Conference Hokey-Pokey™: Louisville wants to join mediocre Big 12

TIGERS

♦ Rock Bridge grad Miles adjusts at Missouri (Columbia Tribune)

Miles boasts a 4.45 ERA in 19 appearances.

"He's gotten the job done in tough situations against good teams," Jamieson said. "I'm sure he's even more confident because of that, but our confidence in him has grown, as well."

While Miles includes starters Rob Zastryzny and Eric Anderson among his mentors, he keeps a close eye on senior reliever Jeff Emens, another righty whose value out of the bullpen trumps what he could contribute as a starter.

BIG 12

It's nice to have an excuse
to use this graphic

♦ College Weekend Preview (Baseball America)

This weekend continues a trend of Big 12 teams playing bad RPI games to fill scheduling holes left by Nebraska's departure—which helps explain why the Big 12 is in danger of sending just three or maybe even two teams to regionals this year. When Kansas State had to play three games against No. 273 Nebraska-Omaha last week, or Oklahoma had to play three against No. 267 Alabama State, it dragged down the entire conference RPI.

"We didn't see it at the time, and coaches were part of it; it's not an administrative deal from the Big 12 office, it's everybody," Sooners coach Sunny Golloway told the Norman (Okla.) Transcript. "Those two bye weekends means we've added over 20 bad RPI games to the league."

♦ Big 12 baseball: League is seeking respect (NewsOK.com)

But the Big 12's reputation has taken a hit this season, partly due to a shaky head-to-head record against the other power conferences. At one point, the league's RPI was as low as No. 6, although it's up to No. 4 now, yet still behind the ACC, SEC and Pac-12.

Could this be the year Big 12 loses its hold on a minimum of five berths?

CONFERENCE HOKEY POKEY

♦ Louisville wants out of the Big East, interested in Big 12 and ACC

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich wants out of the Big East, and has expressed that desire to the conference’s board of directors, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz.

Jurich, sources said, wants to be transparent and with that in mind, told the board that the Cardinals want to be in either the Big 12 or the ACC. Connecticut has said that it wants to remain in the Big East, but privately, sources told ESPN.com, UConn would like to join the ACC along with Notre Dame.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

♦ The Distiller's Dozen, May 10th (College Baseball Today)

3- I HEARD THE MLB IS CONSIDERING OUTLAWING THE “FAKE TO 3RD, THROW TO 1ST” PLAY BY PITCHERS.

I say they should never ban that play. Because then I’ll never get to hear a play-by-play announcer or a fan behind me in the stands say, “That play never works” right before, sure enough, a runner gets picked off on that exact play.