Cougars counting on their experience
After a near miss last season, Todd Whitting believes he has the right roster to get back to the postseason.
Armed with experience and plenty of motivation, the University of Houston opens Friday in search of the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
“Coming into this year I think it’s a veteran team,” said Whitting, who enters his 13th season as head coach. “Since COVID, we’ve been that young, new team. Now we are that team with 21-, 22-, 23year-olds in the lineup.”
The Cougars return seven of nine offensive starters, among them all-conference shortstop Ian McMillian, catcher Anthony Tulimero and third baseman Zach Arnold, from a team that went 37-24 and reached the American Athletic Conference tournament final.
The 18-game improvement in the win column from 19-34 in 2021 matched the biggest turnaround in school history.
UH will feature a new-look pitching staff, though the Cougars return some holdovers: righthander Maddux Miller and lefthanders Jose Torrealba, Kyle LaCalameto and Malachi Lott. Righthander Cade Citelli, a transfer from UT Arlington, will start the opener of a three-game series against California.
What could be the difference this season is a deep bullpen that Whitting said is comparable to the staff that helped lead the Cougars to a super regional in 2014.
“We haven’t had that luxury the last couple of years,” Whitting said.
The Cougars will rely heavily on a lineup that features three of the top players at their positions in college baseball.
Tulimero, who hit a team-high .326 last season, is rated the No. 11 catcher nationally by D1Baseball. McMillan, coming off a 10-homer season, is the No. 19 shortstop. And Arnold, who committed only one error in 56 games, is the No. 47 third baseman.
UH’s everyday lineup also returns utility man Alex Lopez (.302), right fielder Brandon Uhse (.286), second baseman Brandon Burckel (.282) and outfielder Cameron Nickens (.293). Defensively, UH was the second-best fielding team in the nation last season.
“I think last year was an identity year,” McMillan said. “A lot of guys found out who they were. I think that’s led to our confidence this year.”
The Cougars’ biggest offseason loss was the graduation of first baseman Ryan Hernandez, who hit 25 home runs over the past two seasons. But UH picked up a big transfer in utility man Drew Bianco, who played four seasons at LSU.
In an effort to boost RPI, the Cougars will play a tough nonconference schedule that includes home games against Cal, national runner-up Oklahoma (a three-game series March 10-12) and Texas A&M (March 14). The Cougars also play at Minnesota in a three-game series March 17-19.
“We’ve got to get out of the gate early,” Whitting said. “Our RPI is going to be built with our preseason schedule. It’s a little firmer this year than what we’ve had in the past.”
UH’s final AAC season — the school moves to the Big 12 this fall — begins at home March 31 against defending conference champion East Carolina.
“We’ve got to knock the champion off if we are going to be the champ,” Whitting said.
After winning five AAC regular season and tournament titles, the Cougars want to add one more before leaving for the Big 12.
“It’s been a long time coming for this program,” McMillan said. “I think last year was a good way to set the tone for the future and this year. I think we have the pieces to win.”