5:30 p.m. -- This week's schedule

The latest on the rest of the schedule:

Tuesday -- LSU vs. UNO, Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic, Metairie, 7 p.m. (Jumbo/CST)
Thursday -- LSU at Auburn, 6 p.m. (Jumbo/CST)
Friday -- LSU at Auburn, 6 p.m. (Jumbo/CST)
Saturday -- LSU at Auburn, 2 p.m. (no TV)

KEY: Jumbo/CST = Jumbo Sports Network production televised by Cox Sports Television.

Check local listings for affiliates.


The final SEC "weekend"

Remember, games are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the final week of SEC play. The SEC made that change a few years ago for several reasons, including giving teams an extra day between the end of the regular season and the start of the SEC tournament.

That helps teams that have to travel for the final series, giving them more time to get home and regroup before getting on the road again. Coaches also wanted an extra day between the regular season and the start of the tournament so they could adjust their pitching and in some cases give a starter or two more rest before tournament play.

Some coaches will make changes to their pitching order this week to line it up for the SEC tournament, and others are already thinking about their pitching order for the tournament to get their staff lined up the way they want it for regional play.

The SEC tournament starts May 21, the Wednesday after the regular season ends. The championship game is May 25, the day the NCAA will announce the 16 regional sites. Regionals begin May 30.

The SEC Web site, on The Road to Hoover, shows the way the teams would be seeded if the season were over. It's not over, of course, and there's a big logjam in the middle of the pack, but that link gives you some good details and explanations.

The SEC standings

EASTERN DIVISION
Georgia 19-7-1 (.722)
Vanderbilt 15-11 (.577)
Kentucky 14-13 (.519)
Florida 14-13 (.519)
South Carolina 13-14 (.481)
Tennessee 11-16 (.407)

WESTERN DIVISION
LSU 15-11-1 (.574)
Alabama 14-13 (.519)
Ole Miss 14-13 (.519)
Arkansas 13-13 (.500)
Auburn 11-16 (.407)
Mississippi State 7-20 (.259)

FINAL SEC SERIES
(Thursday through Saturday)
Alabama at Georgia
Arkansas at Mississippi State
LSU at Auburn
Vanderbilt at Florida
Ole Miss at Kentucky

Got a comment or question for Carl? E-mail him at cdubois@theadvocate.com.