Earlier this week as Todd Raleigh greeted the media to discuss Tennessee's upcoming baseball season, construction crews barely 20 feet from Raleigh assembled the dugout benches as part of the Volunteers' ongoing renovations to their diamond home.

As workers pieced together the finishing touches, Raleigh spoke of a similar renovation to the UT program. Academic progress has been made in the classroom. Facilities have come more closely on par with those at rival Southeastern Conference powers.

And the long project of tearing down to rebuild? Well, that's what this season is all about. So as Raleigh's third Tennessee baseball team opens its season and a three-game home set against Xavier today at 4 at freshly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium, the ever-candid coach doesn't hold any illusions about what must happen. Tangible progress - wins, losses and postseason viability - must be shown.

"It's important. I think we've done a good job of building the foundation we needed to build. Obviously with that comes the end product, and I think the end product for us is winning some games," said Raleigh, who has compiled a 53-58 mark in his first two seasons at UT. "I think we're poised to do that. I think a lot of people have different ideas of how to do it, but I think what we had to do was go through the right process. And I think we have gone through the proper channels.

"I feel excited about this season. We have a tremendous team. We're more athletic, we're more physical. We're deeper. We're better. Combine that with the way we ended last year, the momentum we had, I feel like we're going to have a great year, I really do."

The Vols, who closed 2009 with a 13-9 ledger and a three-game sweep of rival Vanderbilt, boast the most depth and talent of Raleigh's tenure. On the mound, Bryan Morgado enters the season as the unquestionable ace of the staff. He'll start this afternoon's season opener after returning to school following his selection in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. Left-hander Steven Gruver and right-handed senior Stephen McCray round out the Vols' opening-weekend rotation. Former Farragut standout Matt Ramsey will see most closing opportunities out of the bullpen, but southpaw Will Locante also is a viable option.

"Obviously he's one of the best arms in the country," Raleigh said of the 6-foot-3, 203-pound right-hander Morgado. "He hasn't probably pitched up to what he's capable the last couple of years, but he's turned a corner. He's much more of a pitcher now. He's not such a thrower. Before he wanted to throw the ball 95 mph, but you've got to hit your spots. He's really matured."

Another ex-Farragut star, Rob Catapano, who transferred home from North Carolina, lends depth to the pitching rotation alongside Steve Crnkovich.

In the field and at the plate, the Vols boast a trio of players with national accolades and more speed than perhaps typical of Raleigh's "Gorilla ball" teams. Former South-Doyle and Walters State standout Cody Hawn, a homespun star at first base with prodigious power, is a consensus preseason All-America pick; catcher Blake Forsythe, a first-team All-SEC pick a year ago after posting a .347 average, is considered an unparalleled student of the game; and Vermont transfer Matt Duffy arrives with honorable mention All-America honors prior to that program's demise to man third base.

"I've got really good feelings about this year. This is probably the most talented team I've been a part of at Tennessee," Forsythe said. "Our depth is just tremendous and everywhere on the field is a strong point. In our lineup, we'll have two or three guys sitting on the bench that could step in and do just as well starting. Our pitching staff is going to be led by Bryan Morgado and he's going to anchor down that Friday night job and get us off to a good start on the weekends. The biggest thing this year is that our pitching depth is much better. We've got so many arms, whether we need an inning, two innings or just an out. I really have good hopes for us."

So, too, does Hawn, who last season belted 22 home runs and tallied 81 RBIs as UT rallied to a 27-29 finish after a disastrous start.

"There's no doubt in the world that we have the talent and I think this is one of the best groups we've had here at UT. It's all about putting it together," Hawn said. "We have a bunch of good arms and we can run. This is one of the faster teams we've had. We're also going to hit the long ball a little bit too, which everybody likes. It's all about blending and making it happen. Once we get going, I think we're going to be fine."

Battling to fill out the lineup around that talented trio will be: P.J. Polk, Chris Fritts, Josh Liles, Charlie Thurber and highly-regarded freshman Drew Steckenrider in the outfield; Cody Grisham and Kayann Norfork are vying for everyday rights at second base; sure-handed shortstop Zach Osborne anchors the other half of the middle infield; and another true freshman, Cody Stubbs, is expected to add additional power to the lineup and perhaps afford Hawn the occasional day off at first base.

All in all, it's unquestionably Raleigh's most complete Tennessee team. He doesn't mind fostering expectations. But it's also his most challenging schedule. Xavier appeared in an NCAA Regional last year; next weekend there's a visit to powerful Oregon State. The Vols' first two SEC series next month are against perennial powers LSU and South Carolina.

"I think we're a top 25 team. We're probably not getting a lot of love right now, but you know how preseason rankings work, they just take what you did last year and just insert it. There aren't any changes. I think that's a reasonable expectation. I just don't see many teams as physical as we are and as good defensively as we are," Raleigh said. "I think the question is going to be pitching. I think we have to go out and do that. It's the only unproven thing we have. Although me sitting here, compared to the last couple years, I know from what I've seen the last six months that there is no comparison.

"I think NCAAs are very reasonable. I think making a run at Omaha, in a three-game set, I like our chances. Especially if we can host a regional. That's what we want, is to have a good enough regular season where we can host in our great new facility. I think those are very reasonable. I'd be shocked if we're not an NCAA team. I've had a lot of NCAA teams as a coach. I won 10 championships as a player and a coach, this is a good team. The attitude is right and we're going to have a good year."