Southeastern Conference Breakdown

Vanderbilt

Last season: 54-13 (22-8 SEC)

Postseason: Lost to Michigan in the NCAA Regional finals

Head coach: Tim Corbin (198-108, 6th year)

Outlook: No surprise here — Vandy will once again set the tone in the SEC. Despite losing MLB top pick David Price and eighth overall pick Casey Weathers, the Commodores are still loaded with talent. Eight position starters return to a team that was picked by many to win it all last year.

South Carolina

Last season: 46-20 (17-13 SEC)

Postseason: Lost to North Carolina in NCAA Super Regional

Head coach: Ray Tanner (500-220, 12th year)

Outlook: The Gamecocks were within throwing distance of the College World Series last year, falling just a game short of making the trip to Omaha, Neb. USC returns a bevy of talent from last year in sluggers Justin Smoak and James Darnell, and hurler Mike Cisco, so they should pick up right where they left off last year.

Kentucky

Last season: 34-19-1 (13-16-1 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: John Cohen (131-93-1, 5th year)

Outlook: The Cats have all the pieces in place for a run to Omaha, but they also did last year. If UK can keep guys like outfielder Collin Cowgill and pitcher Scott Green on the field, they can beat anybody on any given day. Don’t expect the Cats to fall short of the postseason this year. With head coach John Cohen at the helm, UK will be primed for a tourney run by the end of spring.

Georgia

Last season: 23-33 (11-19 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: David Perno (206-159, 7th year)

Outlook: After two consecutive trips to the CWS in 2005 and 2006, the Bulldogs fell flat on their face last year despite having a squad stacked with experience. This year, they aren’t so lucky. Georgia has holes at catcher, second and third base, and the outfield. They’ll have to rely on newcomers and junior college transfers if they expect to be competitive in the SEC.

Tennessee

Last season: 34-25 (13-15 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: Todd Raleigh (1st year)

Outlook: The Volunteers are short on experience both on the field and at the helm. New head coach Todd Raleigh hopes to infuse a new attitude to a team that struggled through SEC play a year ago. But it may take more than fresh faces to turnaround a young and inexperienced pitching staff.

Florida

Last season: 29-30 (15-15 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (1st year)

Outlook: According to the Florida media guide, the Gators have a new coaching staff, new logos, new uniforms and a new baseball facility on the way. And according to the Kernel editors, they’ll enjoy a new resting place in the SEC cellar. Florida posted a league-high team ERA of 5.27, and it doesn’t appear things will get any better this year.Ole Miss

Last season: 40-25 (16-14 SEC)

Postseason: Lost to Arizona State in NCAA Super Regionals

Head coach: Mike Bianco (282-157-1, 8th year)

Outlook: If there is one clear-cut team that will contend with Vandy for the SEC title, it’s the Rebels. Ole Miss returns double-digit home run hitters in Logan Power and Cody Overbeck to go along with one of baseball’s rising stars in Jordan Henry, last year’s SEC Freshman of the Year. And oh yeah, they return possibly the best pitching staff in the entire league.

Mississippi State

Last season: 38-22 (15-13 SEC)

Postseason: Lost to Louisville in the early rounds of the CWS

Head coach: Ron Polk (1,116-557-2, 29th year)

Outlook: If the Bulldogs hope to repeat their Omaha run from a year ago, they’ll rely heavily on hurler Justin Pigott, a senior who leads a tournament-tested pitching staff. But, if MSU’s arms can’t carry the load, the Bulldogs could be in trouble because they return only three starting position players.

Arkansas

Last season: 43-21 (18-12)

Postseason: Lost to Oklahoma State in the NCAA Regionals

Head coach: Dave Van Horn (201-110, 6th year)

Outlook: Question marks surround the mound of the Razorbacks’ pitching staff. With an entirely new starting rotation, the arms of Arkansas will likely hope that Logan Forsythe can once again put up stellar offensive numbers to carry the load. A former Team USA member, Forsythe led the Razorbacks in hits, triples, doubles, stolen bases and on-base percentage.

Alabama

Last season: 31-26 (15-15 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: Jim Wells (553-272, 14th year)

Outlook: To be blunt, the Crimson Tide is average. And their head coach echoed that sentiment at their team media day, by saying that he had a wealth of three- and four-year guys who will be key role players. Coach, role players don’t win SEC titles. And they won’t this year.

Louisiana State

Last season: 29-26-1 (12-17-1 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: Paul Mainieri (29-26-1, 2nd year)

Outlook: In just his second season as head coach, Mainieri is already stocking the cupboard full of talent. This year’s recruiting class is ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball, proving the Tigers are on their way up. Like any young team, LSU will endure its bumps and bruises, but this squad should be fun to watch over the next few seasons.

Auburn

Last season: 31-25 (10-20 SEC)

Postseason: None

Head coach: Tom Slater (87-85, 4th year)

Outlook: The Auburn media guide indicates that the biggest addition to its pitching staff is a coach. That can’t be a good thing. The Tigers have virtually no ace and no stability on the mound. Don’t expect Auburn to make any postseason noise.