Collegiate Baseball Ranks Texas Tech 18th in Preseason Poll
December 17, 1999 | Baseball
Dec. 17, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released its preseason poll yesterday with Texas Tech being ranked 18th in the country, and right-handed pitcher Brandon Roberson named to the publication's preseason All-American team. The poll is a preseason survey of NCAA Division I baseball coaches. The Collegiate Baseball poll is the oldest college baseball poll in the country. The first poll took place in during the 1957 season.
The Red Raiders finished the 1999 campaign with a 42-17 record and ranked 22nd by Collegiate Baseball. Head Coach Larry Hays welcomes 22 newcomers and returns seven pitchers from last year's squad. The Big 12 is represented by five teams in the top 25. Texas was ranked 12th, followed by Baylor (16th), Texas Tech (18th), Texas A&M (21st) and Oklahoma State (23rd).
Roberson, a senior, primarily worked out of the bullpen last season. He is expected to be Tech's number one starter this season after going 3-4 with 10 saves and a 2.45 ERA (19 ER/69.2 IP) in 27 games in 1999. Roberson was drafted in the 19th round of Major League Baseball's free agent draft, but elected to stay at Texas Tech for his senior season.
Texas Tech opens the season with a doubleheader at UT-Pan American on January 28. The Red Raiders open the home portion of the schedule with a three-game series against New Mexico State, February 4-6. The home opener on Friday starts at 4 p.m. Game two on Saturday is at 2 p.m., and Sunday's game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
The Collegiate Baseball newspaper NCAA Division I poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's
NCAA Div. I Preseason Poll
(As of Dec. 15, 1999)
| Rank | School | 1999 Record | Points | '99 Final Rank |
| 1. | Stanford | (50-15) | 480 | 3 |
| 2. | Cal State Fullerton | (50-14) | 477 | 6 |
| 3. | Alabama | (53-16) | 474 | 4 |
| 4. | UCLA | (31-31) | 470 | NR |
| 5. | Miami, Fla. | (50-13) | 469 | 1 |
| 6. | Florida State | (57-14) | 467 | 2 |
| 7. | Rice | (59-15) | 463 | 5 |
| 8. | Louisiana State | (41-24-1) | 460 | 14 |
| 9. | Georgia Tech | (38-20) | 459 | NR |
| 10. | Houston | (40-24) | 455 | 24 |
| 11. | Clemson | (42-27) | 452 | 13 |
| 12. | Texas | (36-26) | 450 | NR |
| 13. | Tulane | (48-17) | 447 | 21 |
| 14. | Wichita State | (59-14) | 442 | 16 |
| 15. | Southern California | (36-26) | 439 | 12 |
| 16. | Baylor | (50-15) | 438 | 9 |
| 17. | Auburn | (46-19) | 435 | 15 |
| 18. | Texas Tech | (42-17) | 433 | 22 |
| 19. | Arizona | (33-23) | 430 | NR |
| 20. | North Carolina | (41-18) | 426 | 28 |
| 21. | Texas A&M | (52-18) | 425 | 7 |
| 22. | Long Beach State | (35-25) | 422 | 29 |
| 23. | Oklahoma State | (46-21) | 419 | 8 |
| 24. | Florida | (31-25) | 415 | NR |
| 25. | Notre Dame | (43-18) | 413 | NR |
| 26. | Pepperdine | (46-16) | 410 | 19 |
| 27. | Minnesota | (46-18) | 406 | 25 |
| 28. | Arizona State | (39-21) | 403 | NR |
| 29. | South Alabama | (39-20) | 398 | NR |
| 30. | Oral Roberts | (46-15) | 396 | NR |
| 31. | Wake Forest | (47-16) | 394 | 10 |
| 32. | Arkansas | (42-23) | 390 | 17 |
| 33. | Nevada | (38-20) | 388 | 26 |
| 34. | South Carolina | (35-23) | 385 | NR |
| 35. | Illinois | (34-22) | 381 | NR |
| 36. | Florida Atlantic | (54-9) | 379 | 20 |
| 37. | Ohio State | (50-14) | 373 | 11 |
| 38. | California | (27-31) | 370 | NR |
| 39. | Nebraska | (42-18) | 365 | NR |
| 40. | Mississippi | (34-28) | 362 | NR |