The Tennessee Volunteers are ranked No. 17 in Baseball America’s preseason poll, reflecting the respect Tony Vitello’s program gained last season during its first run to the College World Series since 2005.
That’s the good news.
Then there is that schedule containing a date with No. 1 Texas in Houston and Southeastern Conference road series against No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Mississippi State, No. 6 Florida and No. 9 Ole Miss.
“When that stuff comes, that will be a challenge, but it doesn’t matter where you go in our league,” Vitello said in a recent news conference to preview the 2022 season. “The facilities are great. The fans are rowdy, and the opponent is going to be similar to you on paper.
“It’s going to be a grind, and our job right now is to prepare for that grind in our training as best as possible.”