OMAHA, Neb. - As was reported here first, North Carolina will square off Saturday against Oregon State in the first Men’s College World Series finals rematch since Southern California beat Arizona State in 1972 and ‘73.

Of course, you already know that, as the rematch is everyone’s favorite storyline - particularly ESPN’s - and last year’s outcome will be brought up and discussed at length throughout the weekend.

But let me be the first to tell you something else about this rematch. Although it’s a nice story that both squads survived their pods to advance to the finals, last year’s finals really can’t be used as a good indicator for what will happen this year.

“The teams are totally different,” North Carolina shortstop Josh Horton said. “So I think that when it comes down to it, what happened last year is gonna have absolutely have nothing to do with this year.”

All you have to do to see the difference between this year’s Tar Heels and Beavers and last years final squads is look at the starting lineups from last year’s final game.

North Carolina:CF- Mike Cavasinni; DH- Reid Fronk; SS- Horton; 3B- Chad Flack; LF- Jay Cox; 1B- Tim Federowicz; RF- Seth Williams; C- Benji Johnson; 2b Garrett Gore; SP- Daniel Bard.

Oregon State:SS- Dawin Barney; C- Mitch Canham; LF- Cole Gillespie; 1B Bill Rowe; CF- Tyler Graham; RF- John Wallace; 2B- Chris Kunda; 3B- Shea McFeely; DH- Mike Lissman; SP- Jonah Nickerson.

On Saturday, UNC will have a different face in seven of those positions, with only Horton, Flack and Gore starting in the same spot as last year.

The Beavers, however, will look completely different. And although they have more players (four) starting in the same position than North Carolina, those will be the only familiar faces on the diamond. UNC, on the other hand, will trot out many of the same faces - just in different positions.

Only Barney, Canham, Wallace and Lissman are on the Oregon State roster, and just two of the five Beaver pitchers (relievers Joe Paterson and Eddie Kunz) are back with the team.

“You know, they’re such a different team, and we are in a way,” UNC head coach Mike Fox said. “We’re starting a freshman; we don’t have Andrew Miller out there on the mound for us to start game one. I don’t think last year’s games are gonna mean a whole lot … The scouting reports are a lot different … This year they’ve just got new players.”

Don’t be fooled by what you hear on TV. In reality, these teams are completely different, and this series is really not that much of a rematch.

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - As it was reported here first, North Carolina plays Rice at 7 p.m. for the right to face Oregon State in this weekend’s NCAA College World Series finals.

Adam Warren will be taking the mound for the Tar Heels in by far the biggest start of his career at UNC. Warren was the savior in North Carolina’s 8-5 win Friday against Mississippi State when he relieved a struggling Robert Woodard and proceeded to throw 4.1 innings of shutout ball. For the year, Warren is 11-0 in 14 appearances with a 1.96 ERA.

And although most of his starts came in mid-week games against lesser opponents, Woodard boasts weekend caliber stuff.

The Tar Heels will be up against Rice’s Matt Langwell, a guy who has split time as a starter and a reliever this year. In 22 appearances, Langwell has compiled an 8-1 record with a 2.11 ERA.

While the pitching matchup will figure to command most of the media’s attention tonight, the bats should decide the outcome.

If Rice is able to return to the form of its first two games in the CWS, then the Owls will probably be the team that advances to play the Beavers. But the 29 runs Rice scored in those two games, was not indicative of Owl hitters this year, however neither was the one-run effort they posted Wednesday.

The Tar Heels on the other hand showed signs late Wednesday that they were returning to the offensive level we’ve seen from them this year. Mainly I’m talking about freshman Dustin Ackley who’s three-run homer in the seventh inning clinched the game for North Carolina. At the same time though, UNC must receive a better effort from catcher Tim Federowicz who is hitless in his last two games, and couldn’t come through in two bases loaded situations.

Whatever team is able to get to the opposing starter first could be the squad that comes out on top.

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - We’re about to get under here at Rosenblatt Stadium for North Carolina’s must-win game against Rice.

There’s not much to be said about the matchup, you can look at the old blog to get my take on Rice. The only difference is that freshman Ryan Berry will be getting the start for the Owls.

Berry has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the nation, going 11-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 22 appearances. Berry is your typical Texas power pitcher with 122 strikeouts through 119 innings of work. The Tar Heel hitters will have to be able to hit the ball better than they did against Louisville to have a shot.

One major change for North Carolina is the demotion of freshman first baseman Dustin Ackley to the bottom part of the lineup. Today, Ackley will be hitting in the 7-spot instead of his usual role as UNC’s third guy up to the plate. The reason for the change has been Ackley’s eye-opening struggles in the College World Series as well as the postseason.

In his three CWS starts, Ackley has managed to get just one hit in 13 at-bats. During this slump, Ackley has seen his batting average fall to .400 - the lowest it has been since early March.

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - One of the most important questions for Tar Heel fans in Omaha for the College World Series isn’t what steakhouse they’re going to tonight. Nor is it what flavor milkshake did they decide to get at everyone’s favorite place, Zesto’s.

No the question is, just what’s going on with North Carolina’s starting pitching.

Once the team’s focal point, the Tar Heel rotation has become a burden that must be overcome. Since June 1 when Robert Woodard threw eight shutout innings against Jacksonville, UNC starters have combined for an 11.22 ERA through 25.2 innings. And as stunning as that stat is to fans, it boggles the minds of North Carolina even more.

“It’s as much of a surprise to us as it is to everybody else,” Woodard said. “Alex (White) and I take great pride in our preparation, and we haven’t changed anything here in the last week or two as we’ve done the whole course of the season.”

What has changed is that pitches that used to befuddle opposing batters are now being hit all over the park.

“The one thing I think that everyone is ignoring is that we’re just getting hit,” UNC pitching coach Scott Forbes said. “We’re not walking a lot of people … we’re just giving up some hits.”

Part of the problem Forbes said is UNC’s starters aren’t pitching inside enough. Against good hitting teams, inside pitching is essential in keeping hitters off balance instead of settling into a groove. In recent games, Woodard, White and Luke Putkonen have fallen into a trap of pitching the ball on the outer half of the plate too often, and they have paid for it. And against Louisville, Putkonen will need to put the ball in on the hands of Cardinal hitters in order to have a successful outing.

“I think something we’re gonna have to do more is pitch in,” Forbes said. “I don’t think we’ve pitched in enough. Rice and Louisville who we are going to play tomorrow are both teams that crowd the plate. … We gotta get them off the plate, and that’s what we’re gonna try to do tomorrow from the first pitch on.”

And given the circumstances surrounding Tuesday’s game, Putkonen’s power style is a perfect match for that kind of aggressive game plan.

“He’s won here since he’s been here,” Forbes said of Putkonen. “Perfect type of guy for these type of situations, he’s real evened keeled. He won the ACC Championship for us, probably one of the best pitched games all year of any one of our pitchers. And that was pressure, we hadn’t won an ACC Championship in forever.”

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - In just under a hour, North Carolina will take the field against Rice in a crucial matchup in the College World Series.

If the Tar Heels win, they don’t play again until Wednesday needing only one win in two tries to advance to the College World Series. If they lose, they have to win three-in-a-row starting Tuesday against Louisville to get back to the finals.

Without further adieu, her’es a look at three key factors in tonights game.

1. Joe Savery vs. the UNC lefties. This is the second consecutive game the Tar Heels have faced a left-handed pitcher, and UNC’s ability to get its left-handed batters going could decided their fate. Against South Carolina’s Arik Hempy in the supers, Tar Heel lefties really struggled, and so did UNC. Friday against MSU’s left-hander, North Carolina was able to hit the ball better, but Savery is one of the best pitchers - right or left-handed - the Tar Heels have faced all year.

2. Will the real Alex White please stand up? What’s it going to be, will we see the Alex
White who dominated Virginia in the ACC Tournament, or will we see the White that’s allowed 12 runs combined in his past two starts. If White can last six innings, that will give UNC’s bullpen some much needed rest.

3. The end of the comeback kids? It’s gotta end sometime. North Carolina can’t keep spotting good teams early runs, and then storming back to win the game. Coach Mike Fox said after the Mississippi State win Friday that it will catch up with them eventually, and if the Tar Heels play the same game against Rice, tonight could be that night. Rice boasts a solid bullpen featuring Cole St. Clair, one of the most dominating closers in the nation. It’s critical that North Carolina puts early pressure on the other team for a change.

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - After two low scoring games Saturday, Louisville set the tone for an offensive explosion scoring in the first four innings en route to a 12-4 triumph against Mississippi State in Rosenblatt Stadium.

One of the biggest contributors to the high-scoring affair, besides the red-hot Cardinal bats, was the intense wind blowing out of left field. Throughout the entire game, gusts ranged from 20-to-33 miles a hour carrying multiple balls out of the park. Of the five home runs hit (four by Louisville and one by MSU), each was hit into the wind which carried the balls over the fence.

If the weather stays put, these gusts will figure to effect the outcome of North Carolina’s battle against Rice at 7 p.m. For one thing, the wind will figure to even the pitching battle from Rice’s favor to a wash. Left-hander Joe Savery has been more consistent throughout the year then UNC right-hander Alex White, but this wind could possibly turn tonight’s game into a traditional college slugfest.

And looking North Carolina’s right-handed power - Chad Flack, Tim Federowicz, Seth Williams and Benji Johnson - the wind might give the Tar Heels a key advantage.

Also check out the sports section of dailytarheel.com for a great slide show from Friday’s game against MSU put together by senior photographer Timothy Reese.
-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - In case you didn’t notice, (but if you’ve been watching ESPN you probably have) North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams has made the trip to Omaha to support the Tar Heels.

This isn’t Williams’ first Omaha experience (he went last year), nor his first time cheering on a sport other than the Tar Heel hoopsters. Last week alone, he was sitting in the stands with USC hoops coach Dave Odom watching UNC take out South Carolina in the super regionals. And last December, he saw the women’s soccer team win the national title.

“For me I love watching our teams play,” Williams said before Friday’s game. “I love supporting the other athletes and the other coaches. You know I went to the women’s soccer finals, and I don’t know beans about soccer, but I love the job that Anson does and I love the way the girls play.”

While he may not know the subtle nuance of the offsides trap or the technique needed for a proper through ball, Williams does understand the game on the diamond.

Williams played baseball as a kid, at some times more than basketball, spending most of his time at shortstop. That love for baseball, plus the charm of Omaha has helped make the College World Series a real treat for Williams.

“This is the most fun sporting event I’ve ever attended,” Williams said. “Out here you don’t see the corporate tents that you see at the final four. You don’t see everybody hustling, trying to get a job, sell tickets, scalp tickets or anything.”

So here Williams is, in Omaha soaking up the sights and cheering on the Tar Heels as they make their push toward a possible national championship. And if you think the cardiac nature bothers him like many fans - you’re wrong.

“I just think they are a bunch of resilient kids,” Williams said. “If you were here last year, and watched that first game against Cal St. Fullerton maybe as good of a baseball game as I’ve ever scene.”

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - For once there was an epic comeback in the NCAA Tournament that didn’t involve North Carolina.

Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium, Rice came back from a 10-4 deficit in the fifth inning to take the first game of the College World Series 15-10.

Led by second baseman Aaron Luna, who had three RBI on two hits, the Owls slugged 19 hits against four Louisville pitchers.

Pitchers for both sides struggled, the two squads combined for 34 hits and five home runs. Rice freshman Ryan Berry had one of his worst outings, lasting just 2.2 innings while giving up five runs on seven hits.

Rice now awaits the winner of tonight UNC-Mississippi State game. Here’s a few things to look for in the Tar Heels’ first game in Omaha.

1. 1-for 13. That’s how North Carolina left-handed hitters fared the last time they faced a southpaw starter. South Carolina’s Arik Hempy kept Reid Fronk, Tim Fedroff, Dustin Ackley and Josh Horton at bay for six innings last Saturday. The Tar Heels will face another lefty tonight in MSU’s Justin Pigott. North Carolina’s ability to get its lefty bats going will decide the game.

2. Struggling Starters.  UNC’s starters had a hard time finding their groove last weekend against South Carolina. Tonight’s starter Robert Woodard gave up six runs in his last outing, and if he struggles to find the zone it could be a long night for the Tar Heels.

3. Something’s gotta give. North Carolina has made a name for itself by coming from behind in four of its five wins in the postseason. On the other hand, the Bulldogs are 32-3 in games where they’ve led or have been tied after the sixth inning. If there’s a team the Tar Heels don’t want to fall behind against - it’s Mississippi State.

-David Ely

OMAHA, NEB. - So far so good from Omaha.

I got in around 9 p.m. last night, which didn’t allow me enough time to really get a feel for the city, but through one day I’d have to give Omaha a solid A.
The city’s clean and the people are friendly. Me and my photographer, Timothy, sat next to a true Omahian on our flight from Chicago, and he seemed really eager to share with us everything about the city. He told us which places had the best steaks, where to go at night, and some of the cooler things to do while we aren’t at the ballpark. One thing I didn’t know was that Omaha had the highest per capita of millionaires in the world. Something to keep in mind for when I graduate.
A couple observations from around Rosenbaltt:

-the best t-shirt I’ve seen was a “Free Paris” shirt some man was wearing. Really original, I bet he’s the only one in the country who’s thought of that.
-There are more shirtless guys in this park than I’ve ever seen in a stadium. I feel like I’ve stumbled into an audition for the Full Monty.

-Some of the fans have been entertaining themselves with beach balls during the game. In between innings one ball fell into left field, but the Cardinal fielder tossed in back into the crowd, to the delight of the fans.

I’ll be back in a a couple hours for a few thoughts on the Louisville-Rice game, and a UNC preview.

-David Ely