Ryan Hendrix warms up for the start of the 2016 season

On the team's excitement to get the season started...

"We are ready to go. Like you said, we have been doing inter-squads this whole spring and I feel like our pitching is going to be really good and our hitters are going to be just as good, as well. I am really excited and the whole team is, too."

On the strength of the bullpen...

"It's really big. We can go to any guy we want. We have about 10 guys so — you can put any guy in the starting rotation, too. I mean, when it comes to the SEC tournament or just SEC play, we are ready and we have a lot of guys to throw out there."

On the impact of having many experienced players returning...

"It's big. A lot of the guys are used to SEC play, so we will be facing some good guys and we are ready for it and it will be fun."

On the team's chemistry...

"A lot, actually. The freshmen are more comfortable and everyone is more comfortable with each other. We just talk about everything that goes wrong and everything that goes good and we just communicate really well, so it has been fun."

On what the focus has been this preseason...

"Same thing — we just don't worry about any preseason polls. We just go out there and do our own thing, so that's all we really focus on."

"I think we have a good shot at coming in first in our division, so it will be fun."