Big Three
Three American Athletic Conference teams were selected to the 2016 NCAA Championship. UConn won The American’s automatic bid to the tournament, while Tulane and East Carolina were chosen as at-large selections.
Lucky Seven
Under its current, eight-team configuration, The American has had seven NCAA tournament teams in the last two seasons. The conference sent four teams to the 2015 NCAA regionals (East Carolina, Houston, USF, Tulane) and three to the 2016 touranment.
Back In Business
UConn is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 2013 season, when the Huskies won the Big East’s automatic bid.
Pedigree
Current members of the American Athletic Conference have made a combined nine appearances in the College World Series. UConn leads the conference with five appearances, while Houston and Tulane have made two appearances each. Houston was the national runner-up in 1967. The last team among The American’s current membership to reach the CWS was Tulane, which advanced to Omaha in 2005.
Houston and Louisville both advanced to the Super Regional round in the 2014 NCAA Championship.
The American has one CWS appearances to its credit. Louisville advanced to Omaha in 2014, when the Cardinals competed in the conference.
Team College World Series
UConn 1957, 1959, 1965, 1972, 1979
Houston 1953, 1967
Tulane 2001, 2005
The Sum Of Its Parts
The eight American Athletic Conference members have made a combined 108 appearances in the NCAA Championship, including this season’s three bids. East Carolina has made 28 appearances, followed by Tulane (21), Houston (19), UConn (19) USF (11), and Cincinnati and Memphis (five each).
When It Counts
American Athletic Conference teams have combined to go 12-13 in the NCAA tournament in its first two seasons. The American was 9-5 in the 2014 tournament and 3-8 in 2015.
Streaking
UConn has won 13 of its last 14 games entering the NCAA tournament.
Back On Top
Tulane won the American Athletic Conference regular-season title as the Green Wave finished percentage points ahead of second-place East Carolina. It was Tulane’s first conference title for Tulane since the 2005 Conference USA crown.
Jake From Plate Farm
Tulane catcher Jake Rogers has thrown out 25 of the 40 runners who have attempted stolen bases against him. Rogers did not allow a runner to steal during the American Athletic Conference Championship as opponents were 0-for-4 against him.
The Kay Zone
UConn southpaw Anthony Kay — the 2016 American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year — has won his last seven decisions entering the NCAA tournament., includinga 2-0 showing in the American Championship last week. Kay’s last loss was March 25 against Columbia.
Youth Revolution
East Carolina outfielder Dwanya Williams-Sutton became the first freshman to lead the American Athletic Conference in batting (.368) and slugging (.587).
Regular Occurrance
UConn is making its fourth NCAA regional apperance in the last seven years.
Net Neutrality
UConn is 8-1 on neutral-site fields entering the NCAA tournament.
Against The Field
East Carolina is a combined 13-7 against the NCAA tournament field in 2016. The Pirates, who will play in the Charlottesville Regional, went 2-1 against Virginia Feb. 26-28.
Honor Board
The American Ahtletic Conference had two players named to the Louisville Slugger All-America Teams.
Name Pos School Team
Anthony Kay P UConn Second Team
Joe Davis 1B Houston Third Team
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
Gainesville Regional · Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, June 3
No. 3 UConn vs. No. 2 Georgia Tech 1 p.m.
No. 4 Bethune-Cookman at No. 1 Florida 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 4
Elimination Game Noon
Winners Bracket 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 5
Elimination Game Noon
Regional Final 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Regional Final (if necessary) 6 p.m.
Oxford Regional · Oxford, Miss.
Friday, June 3
No. 3 Boston College vs. No. 2 Tulane 4 p.m.
No. 4 Utah at No. 1 Mississippi 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 4
Elimination Game 2 p.m.
Winners Bracket 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 5
Elimination Game 2 p.m.
Regional Final 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Regional Final (if necessary) 8 p.m.
Charlottesville Regional · Charlottesville, Va.
Friday, June 3
No. 4 William & Mary at No. 1 Virginia 1 p.m.
No. 3 East Carolina vs. No. 2 Bryant 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 4
Elimination Game 1 p.m.
Winners Bracket 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 5
Elimination Game 1 p.m.
Regional Final 6 p.m.
Monday, June 6
Regional Final (if necessary) 6 p.m.
all times Eastern