The South Carolina baseball team was controversially chosen as a regional host. The committee, though, seemed convinced the Gamecocks belonged as a top-16 host site; in fact, Mark Kingston’s group was selected as the 15th-overall seed, one slot ahead of Alabama, a team that more pundits believed would host.
The Gamecocks’ overall resume was probably worthy of a top-16 seed, but Carolina’s horrible finish to the year soured a previously top-3 ranking. The Gamecocks lost 11 of their final 15 games in the regular season and 13 of their final 18 overall after beginning the year on the best pace in college baseball.