Butch Thompson spoke to the media Wednesday to preview the upcoming series against No. 1 Arkansas, which begins Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT. Here's a summary...
** Exciting weekend to be home after a 5-game road trip. Looking forward to competing against Arkansas.
** Yesterday was really positive for us sending off the women's and men's basketball teams to NCAA Tournament and then go over and get a good win over South Alabama. Our pitchers bounced back and threw 75 percent strikes, which was very positive.
** Arkansas is very good, especially on the mound.
** Played No. 2 last week and No. 1 this week. Could play two more top five teams next two weeks. Our best players need to play at their best.
** Will have an Eagle Flight on Friday night, which is really special.
** Conner McBride has our longest and most productive starts. He will start Thursday. He's coming off an illness but was better yesterday and through a bullpen. Chase Allsup will go Friday and Joseph Gonzalez Saturday.
** On being swept at Arkansas in the first series and coming back to win 17 league games last year: This is a new team. We can look back at the past but need to concentrate on what's important with this team. Three teams in SEC were swept last year. The pitching in Nashville will not work in our league.
** Our right-handed hitters have not performed the last few games. Been behind on their swings. Get more production out of our starter. Those are the two things we need to improve the most.
** Can we circle the wagons around 6-7 arms this weekend?
** On the defense: Vandy's field had a little something to do with the troubles up there. Had one last night that we needed to catch. Cooper McMurray had knee surgery in the fall and can't move quite as well as he did a year ago. The guys around him have to know that. Being back at Plainsman Park helps. Our defense at Vandy was unacceptable.
** Christian Herberholz will be Tue starter, building him for that. Could make more adjustments after this weekend.
** There have been times during previous seasons that Butch has jumped in and helped with the pitching. He has full trust in Coach Teaf and Coach Foxhall to get it done. Teaf made the right decision going with Watts and sticking with him last night. Butch is concentrating on game management. Players love Coach Teaf and Butch believes he's doing an amazing job. It's good to have an experienced guy like Foxhall right next to him.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
** Exciting weekend to be home after a 5-game road trip. Looking forward to competing against Arkansas.
** Yesterday was really positive for us sending off the women's and men's basketball teams to NCAA Tournament and then go over and get a good win over South Alabama. Our pitchers bounced back and threw 75 percent strikes, which was very positive.
** Arkansas is very good, especially on the mound.
** Played No. 2 last week and No. 1 this week. Could play two more top five teams next two weeks. Our best players need to play at their best.
** Will have an Eagle Flight on Friday night, which is really special.
** Conner McBride has our longest and most productive starts. He will start Thursday. He's coming off an illness but was better yesterday and through a bullpen. Chase Allsup will go Friday and Joseph Gonzalez Saturday.
** On being swept at Arkansas in the first series and coming back to win 17 league games last year: This is a new team. We can look back at the past but need to concentrate on what's important with this team. Three teams in SEC were swept last year. The pitching in Nashville will not work in our league.
** Our right-handed hitters have not performed the last few games. Been behind on their swings. Get more production out of our starter. Those are the two things we need to improve the most.
** Can we circle the wagons around 6-7 arms this weekend?
** On the defense: Vandy's field had a little something to do with the troubles up there. Had one last night that we needed to catch. Cooper McMurray had knee surgery in the fall and can't move quite as well as he did a year ago. The guys around him have to know that. Being back at Plainsman Park helps. Our defense at Vandy was unacceptable.
** Christian Herberholz will be Tue starter, building him for that. Could make more adjustments after this weekend.
** There have been times during previous seasons that Butch has jumped in and helped with the pitching. He has full trust in Coach Teaf and Coach Foxhall to get it done. Teaf made the right decision going with Watts and sticking with him last night. Butch is concentrating on game management. Players love Coach Teaf and Butch believes he's doing an amazing job. It's good to have an experienced guy like Foxhall right next to him.
*****THAT'S ALL*****