FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is among the teams with a chance to host one of 16 regionals in the NCAA Tournament later this month.
Arkansas is No. 18 in the NCAA's Ratings Performance Index, a statistical measurement used prominently in determining postseason seeds and host sites. Series wins the next two weeks would likely propel the Razorbacks into the top 16 of the RPI, which would help their chances of a landing a host spot.
But Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Tuesday that hosting isn't a focus as the team enters its final two series of the regular season. The No. 16 Razorbacks (35-13, 14-9 SEC) host Vanderbilt this weekend before traveling to No. 19 Texas A&M next week.
"I don't really care if we host a regional; I want to get into the tournament," Van Horn said during an interview on the SiriusXM radio show Playbook. "I would love to host a regional, to be honest with you, but we don't focus on that. If we can win enough games and they give us a regional, it's awesome for our fans."
It has been seven years since Arkansas hosted a regional. The Razorbacks have won two home regionals and been eliminated twice at home under Van Horn.
Arkansas' last three trips to the College World Series began away from Baum Stadium, with regional wins at Oklahoma in 2009, Rice in 2012 and Oklahoma State in 2015.
The Razorbacks won super regionals at Florida State in 2009 and Baylor in 2012, and beat Missouri State in a home super regional two years ago when the Bears - a national seed - were unable to host because of a scheduling conflict at their home ballpark that is shared with a minor league team. Those three games against Missouri State drew the three largest crowds in the history of Baum Stadium.
"I think any team and any coach will tell you that sometimes it's easier to go on the road because you just have to go play ball and not worry about a lot of the other things," Van Horn said. "At the same time it's an advantage to play at home when you're playing good and your crowd is into it, and your kids are comfortable.
"If we get to host that's great, but if we don't that not an issue with us."