University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Picked First in Preseason Conference USA Poll
1/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 22, 2003
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team was picked to defend its Conference USA regular-season title with the release of the 2003 C-USA Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday.
Individually, junior pitcher Brad Sullivan was recognized as the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and junior Hyung Cho was named one of four infielders to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Cougars, who are ranked in the Top 11 of all four national preseason polls, collected all but one first-place vote from the league's 12 coaches. Tulane was ranked No. 2 in the poll, while Southern Miss - which received the other first-place vote - came in at No. 3.
South Florida, East Carolina, Louisville, TCU, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Memphis, Saint Louis and UAB rounded out the rest of the poll.
The 2002 C-USA Pitcher of the Year and a consensus First-Team All-American, Sullivan racked up a 13-1 record with a 1.82 ERA while leading the nation with 157 strikeouts. He is expected to anchor a staff which finished fifth nationally with a 3.20 team ERA.
Cho battled through injuries much of the 2003 season but still finished fourth on the team with six home runs. In addition, the Toronto, Canada, native provided stellar defense at a number of positions a year ago, including third base, shortstop and second base.
The Cougars open their 2003 season on Feb. 7-9 when they compete at the Battle at the Beach in Malibu, Calif. UH begins the three-day event against UC Santa Barbara before squaring off against host Pepperdine and Washington.
