3 reasons why Nick Mingione's Kentucky could win the College World Series title in 2024

The Kentucky Wildcats have been a surprise team throughout the season. But somehow they have found a way to make it to Omaha for the 2024 College World Series.

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Why the Kentucky Wildcats could win the 2024 College World Series

Their defense steps up when needed

The Kentucky Wildcats have a solid defensive program, as they have a .980 fielding percentage heading into the College World Series.

One major thing that this team has done is play well defensively at the catcher position. The team has not committed a catcher's interference and haa significantly limited the amount of steals against them, as opponents have 29 stolen bases on 39 attempts (74.4% success rate).

With the speed in the Southeastern Conference and the entire sport of college baseball in general, that's significant for the team heading into the double-elimination portion of the College World Series.

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They have a coaching advantage

To even get to this point of the college baseball season, a team needs to have a lot of talent as well as an outstanding coach.

The Kentucky Wildcats have the Perfect Game National Coach of the Year Winner in Nick Mingione. This is the second time in the last eight seasons he has won the award.

While a lot of the credit goes to how the team has played, he's a significant reason why the team secured 22 conference wins and make its first College World Series appearance.

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Wildcats offense carrying the way

To win games, a team needs to score runs and put pressure on the opposing team.

That's what the Kentucky Wildcats have done this season, as the team has a .298 batting average and a .908 team OPS this year. One thing that this lineup has done that's completely underrated is control in the inner half of the plate, as they crowd the plate and take away the inside pitch, as shown by their 115 hit by pitches this season.

The offense could put up some crooked numbers and make it difficult to knock it down.