Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Mainieri struggling as LSU visits South Carolina
Paul Mainieri probably wishes he had more time to tidy up his new place before welcoming some old friends over. But the first-year South Carolina coach is still excited to have LSU visiting his Gamecocks for three games this weekend to finish the regular season. Mainieri stepped down at LSU following the 2021 season, suffering from persistent neck pain. The coaching break was the perfect remedy. No games, no pain —and, suddenly, a lot more golf. The pain was replaced by a sudden itch to coach again and he insists he's happy to be back in coaching, back in the unforgiving Southeastern Conference. But, frankly, at the moment his new program is a hot mess. The Gamecocks (27-26, 5-22 SEC) had to rally with five runs in the bottom of the eighth Tuesday for a 6-5 win over Winthrop just to creep above the .500 mark overall. But the SEC's minefield has been, figuratively at least, another pain in the neck. The Gamecocks have lost seven in a row in conference, including last weekend when they gave up 46 runs in three losses at Auburn. They enter the weekend in 15th place in the conference, ahead of only 3-24 Missouri. 'I had just underestimated the strength of the conference, how much better the conference has gotten in the last couple of years,' Mainieri said two weeks ago after a series loss to Kentucky. 'The players are so much bigger and stronger and more experienced. We just have not been able to match up in some cases.' That remark raised the ire of some Columbia pod casts and on talk radio. There was even speculation that Mainieri — whether by his own volition or getting pushed out the door— might be a one-and-done experiment at South Carolina. It was news to Mainieri. 'I'm the coach at South Carolina and no one has told me anything different,' he said recently. 'I'm totally committed to being here and I want to see this thing get on the tracks in the right way. 'I've been through this before. My first year at LSU (2007) was difficult.' He turned the Tigers around with a College World Series trip his second year and the next season won the 2009 national championship. In all, he made five Omaha trips with LSU, also reaching the CWS finals in 2017. There were also four SEC championships and six conference tournament titles. 'I'm very proud of my time at LSU,' said Mainieri, who has very little to prove as he's already in the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He's taking over another proud program now, one where the athletic director who hired him, Ray Tanner, was the USC head coach for College World Series championships in 2010 and 2011. The Gamecocks' back-to-back national titles straddled the last year the CWS was held in Omaha's old Rosenblatt Stadium and the first year it moved downtown. Tanner, a good friend, surprisingly retired from South Carolina in September, but Mainieri remains optimistic about his move. 'That can happen here,' Mainieri said on Tiger Rag radio of his success at LSU. 'It may not happen at quickly as it did at LSU, but we're working really hard. And I'm staying.' Only a handful of current Tigers were around when Mainieri coached his last season at LSU in 2021. But he was no stranger around the program over the previous three years since his retirement. 'If anybody has earned the right to do what they want to do and continue to coach, it's him,' said LSU coach Jay Johnson. 'It will be good to see him, and we're looking forward to the games.' The No. 1-ranked Tigers (40-12, 17-10) are trying to lock up one of the top eight super seeds for the NCAA tournament. They enter the weekend third in the SEC, a game behind Arkansas and three games behind first-place Texas. ** LSU at South Carolina Records (SEC): LSU 40-12 (17-10); South Carolina 27-26 (5-22). Rankings (RPI): LSU No. 1 (7); USC NR (71). * Projected Pitching Matchups 6 p.m. Thursday / SEC Network LSU TBA. USC LH Ashton Crowder (2-2, 4.13, 42.2 IP, 7 BB, 24 SO, .254 OBA). 6 p.m. Friday / SECN+ LSU LH Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.66, 76.1 IP, 20 BB, 124 SO, .225 OBA). USC: LH Jake McCoy (4-4, 6.71, 55 IP, 35 BB, 76 SO, .267 OBA). 2 p.m. Saturday / SECN+ LSU RH Anthony Eyanson (8-2, 2.91, 74.1 IP, 27 BB, 116 SO, .213 OBA). USC TBA. * Team Batting LSU — BA: .305, HR: 82, SB: 42-58. USC — BA: .269, HR: 55, SB: 44-59. Team Pitching LSU — ERA: 3.81, OBA: .224, IP: 442. BB: 209. SO: 586. USC — ERA: 6.28, OBA: .264, IP: 448.1, BB: 243, SO: 473. Team Fielding LSU — Fld. Pct: .979. DP: 22, OSB: 29-41. USC — Fld. Pct: .975. DP: 40. OSB: 72-91. * SEC STANDINGS SEC All Texas 20-7 40-10 Arkansas 18-9 41-11 LSU 17-10 40-12 Auburn 16-11 37-16 Georgia 16-11 40-13 Vanderbilt 16-11 36-16 Tennessee 15-12 40-13 Alabama 15-12 39-13 Ole Miss 14-13 35-17 Kentucky 13-14 29-20 Oklahoma 13-14 32-17 Florida 13-14 35-18 Miss. State 12-15 31-20 Texas A&M 10-17 27-23 Missouri 3-24 16-35 This week's series All Thursday-Saturday LSU at South Carolina; Texas A&M at Georgia; Alabama at Florida; Kentucky at Vanderbilt; Mississippi State at Missouri; Auburn at Ole Miss; Texas at Oklahoma; Tennessee at Arkansas; Texas A&M at Georgia.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former LSU coach Paul Mainieri talks how he's feeling before facing the Tigers
Former LSU coach Paul Mainieri talks how he's feeling before facing the Tigers Ahead of his first matchup against LSU since departing the program, South Carolina head coach Paul Mainieri reminisced on his tenure in Baton Rouge. "I gave everything I had for 15 years at LSU," Mainieri said. "One of the reasons we've been successful at every stop is because I immersed myself into the institution in any way that I can besides just being the baseball coach." Over 15 years with the Tigers, Mainieri led them to five College World Series, the 2009 national championship, and six SEC Tournament championships. He even recruited some current LSU players, including Jared Jones and Kade Anderson, before his departure. "It's going to be a little awkward because I wore purple and gold for 15 years," Mainieri said. "I still have an affection for those kids and feel great about that university." The Division I active leader with 1,505 career wins, Mainieri spent most of his storied coaching career with LSU before retiring after the 2021 season. His love for the institution led him to calling current head coach Jay Johnson when South Carolina called about the job opening. "I actually called Jay Johnson and told him that I was going to accept it and his first response was 'you know we play each other next year,'" Mainieri said. "I didn't even know that and I kind of cringed when he told it to me. Not because of fear of the ability of the opponent but you work at a place for 15 years and it's your life."
