/ STAFF WRITER
LOS ANGELES – Coach Dan Hubbs assembled the USC baseball players before a recent practice and had some news to share.
The Trojans were picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 preseason poll, as voted by the conference’s coaches, Hubbs told them.
Then came his kicker.
Last season, Utah was picked to finish last. At the end of May, the Utes were atop the standings and conference champions.
Second baseman Frankie Rios smiled when he recalled the conversation earlier this week.
“Rankings are just rankings,” Rios said. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.