UH seeks to solidify standing while sitting on NCAA bubble
Six days from now, the University of Houston will learn its postseason fate.
If it’s all the same, coach Todd Whitting would just as soon do away with any suspense.
“Just go take care of business and win the tournament and take (the decision) out of everybody’s hands,” said Whitting, whose Cougars open the American Athletic Conference baseball tournament Tuesday morning against Connecticut in Clearwater, Fla.
Even after a rough final week of the season that included a loss to crosstown rival Rice and a series loss at Central Florida, Houston (32-22) is in position to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament field for the fifth time in the last six years.
An argument for the Cougars could be settled with a strong showing at the AAC tournament, where a pair of high-RPI games await in their half of the doubleelimination bracket. If the Cougars get past UConn (No. 28 in the latest NCAA RPI), a date with regular season champion East Carolina (No. 5 RPI) would likely follow. UH is currently No. 40 in the RPI.
“If we go 2-0 against those teams, we’re a lock,” Whitting said. “(Playing those tough games in our bracket) can do nothing
but help us.”
Whitting said the Cougars’ overall body of work merits inclusion in the 64-team field. UH has top-30 RPI wins over ECU, Texas A&M, Dallas Baptist and UConn. The AAC is the fifth-rated league behind the SEC, Big 12, ACC and Pac-12, according to tracking website WarrenNolan.com.
UH is a No. 3 NCAA seed in the most recent projections by Baseball America and D1Baseball.com.
“I still think we are in the NCAA Tournament,” Whitting said. “If you look at our résumé against the other folks around us in the RPI we have a really strong case. We played a great schedule and beat some great opponents. We’ve gone away from home and won games.
“The strength of our league helps with us being the fifthranked RPI league in the country. It definitely helps the credibility of our league the number of teams we can get in.”
Though next-to-last in the AAC in hitting (.254) for the season, Whitting said UH has turned things around since the start of April. In a 15-13 start, the Cougars hit .233 and averaged 4.6 runs per game. During a 17-9 finish the Cougars hit .275 and averaged 5.6 runs.
“We’ve been streaky with the bats,” Whitting said. “We’ve had the ability to put up a lot of runs and hit for power and score and put a lot of pressure on teams, but
it’s a matter if it shows up on that day for us.
“With our situation, in regard to the NCAA Tournament, all facets of the game have to be there this weekend. The stats, you can throw those things in the trash right now. No stat matters other than this next game.”
Whitting called the pitching staff the “backbone” of the team all season. That was evident Monday, with lefthander Clay Aguilar (6-3, 2.81 ERA) named to the AAC first team, righthander Devon Roedahl (7-2, 3.79 ERA, four saves) tabbed as Newcomer Pitcher of the Year and righthander Fred Villarreal (5-3, 2.20 ERA, 10 saves) selected to the second team. As a team, the Cougars have a 3.70 ERA, second-best in the AAC.
First baseman Joe Davis (17 home runs, 56 RBIs) and third baseman Jared Triolo were second-team picks.
“I think our pitching depth is as good as anybody,” Whitting said. “I think we have more depth than we had last year. I’m a firm believer you have to pitch in this league for sure, but you hit your way through the postseason. You have to get up there and swing the bat and drive in runs.”
UH lost two of three games to UConn to begin AAC play in late March.