LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Florida continued its hold on the No. 1 ranking, while a streaking Minnesota and an Oregon squad, who swept then-No. 2 Florida State, jumped into the top three in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Florida closed out its regular season with four straight wins after a tough mid-week 11-inning loss (1-3) at Florida State. The Gators (50-5) received 22 first-place votes and 782 points as they secured their ninth 50-win season in program history. UF, who heads into the SEC tournament as the top seed, was dominant in the final four contests, sweeping North Texas (8-0, 9-0, 8-1) and capping off the week with a 7-0 shutout against Bethune-Cookman.
The Gophers (51-3) own the longest active winning streak in Division I at a school-record 22 games after closing out their regular season with a three-game Big Ten sweep at Penn State (11-1, 14-1, 10-1). Minnesota, which received five-first place votes and 754 points, finished 22-1 in league play and earned their first Big Ten regular season title since 1991. The Gophers also collected 50 victories for the first time in program history.
The Ducks (44-6) gathered five first-place votes and 744 points as they moved into the No. 3 spot after sweeping a top-five series from the Seminoles (48-6-1) in Eugene over the weekend. Oregon picked a decisive 11-0 win in game one of a doubleheader and edged the Seminoles in the nightcap, 3-1. They walked off with the sweep, a 2-1 victory in nine innings, courtesy of Gwen Svekis’ sac fly.
Oklahoma remained at No. 6 following a Bedlam sweep of Oklahoma State (3-0, 6-2, 1-0), which included a combined no-hitter in the finale. The Sooners (47-8) enter the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face Texas in their opener.
Auburn jumped two spots to No. 7 as it took two-of-three at then-No. 13 Alabama. The Tigers (45-9) opened with 3-0 (9) and 4-1 wins, clinching a series in Tuscaloosa for the first time in program history. The Crimson Tide edged the Tigers on the final day of the season, 3-2.
No. 8 Washington, No. 9 Tennessee and No. 10 UCLA round out the top-10. The Huskies (40-11) went 3-1, topping Seattle and taking two-of-three from Stanford. The Vols (44-9) and Bruins (39-13) both climbed two spots after collecting series wins over then-No. 8 Texas &M and then-No. 3 Arizona, respectively.
Two Southeastern Conference programs entered the top-25 this week as No. 24 South Carolina makes its first 2017 appearance, while No. 25 George returns after a one-week absence.
The 2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through May 7.
2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll
Week 13 – May 9, 2017
Dropped Out: No. 24 Arkansas, No. 25 Tulsa
New to Poll: No. 24 South Carolina, No. 25 Georgia
Receiving Votes: Mississippi State (23), Florida International (17), Arkansas (14), Tulsa (12), Missouri (6), Saint Francis (Pa.) (6), Ohio State (4), USC Upstate (2), California (1), Illinois (1), Northern Iowa (1).
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through May 7.