Let the hype begin for the LSU baseball team.
The Tigers, one year removed from a fifth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference Western Division, have been picked by league coaches to win the SEC West in 2011.
Florida, chosen to win the SEC East, was picked to repeat as overall league champion.
LSU likely picked up the nod thanks to its highly ranked recruiting class and its momentum from the end of last season. The Tigers won the SEC tournament for the third straight season before falling in the regional round.
LSU opens its season 7 p.m. Friday at home against Wake Forest.
 
 
2011 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll
EASTERN DIVISION
Team Pts. ’10 SEC Rec/Finish
1) Florida           66 22-8/1st
2) Vanderbilt      55 16-12 / 3rd
3) S. Carolina    48 21-9 / 2nd
4) Kentucky       33 13-17 / 4th
5) Georgia         26 5-23 / 6th
6) Tennessee    17 12-18 / 5th
 
WESTERN DIVISION
Team Pts. ’10 SEC Rec/Finish
1) LSU               63 14-16 / 5th
2) Arkansas       49 18-12 / 2nd
3) Auburn          46 20-10 / 1st
4) Ole Miss        40 16-14 / 3rd
5) Alabama        33 15-15 / 4th
6) Miss. State    17 6-24 / 6th
 
—-
Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]