USA – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 12th year with its 2009 preseason predictions and weekly surveys. Weekly polls will continue from Feb. 23 through June 25 following the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb.

The poll voters come from 32 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 35 listing, the remainder of the polls will feature a national Top 30.

North Carolina has received the No. 1 preseason nod for the first time in NCBWA history after coach Mike Fox’s crew closed 54-14 and third in the final 2008 NCBWA survey. The Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse was runnerup in both 2006 and ‘07 and has the potential to take all the marbles in 2009. Previous preseason No. 1 choices have been LSU (1998, 2001), Southern California (1999), Miami (Fla.) (2000), Stanford (2002), Texas (2003, 06), Cal State Fullerton (2005), Rice (2004, 07), and Arizona State (2008).

Fresno State is defending NCAA champ after Oregon State won the baseball crown in Omaha in both 2006 and ‘07.

This week’s poll has representation by 13 different conferences among the 302 baseball-playing schools in the 2009 NCAA Division I ranks. The polls of 2008 had teams from 17 different DI conferences rated at least one week. The preseason poll lists schools, and the remaining polls with consist of Top 30 choices. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to www.ncbwa.com.

2009 NCBWA NCAA preseason Poll

1 North Carolina
2 LSU
3 Rice
4 Texas A&M
5 Georgia
6 Florida State
7 Arizona State
8 Texas
9 Stanford
10 Cal State Fullerton
11 Louisville
12 Miami (Fla.)
13 Georgia Tech
14 Mississippi
15 UC Irvine
16 Oklahoma State
17 Fresno State
18 San Diego
19 Baylor
20 Missouri
21 Pepperdine
22 Coastal Carolina
23 Kentucky
24 Florida
25 UCLA
26 Clemson
27 East Carolina
28 Oklahoma
29 Arizona
30 Michigan
31 Oregon State
32 TCU
33 Southern California
34 Tulane
35 Wichita State

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Bethune-Cookman, California, Charlotte, College of Charleston, Dallas Baptist, Elon, Houston, Lamar, Long Beach State, Missouri State, NC State, Nebraska, New Orleans, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oral Roberts, Oregon, Sam Houston State, San Diego State, Santa Clara, South Carolina, Southern Miss, St. John’s, Tennessee, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UNC Wilmington, UTSA, Vanderbilt, Virginia.

By conference: Big 12 6, Pacific-10 6, Atlantic Coast 5, Southeastern 5, Conference USA 3, Big West 2, West Coast 2, Big East 1, Big South 1, Big Ten 1, Missouri Valley 1, Mountain West 1, Western Athletic 1.

Photo courtesy of North Carolina Tar Heels Athletics

Tags: NCAA Division I, Polls