COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies were tabbed as the favorites to win the SEC Western Division in the Southeastern Conference Coaches Poll released on Thursday.
Â
The Aggies were slotted first in the West followed by LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Ole Miss was selected fifth with Auburn and Alabama rounding out the division. Texas A&M received eight of the 14 first-place votes with LSU picking up five votes and Mississippi State earning one.
Â
Florida was the unanimous choice to win the Eastern Division followed by Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Kentucky. Missouri, Georgia and Tennessee brought up the rear.
Â
The Gators were also the unanimous selection to win the SEC overall crown.
Â
The Maroon and White boast four preseason All-Americans, including junior Nick Banks who garnered accolades on all four nationally recognized teams. Juniors Mark Ecker, Ronnie Gideon and Ryan Hendrix were each honored by one of the four organizations.
Â
Texas A&M opens the season ranked in the top 5 of all five nationally recognized polls. The Aggies' No. 4 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll is the highest they have ever been slotted in the preseason. The No. 3 ranking in the Baseball America Top 25 is the highest Texas A&M has been ranked since opening the 2009 campaign ranked No. 1.
Â
The Aggies are coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for A&M since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Â
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Â
2016 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
Â
Eastern Division
1. Florida (13) - 91
2. Vanderbilt (1) - 78
3. South Carolina - 54
4. Kentucky - 53
5. Missouri - 47
6. Georgia - 32
7. Tennessee - 30
Â
Western Division
1. Texas A&M (8) - 85
2. LSU (5) - 79
3. Arkansas - 65
4. Mississippi State (1) - 49
5. Ole Miss - 46
6. Auburn - 33
7. Alabama - 28
Â
SEC Champion: Florida (13); Vanderbilt (1)
Â
The Aggies were slotted first in the West followed by LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Ole Miss was selected fifth with Auburn and Alabama rounding out the division. Texas A&M received eight of the 14 first-place votes with LSU picking up five votes and Mississippi State earning one.
Â
Florida was the unanimous choice to win the Eastern Division followed by Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Kentucky. Missouri, Georgia and Tennessee brought up the rear.
Â
The Gators were also the unanimous selection to win the SEC overall crown.
Â
The Maroon and White boast four preseason All-Americans, including junior Nick Banks who garnered accolades on all four nationally recognized teams. Juniors Mark Ecker, Ronnie Gideon and Ryan Hendrix were each honored by one of the four organizations.
Â
Texas A&M opens the season ranked in the top 5 of all five nationally recognized polls. The Aggies' No. 4 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll is the highest they have ever been slotted in the preseason. The No. 3 ranking in the Baseball America Top 25 is the highest Texas A&M has been ranked since opening the 2009 campaign ranked No. 1.
Â
The Aggies are coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for A&M since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Â
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Â
2016 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
Â
Eastern Division
1. Florida (13) - 91
2. Vanderbilt (1) - 78
3. South Carolina - 54
4. Kentucky - 53
5. Missouri - 47
6. Georgia - 32
7. Tennessee - 30
Â
Western Division
1. Texas A&M (8) - 85
2. LSU (5) - 79
3. Arkansas - 65
4. Mississippi State (1) - 49
5. Ole Miss - 46
6. Auburn - 33
7. Alabama - 28
Â
SEC Champion: Florida (13); Vanderbilt (1)