HOUSTON COUGARS
Coach: Todd Whitting (208-150-1 in six seasons). Conference: American Athletic. 2016 record: 36-23.
PROJECTED LINEUP
C: Connor Wong 1B: Joe Davis 2B: Jake Scheiner 3B: Jared Triolo SS: Connor Hollis LF: Corey Julks CF: Grayson Padgett RF: Lael Lockhart Jr. DH: Rey Fuentes III SP: LHP Seth Romero, RHP Mitch Ullom, LHP Trey Cumbie RP: LHP John King, RHP Carter Henry
PLAYER TO WATCH Joe Davis, 1B, sophomore: Davis is coming off one of the best freshman campaigns in school history, hitting .331 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. He has been mentioned on several preseason All-America lists and is the AAC preseason player of the year. “I don’t want to go out there and live off last year,” he said. “I want to prove it again.”
THREE KEYS TO SEASON 1 Find a closer: For at least the early part of the season, expect a closer-by-committee with John King and Carter Henry. Fred Villarreal, a freshman righthander, also could get a chance in the role. 2 Set the tone for weekend: Fridays are when teams generally roll out their staff ace, and the Cougars failed to capitalize last season, especially in conference play. UH lost the opener in four of eight series, averaging just two runs and hitting .229 in those games. With projected first-round draft pick Seth Romero on the mound, the Cougars should be tough to beat. 3 Get production across the board: The top four hitters — Corey Julks, Joe Davis, Connor Wong and Conner Hollis — return. Todd Whitting says UH is built to score runs, and some of that responsibility may fall on two junior college transfers — Rey Fuentes and Jake Scheiner — and two frosh — Lael Lockhart and Jared Triolo.
KEY SERIES Vs. Cal State Fullerton, March 3-5; at Baylor, March 10-12; vs. East Carolina, April 7-9.