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Texas Baseball Team Enters Big 12 Tournament In Unfamiliar Territory

Updated: Tuesday, May 22 2012, 11:12 PM CDT
Baseball is a numbers game. You can manipulate a lot of things on the diamond, but stats don't lie. 

For the first time in more than a decade, the numbers aren't exactly in UT's favor when looking at the postseason picture.

"We feel that it's very important that we win here in Oklahoma City," Texas head coach Augie Garrido told KEYE TV sports Tuesday.

Merely 34 teams will receive at-large selections to the 2012 NCAA baseball tournament.  297 schools play division one baseball.  That means only 11 percent of all teams in America will advance to a regional without winning their conference.

"Basically, it's all about winning here, that's what the coaches are telling us," said UT starting pitcher Corey Knebel.  The 1st team All-Big 12 right-hander will start UT's tournament opener Wednesday vs. Missouri.

According to Boyd's World's Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), right now Texas is the 46th best team in the country.  That should be enough to get the Horns in.  However, an early exit at the Big 12 postseason tournament could cause some bubble trouble for UT.  Which is why, for the first time in years, the Burnt Orange is on red alert in the conference tournament.

"We played well last year with our backs against the wall, and I feel like this team has that same mentality," said Longhorns outfielder Mark Payton.

"Even though we lost several games throughout the course of the season, we never treated ourselves like losers," said Garrido.  "I admire that attitude and respect that attitude, because it's easy to do after a while."

Several members of the Texas baseball team scored tickets to Monday's Oklahoma City Thunder playoff game.  The team even stayed in the same hotel as the Lakers.  But the Longhorns hope that's the only thing they have in common with Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles, as the Lakers' playoff run is now over.  UT hopes its postseason journey is just getting started.Texas Baseball Team Enters Big 12 Tournament In Unfamiliar Territory