CPP: How many wins for Ole Miss to host? | Mark Etheridge

In this episode of MPW Digital, host Chase and special guest Mark Etheridge dive deep into the NCAA baseball landscape, focusing on Ole Miss's postseason prospects with just four weekends remaining in the regular season. Etheridge, a veteran college baseball journalist, evaluates Ole Miss’s resume, emphasizing their strong recent stretch—seven of their last nine SEC wins, including series sweeps of LSU and Tennessee—and how their favorable RPI (currently ranked 6th) could position them as a host candidate even with a 15-15 record. He discusses the impact of missing weaker non-conference opponents like Missouri and South Carolina, which has artificially inflated their RPI, and argues that the NCAA selection committee may reward challenging schedules. The conversation also explores broader SEC dynamics, including Vanderbilt’s under-the-radar resume with a 72 RPI but strong DSR (39) and KPI (9), raising questions about whether metrics like RPI should be weighted differently. Etheridge highlights the evolving nature of college baseball, with teams like LSU reevaluating their portal strategies and the growing importance of versatility in recruited players. He concludes with a candid look at Ole Miss’s potential, noting their improved offensive situational hitting and bullpen depth, but cautioning that their success hinges on key players like Will Libbert stepping up in high-leverage moments.