2022 NCAA Field of 64

I2022 NCAA Field of 64

 The game of Baseball is a unique sport that has always provided parity.  It is further unique in the fact, that while the gap in resources between the Power 5’s and Mid Majors may sometimes be very large the gap in the product on the field has been shrinking for the last decade.  The past several years circumstances including the Covid pandemic and transfer portal have helped to further shrink that gap in the on-field product.  It is for that reason I think 2022 could be the year that you see another Cinderella ride their glass slippers all the way to Omaha.  Before those 8 tickets are punched 64 teams will start with a dream that those slippers may fit neatly in their dugout.  I attempted several years back to try and nail the 64 teams whose names would eventually be revealed with a chance to Dance in the NCAA Tournament.  I was able to get 63 of 64.  While the odds are against me doing that well this time, I will take a stab at it none the less.

 Once you give spots to the 31 Automatic qualifiers that leaves 33 at-large bids to go to teams who were not fortunate enough to luck out in a Conference Tournament crapshoot where anything can happen and usually does.  In 2022, beyond the 31 auto bids, there are 12 Host sites that will occupy at large bids along with what I believe to be 17 other locks.  This leaves 3 spots up for grabs for 10 teams who could make a compelling argument for them.  Unfortunately for these 10 teams, bubbles were popping all over the country on Saturday and Sunday to dwindle the number down to 3.  Below I will list the 3 teams that I feel get those remaining spots along with a little context as to why. 

 At the end of the article, I will give how I feel the teams will be seeded.  For the sake of time, and the fact that I am exhausted from a week at the conference tournament and broadcasts each day, I will not try to put together the big puzzle of where all 64 teams will fit in the committee’s bracket.  We can all wait a little over a half day, for the committee themselves to put that puzzle together. 

1 Seeds                       2 Seeds                  3 Seeds                   4 Seeds

Tennessee                   Wake Forest              Kennesaw State          Binghamton

Oregon State               Vanderbilt                   VCU                             Hofstra

UNC                             Notre Dame                Campbell                     Wright State

Stanford                      Georgia Tech               Michigan                     Canisius

Virginia Tech               UGA                             UCSB                           Coppin State

ECU                             Oklahoma                   UCONN                       Central Michigan

Maryland                    Virginia                        Louisiana                     Missouri State

Oklahoma State          LSU                           San Diego                    Air Force

Auburn                        Tx State                     Dallas Baptist              Long Island

Texas                           Gonzaga                      Kentucky                     SEMO

Tex A&M                     Oregon                        LA Tech                       UNC-Greensboro

Miami                          FSU                            Arizona                        Southeast Louisiana   

Univ of FL                    NC State                   Coastal Carolina          Alabama State

Southern Miss             TCU                           Columbia                      New Mexico State

Louisville                     Arkansas                   UCLA                           Oral Roberts

GA Southern               Tx Tech                      Liberty                         Army

Last 3 Spots

Kentucky Wildcats 

I am going to start with what will prove to be my most controversial decision first.  There is an old adage that is most prominent in the world of Professional Wrestling but it applies just the same in baseball.  That adage is “To be the Man you Gotta Beat the Man.” For the purposes of this argument “The Man” in 2022 is the University of Tennessee and there are very few that would disagree with that fact.  Well UK “walked that Isle” and proved to be the only team in the country that could “beat the man” in the University of Tennessee and take a series from them.  Combine this fact with their run in the SEC Tournament and I think that UK should be in.  

UCLA Bruins

The 3rd place team from the 4th strongest conference in the country and they made a deep run into their tournament before falling in dramatic walk-off fashion to Oregon State who will be a host site.  Combine that with having one of the nations’ most beloved players in Kenny Oyama and I think the Bruins find their way into the field. 

Liberty Flames

I have seen the Liberty Flames play quite a bit in 2022.  At the beginning of the year, they were no doubt one of the top 30 teams in the country.  Some injuries have plagued them down the stretch, but they still managed to sweep through the first 4 games of the ASUN tournament before losing the Championship game to Kennesaw State.  There are Power 5 Conference teams still on the board, but I think a team that won a share of the Regular Season Championship should be in the field of 64 before the 10th or 11th best team in a conference. In the end their series win over the host site Florida Gators may be what pushes them in the field.

Just Missing Out

 Wofford University

Wofford was in prime position to punch the So-Cons Automatic berth before dropping a DH on Championship Sunday to UNC-Greensboro who fought their way through the loser’s bracket.  With more powerful power 5 brands in the conversation, the Terriors may find themselves squeezed out.  In recent years, regular season championships have weighed more heavily for the committee.  If that holds true again, Wofford may squeak into the field. 

 Clemson University

Clemson entered the ACC Tournament needing to do some work to solidify their chances of getting an at-large bid.  They would be an 11th ACC team In the field if they do make it in.  The fact that they went 0-2 in the ACC Tourney could weigh heavily in the committee’s mind and ultimately keep them out in favor of a team like Liberty. 

Rutgers Scarlett Knights

Rutgers has had a wonderful year.  Finishing 2nd in the Big 10 regular season behind only Regional Host the University of Maryland.  That combined with the fact that they reached the Tournament Championship should be enough in a normal year to earn a spot in.  Unfortunately, 2022 is not a normal year and the loss to Michigan might end their season.