Men's Track is ranked #1 in this week's poll also.
Women's Track is #3.
Baseball as high as #4 in pre-seaosn.
Gymnastics #1.
Football finished #5.
From Baseballamerica.com:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/top-25/2011/2612851.html4. ARKANSAS
2011 Record (Ranking): 40-22 (24). RPI: 14.
Coach (Record at school): Dave Van Horn (359-201, 9 years).
Postseason History: 24 regional appearances (active streak: 10), 6 CWS appearances (last in 2009), 0 national titles.
2012 Lineup
Pos. Name, Yr. AVG OBP SLG HR RBI SB
C Jake Wise, So. .163 .200 .233 1 5 0
1B Dominic Ficociello, So. .335 .364 .464 4 50 5
2B Bo Bigham, Sr. .291 .354 .371 2 20 17
3B Matt Reynolds, Jr. .243 .359 .351 3 22 16
SS Tim Carver, Sr. .232 .305 .271 1 13 24
LF Brian Anderson, Fr. HS—Edmund, Okla.
CF Jacob Morris, So. .194 .325 .254 0 5 2
RF Matt Vinson, Jr. .221 .302 .390 2 8 2
DH Sam Bates, Sr. .237 .343 .339 0 7 1
Pos Name, Yr. W L ERA IP SO SV
RHP D.J. Baxendale, Jr. 10 2 1.58 85 77 3
RHP Ryne Stanek, So. 4 2 3.94 64 41 1
LHP Randall Fant, Jr. 3 5 3.89 69 35 0
RP Nolan Sanburn, So. 2 4 3.62 32 35 8
Hitting: 60. After ranking 219th in the nation with a .270 team batting average last year, Arkansas figures to be much more dangerous offensively in 2012. The switch-hitting Ficociello has electric bat speed and figures to build on his freshman All-America 2011 campaign. Reynolds hit just .233 in his first two collegiate seasons but toned down his approach and posted a strong summer for Team USA and in the Cape League, making him a major breakout candidate. The pesky Bigham should be a sparkplug atop the lineup, and the ultra-athletic Morris made strides offensively after abandoning switch-hitting to concentrate on hitting from the right side. Wise hopes to build on a strong summer in the Northwoods League.
Power: 55. Expect Ficociello to take another step toward harnessing his big raw power as he matures physically. Fellow switch-hitter Vinson also has power from both sides and needs to translate his ability into games. Bates brings intriguing lefthanded pop, while the physical Morris and surprising Fr. C John Clay Reeves offer decent righthanded power potential.
Speed: 65. The Razorbacks typically run an aggressive offense—they ranked sixth in the nation in steals (122) last year—and figure to play a similar style this year. Carver is the best basestealer on the team, but Bigham and Reynolds are also good baserunners who could reach 20 steals. Anderson and Morris bring plus or better speed.
Defense: 70. Arkansas boasts a rock-solid fifth-year senior at shortstop in Carver, and the other three infielders are also excellent defenders. Anderson (who also has good actions in the infield), Morris and Vinson are all quality defensive outfielders with strong arms, while Wise and Reeves should make an able platoon behind the plate. This should be one of the nation's best defenses.
D.J. Baxendale (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Starting Pitching: 70. Baxendale is a dogged competitor who beat Michael Roth, Hudson Randall and Sonny Gray, among others, as a sophomore. He throws his 89-93 mph fastball from various arm slots and keeps hitters off balance with three quality secondary pitches. Stanek has one of the nation's most electric arms, with a lively 92-97 mph fastball, a hammer curveball, hard slider and promising changeup, though he's still learning to harness his command and mechanics. Fant's 88-91 fastball bumps 93, his changeup is a serious weapon, and his cutter is developing into a solid third pitch. So. RHP Barrett Astin gives this staff a fourth potential starter with good stuff: a lively low-90s fastball and an upper-80s cutter.
Starting Pitching: 65. Sanburn, like Stanek, has filthy stuff but is still learning to repeat it. His 91-94 mph fastball reaches 98 at times, his 81-85 mph breaking ball has good depth when he stays on top of it, and his changeup made strides in the summer and fall. Jr. LHP Trent Daniel can run his fastball up to 94 mph, while sophomores Colby Suggs and Brandon Moore are quality options from the right side. A talented group of freshmen—led by LHP Mark Reyes and RHP Greg Millhorn—plus Morris' two-way ability makes this a very deep group.
Experience/Intangibles: 65. With five upperclassmen penciled into the starting lineup and two more in the weekend rotation, Arkansas has plenty of experience. Bigham and Carver give the Hogs a pair of key holdovers from the 2009 CWS team.
Baseball America OFP: 70. Arkansas has a deep, talented roster and few discernible weaknesses. The Hogs are the favorites to win the SEC West and are legit national title contenders.
