Kentucky coach Nick Mingione wants UK to use its speed to create havoc on offense again this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Being called a sleeper team in the SEC that could advance to the College World Series is fine with Kentucky baseball coach Nick Mingione. He knows the traditional SEC powers who garner most of the preseason attention even though his team reached the Super Regional last year before losing to eventual national champion LSU.
“This is what I know. Until we just do it every year maybe it is fair (to consider UK a sleeper team). It is up to us to change that narrative,” Mingione said. “I try to stay away from reading those (predictions). If that is what someone wants to say, that’s fine. The only opinion that matters is guys inside our program. As long as we make it (to the College World Series) people can say whatever they want.”
Kentucky is off to a 4-0 start going into today’s game against Washington State in the Karbach Round Rock Classic in Round Rock, Texas.
The Kentucky coach knows last year was special when Kentucky got to host a NCAA Regional and win in front of its home fans. Kentucky had huge home crowds all season and beat some of the nation’s best teams.
“It has been a challenge (coming off last season). Having guys who have been there, done that is so important,” Mingione said. “To have returning pieces like we do is so important. It’s no guarantee of success but having solid pieces back is really important.
“Last year’s team and this year’s team are very similar in that they are super competitive. Last year our scrimmages were so close and it has been very similar this year. Our guys were getting after it and getting after each other which I like.
“In my 20 years of coaching this is the best defensive plays I have seen in scrimmages. It was incredible. We want to be an attacking defense. We were just chiseling each other and making each other sharper.”
Kentucky often created chaos offensively with its speed last season, something Mingione hopes will happen again this year.
“We will run the same style of offense. We are going to bunt and run,” the UK coach said. “One of my favorite ways to score and have a big inning is to score on bunts and walks.
“Will we have as many guys with 15 stolen bases? I don’t know. But at the end of day we are going to try and create chaos.”
