College Corner: Belmont’s Grayson Murphy, Vanderbilt & Tennessee Baseball Preseason Poll Rankings

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Belmont’s Grayson Murphy Breaks OVC All-Time Assist Record

Grayson Murphy. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont senior Grayson Murphy has broken the Oho Valley Conference’s all-time assist record with 702 assists. He picked up five assists in Monday’s (Jan. 24) win against Eastern Illinois University.

The point guard broke Bruce Jones‘ record from Eastern Kentucky, who held the record for 41 years. Murphy has been one of the pillars of Belmont’s current squad and averages 8.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.8 apg.

The Franklin, Tennessee, native has led the Bruins in assists and steals in each of the past three seasons. He is a two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2021 OVC Preseason Co-Player of the Year.

 

 

Vanderbilt Ranked No. 2 In Baseball America Preseason Poll

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

As the college baseball season is just about a month away, Vanderbilt has been ranked No. 2  in Baseball America‘s preseason top 25 rankings.

Vanderbilt made its second straight trip to the College World Series in 2021, eventually losing to Mississippi State. The Commodores are among six other SEC teams in Baseball America‘s top 10: Mississippi State (No. 3), Florida (No. 6), Arkansas (No. 8), Ole Miss (No. 9) and LSU (No. 10.)

The Dores will welcome back some of the best players in the nation, including D1Baseball’s 2022 Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects Carter Young (No. 25), Spencer Jones (No. 60), Dominic Keegan (No. 66) and Nick Maldonado (No. 74).

Recently extended head coach, Tim Corbin, will lead Vanderbilt back on to the field on Feb. 18, when the Commodores welcome Oklahoma State, who is ranked No. 19 in Baseball America’s preseason poll.

 

 

University of Tennessee Ranked No. 17 In Baseball America‘s Preseason Poll

Photo: by Andrew Ferguson/University of Tennessee Athletics

Along with their cross-state rival, Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee was also included in Baseball America‘s preseason top 25, being ranked No. 17.

The Volunteers had one of their most successful seasons ever in 2021, finishing with an overall record of 50-18 and an SEC record of 20-10. UTK hosted a regional for the first time since 2005 and hosted a super regional for the first time ever, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the NCAA tournament’s first two rounds before making the program’s fifth trip to the College World Series.

This season, the Vols are slated to play five of the top 10 teams in Baseball America‘s rankings, including a College World Series rematch with No. 1 Texas at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston on March 4.

Tennessee will also returns 24 letterwinners from last season’s team, including “Super Seniors” in Evan Russell, Luc Lipcius and Redmond Walsh.

Steven Boero
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