Memphis coach Daron Schoenrock is one of the more underrated teachers in the game today, but even he is having trouble keeping the Tigers in regional contention.

The Tigers appeared to take a huge step forward back in 2007 when they earned an at-large bid to the Nashville Regional. But everything has been downhill since that point.

Last season, Memphis compiled a 21-32 overall record and had a 7-16 C-USA record. That was good enough for last place.

The Tigers hope to escape the basement in '10 with last season's dismal campaign serving as motivation.

There's good news and bad news, though. The Tigers welcome back six hitters that earned significant playing time in the field last season. However, they finished the '09 campaign with a dismal .272 batting average.

Memphis also welcomes back several pitchers that logged many innings last season. But again, this is a unit that ended last season with a horrible 6.30 ERA. Perhaps new pitching coach Fred Corral can get the staff under control.

There's no question the Tigers have some experience. But it must show on the field.

It's time to dissect Memphis.

Memphis' five keys

1. Use last season as motivation -- It wasn't too long ago the Tigers appeared to take a huge step forward with a trip to an NCAA regional. Now it was just last season that Memphis finished dead last in Conference USA. As tough as it might be to get over last season, the Tigers must use the campaign to their advantage from a motivational standpoint. The Tigers have a plethora of experience and also upgraded their coaching staff with the addition of well-known pitching coach Fred Corral. Now is not the time for the Tigers to get down. Now is the time for them to finish what they started back in '07.

2. Returning starting pitchers must be better -- The Tigers have some experienced starters with the return of Brennon Martin, Brach Davis and Ryan Fraser, but there's no doubt this unit must greatly improve. Martin had the second-best ERA on the staff last season. He compiled a 6-4 record and had a 4.66 ERA in 83 innings. He also struck out 59 and walked 18 and teams hit him at a .289 clip. Davis, meanwhile, went 2-5 and had a 5.71 ERA in 64 2/3 innings. He struck out 53 and walked 23 and teams hit .278 off him. There's also Fraser, who compiled a dismal 7.04 ERA in 47 1/3 innings last season. He struck out 29 and walked 31 and teams hit .316 off him. There's no question this unit must be better.

3. Returning relievers must rise to the occasion -- This should sound like a repeat if you just read our take on the starting rotation. As with the rotation, the Tigers have much work to do in the bullpen. Probably even more than the rotation. The Tigers finished last season with a 6.30 ERA, and the bullpen, for the most part, is to blame. Still, Memphis has a plethora of returning relievers. The list includes Marcus Barnes, Heith Hatfield, Jonathan Jones, Marc Ashley, Ben Paullus and Ryan Holland. Only Barnes, Hatfield and Jones finished last season with ERAs below 5.50. Memphis will be much improved if this unit at least shows some improvement.

4. Offense must improve -- The Tigers welcome back six hitters that earned significant playing time. They also only return two hitters that finished last season with batting averages better than .299. Those players are Drew Martinez and Tyler Huelsing. Martinez batted .309 with 11 doubles and 13 RBIs last season. Huelsing, meanwhile, batted .300 with a home run and 29 RBIs. Other key returnees include Shawn Ablett, Adam McClain, Trey Wiedman and Jacob Wilson. Also keep an eye on Chad Zurcher, Heith Hatfield and Robby Graham. There's no excuse, with the amount of experience this unit has, to finish the '10 season with a .272 batting average.

5. Produce more power -- The Tigers finished last season with a poor batting average and also didn't do much in the way of power production. The Tigers finished last season with just 34 homers as a team. That's pitiful. Leading power hitter Brett Bowen, who hit 10 homers last season, departed this past summer. That puts a lot of pressure on guys like Ablett and McClain to rise to the occasion from a power standpoint. This offense would be infinitely better if power production improves.

Central Florida coach Terry Rooney hopes year two is better than his first.

After experiencing success as an assistant at Notre Dame and LSU, Rooney took the UCF job and knew that a rebuilding process had to be put in place.

In his first season with the program, Rooney guided the Knights to a 22-35 record and a 9-15 mark in Conference USA. That was good enough for an eighth-place finish.

Still, though, Rooney and his coaching staff are recruiting well and the future is bright. How bright will season two be, though?

UCF will enter the spring without at least three key hitters from last year's team. It also must find a way to replace all three weekend starters.

It would be considered an amazing feat if the Knights made a regional in 2010. It would not, however, be a surprise to see the Knights show some improvement.

It's time to dissect UCF.

UCF's five keys

1. Focus on the little things -- The Knights certainly were frustrated with the fact they finished last season with such a bad record and standing in Conference USA. But when you're rebuilding a program, things aren't going to come easy for a few seasons. Instead of worrying about becoming a C-USA contender in just two seasons, the Knights first must focus on just improving in all facets of the game. It starts on the mound, where the Knights finished last season with dismal numbers. UCF needs to set its goals low for now and raise them as it knocks down a few more obstacles.

2. Newcomers and returnees must gel -- Team chemistry can either carry a team the distance or it can cause a team to crumble. The Knights hope it will carry them the distance sooner rather than later. The Knights expect to start several newcomers in the spring, both at the plate and on the mound. How those guys gel with the newcomers and other returning players could determine how much more success they experience in the spring. It'll be interesting to see how the team comes together in year two.

3. Formulate the weekend rotation -- Putting together the weekend rotation is the top priority for the Knights with the departures of starting pitchers Kyle Sweat, Jaager Good and Caleb Graham. The Knights will look to junior college transfers Alex Besaw and Owen Dew to provide an immediate boost. They have a tough chore, though. The Knights ended last season with a 7.47 ERA and the weekend starters were by far their three-best arms. It'll be interesting to see how the rotation pans out in the spring.

4. Bullpen must improve, build depth -- Boy, do the Knights have much work to do in this department in the spring. The Knights had a dismal ERA last season and much of the reason was because of a horrendous bullpen. The Knights had just two relievers that ended last season with ERAs below 6.50. It just so happens that Jordan Rasinski and Cory Weech -- those two pitchers -- are two of few returning relievers. UCF also welcomes back two-way player D.J. Hicks and Bryan Brown. Hicks made 25 appearances last season and had a 6.79 ERA in 51 2/3 innings. Brown, meanwhile, made 21 appearances and had an 8.71 ERA in 41 1/3 innings. This unit must improve for UCF to take a step forward.

5. Reload at the plate -- The Knights have the tough chore of replacing three of their top five hitters, but still should be fine at the plate with the return of several key cogs. The Knights welcome back a talented list that includes Shane Brown, Beau Taylor, D.J. Hicks and Chris Duffy. Brown led the team last season with a .341 batting average, six homers and 44 RBIS. Taylor batted .335 with four homers and 23 RBIs, Hicks batted .301 with eight homers and 32 RBIs and Duffy batted .285 with six homers and 36 RBIs. The Knights also have high hopes for newcomers Darnell Sweeney, Ronnie Richardson and Jonathan Griffin. We'll see if this unit rises to the occasion.

Duke joins a laundry list of teams that are doing something about inadequate facilities.

Area programs such as North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest have made strides in the facilities department the past few seasons.

The Tar Heels built a new stadium on the existing site of Boshamer Stadium, N.C. State did a sparkling renovation of its ballpark a few seasons ago and Wake Forest moves into a good-sized stadium that previously was used by Winston-Salem's Minor League Baseball franchise.

Now Duke is doing something about its situation. The Blue Devils announced Tuesday they will play 18 home games at the 10,000-seat Durham Bulls Athletic Park in 2010. The ballpark serves as home for the Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay's Triple-AAA affiliate.

No details were released about the deal extending past the '10 season, but conventional wisdom suggests it will extend if the deal works out in year one.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to play downtown at the DBAP," said Duke head coach Sean McNally, now in his fifth year as head coach at his alma mater. "We are especially thankful to Jim Goodmon and Dr. Kevin White for their hard work in making this possibility a reality. It should be a great experience and relationship for our players, Duke University, Duke Athletics and the Durham community. We have made great strides as a baseball program over the last four years; this move downtown both recognizes that progress and absolutely helps us in our mission to elevate the program further. Opening Day at the DBAP for Duke Baseball can't come soon enough."

Duke's departure to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park could spell the end to using Jack Coombs Field as its home ballpark. The Blue Devils haven't played a home game away from Coombs field since it was constructed in 1931.

This is an interesting move for the Blue Devils. And a good one, too.

Sure, the Blue Devils are moving away from their 2,000-seat on-campus facility. But going to a great Minor League facility in the heart of their city is a wise decision. Duke doesn't have the athletic budget to build ballparks like North Carolina and N.C. State.

The Devils, in response, are doing the second-best thing.

It may not be the best situation possible, but it's certainly better than sitting back and letting your opponents build cathedrals while you do nothing.

Other programs that share minor league facilities include Penn State, Utah, New Mexico, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Nebraska and The Citadel.

Southern Mississippi picked a perfect time to make a trip to the College World Series.

The Golden Eagles had never accomplished the goal before last season. But in Corky Palmer's final campaign as coach, they got red-hot down the stretch, defeated Georgia Tech and Florida in the first two rounds of the NCAA postseason and made it to Omaha.

What an amazing '09 campaign the Golden Eagles had.

Now they hope to build off the trip to Omaha.

The Eagles have several talented hitters and pitchers to replace, but still return some key cogs in both areas.

Kameron Brunty and Joey Archer are the top returning hitters. All-American candidate Todd McInnis will spearhead the pitching staff entering the spring.

USM can make much more noise if the offense rises to the occasion and the weekend rotation is adequate after McInnis.

It's time to dissect the Golden Eagles.

Southern Miss' five keys

1. Get some swagger after last season -- The Golden Eagles didn't put together a particularly impressive regular season campaign last season, but rose to the occasion and played exceptionally well the most important time of the season. That was a first for the Eagles. With a trip to Omaha under their belts, the Eagles now hope to establish some consistency when it comes to postseason success. It starts with developing some swagger and an attitude of an elite team. The Eagles certainly have some tough holes to fill in the spring, but swagger and attitude could help them rebuild sooner rather than later.

2. Find a way to replace key hitters -- The Eagles welcome back some solid hitters in the spring, but must find a way to replace four of their top five sluggers. The list of departures includes Bo Davis, Corey Stevens, James Ewing and Brian Dozier. Davis led the team last season with a .359 batting average, 14 homers and 53 RBIs. Stevens batted .320 with eight homers and 60 RBIs, Ewing batted .308 with four homers and 43 RBIs and Dozier was a big-time leader and hitter, batting .391 with 13 doubles, four homers and 39 RBIs. The Eagles will have a tough time replacing this quartet, but it can be done. USM is in business if it can move forward without them.

3. Offense must rise to the occasion -- The Eagles have some work to do on the mound, and that means the offense must rise to the occasion. Though USM is without a talented group of hitters, the silver lining is it returns several seasoned bats. The list of returnees includes Kameron Brunty, Joey Archer, Taylor Walker, Tyler Koelling, Adam Doleac and BA Vollmuth. Brunty batted .336 with seven homers and 53 RBIs last season, Archer batted .306 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs, Walker batted .305 with three homers and 29 RBIs, Koelling batted .269 with two homers and 27 RBIs, Doleac batted .333 in limited action and Vollmuth batted .237 with eight homers and 28 RBIs. This group has the potential to be solid in the spring.

4. Figure out the weekend rotation -- The Eagles will have one of the nation's best ace pitchers in redshirt junior right-hander Todd McInnis, but the rest of the weekend rotation isn't set. McInnis started 18 games last season and had a 3.73 ERA in 101 1/3 innings. He struck out 90 and walked 34 and limited opposing teams to a .253 batting average. Jeff Stanley and Scott Copeland also could be in the weekend rotation. Stanley made six starts last season and had a 4.23 ERA in 44 2/3 innings. He struck out 24 and walked 21 and teams hit .276 off him. Copeland, meanwhile, is a guy the Golden Eagles need to step up in the spring. He compiled an unimpressive 6.41 ERA in 39 1/3 innings. He also struck out 22 and walked 17 and teams hit .324 off him. Also keep an eye on newcomers Mandella Mingo and Ryan MacNamara, who each made statements this fall.

5. Build more quality bullpen depth -- It'll be interesting to see how the USM bullpen fairs in the spring. The Eagles welcome back top reliever Collin Cargill, but don't exactly have a bullpen littered with excellent arms. Cargill made 28 appearances last season and had a 3.55 ERA in 38 innings. He also struck out 32 and walked 22 and limited teams to a .230 batting average. Other returnees include Cody Schlagel, Seth Hester and of course, Stanley and Copeland also could be in the mix as relievers. Schlagel is a guy coach Scott Berry pointed to that needs to step up. He made 26 appearances last season and had a 5.37 ERA in 52 innings. He also struck out 45 and walked 28 and limited teams to a .276 batting average. Hester, meanwhile, made 13 appearances in '09 and had a 7.12 ERA in 36 2/3 innings. He only struck out 18 batters and teams hit .318 off him. As with the weekend starters, Mingo and MacNamara also could factor into the equation.

San Diego State had been one of the most criticized programs of the decade for its inability to reach an NCAA regional. But the Aztecs silenced the doubters last season.

With ace right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg leading the way, the Aztecs put together a solid regular season campaign and finally tripped to a regional. It so happened to be the Irvine Regional, which was the nation's toughest, too.

With last season serving as a rallying point for coach Tony Gwynn and his program, the Aztecs now must also find a way to move on without Strasburg.

Accomplishing that goal won't be easy.

In addition to Strasburg's departure, the Aztecs also must find a way to replace fellow weekend starter Tyler Lavigne in addition to other often-used pitchers.

SDSU's offense, though, is in fine shape with the return of four hitters that finished last season with batting averages better than .300.

The Aztecs can return to a regional if the pitching staff rises to the occasion. It'll be very interesting to see what type of job new pitching coach Eric Valenzuela does without most key pitchers from last year's club.

It's time to dissect the Aztecs.

San Diego State's five keys

1. Use last season as a springboard -- The Aztecs haven't had too many reasons to feel confident the last five seasons, but everything should change after last season. No longer will SDSU feel like it can't make a regional. The Aztecs certainly have a plethora of holes to fill in the spring, but attitude and swagger shouldn't be underestimated. SDSU has gotten the biggest monkey off its back. Now it's time to establish some consistency. Can the Aztecs take another step forward in 2010? It won't be easy, but it's possible.

2. Move on without Stephen Strasburg -- Yeah, accomplishing this goal will be a little difficult. It might even be impossible. Some would say Strasburg was the best pitcher in college baseball history. Now the Aztecs must find a way to replace the hard-throwing right-hander. Strasburg had a magical '09 campaign. He compiled a 13-1 record and had a 1.32 ERA in 109 innings. He also struck out 195 and walked 19 and limited opposing teams to an amazing .172 batting average. Strasburg also signed with the Nationals as the first pick of the MLB draft this past summer. SDSU definitely will miss the righty.

3. Formulate the weekend rotation -- Strasburg's departure this past summer only was the tip of the iceberg for the Aztecs. They also must find a way to replace another weekend starter, Tyler Lavigne. Lavigne compiled solid numbers last season. He was 8-2 and had a 3.05 ERA in 94 1/3 innings. He also struck out 87 and walked 28 and limited teams to a .209 batting average. The Aztecs also lost Jon Berger to the draft. Berger had a 5.83 ERA in 88 innings last season. Without Strasburg, Lavigne and Berger, the Aztecs desperately need right-hander Ryan O'Sullivan to have a huge spring. O'Sullivan didn't have an impressive '09 campaign. He compiled a 6.79 ERA in 55 2/3 innings. He struck out 28 and walked 11 and teams hit .346 off him. The coaches are excited about the way O'Sullivan performed this fall, but he obviously has a tough hill to climb.

4. Establish more bullpen depth -- The Aztecs need a huge campaign from the bullpen with the weekend rotation in rebuilding mode. The bullpen itself, though, has much work to do between now and the spring. The Aztecs welcome back stud reliever Addison Reed, but don't have many front-line relievers returning. Reed made 25 appearances last season and had a 0.65 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. He recorded 20 saves, struck out 38 and walked seven. He also held opposing teams to a .200 batting average. Other returning relievers include Craig Rasmussen, Kegan Sharp and Andrew Leary. Rasmussen had a 4.05 ERA in 26 2/3 innings last season, Sharp made 19 appearances and had a 5.16 ERA in 34 1/3 innings and Leary had a 5.50 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. This unit will be OK if every returning reliever rises to the occasion. But this group definitely needs more quality depth.

5. Offense needs to meet expectations -- The Aztecs have the tough chore of replacing leading hitter Erik Castro, but otherwise are in solid shape at the plate with the return of several key cogs. The Aztecs finished last season with a .291 batting average and welcome back 10 hitters that earned significant playing time last season. That's a good starting point. The top returning hitters include Cory Vaughn, Mitch Blackburn, Brandon Meredith and Pat Colwell. Vaughn batted .328 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs last season, Blackburn batted .312 with 12 doubles and 34 RBIs, Meredith had a huge fall and batted .309 with seven homers and 44 RBIs in '09 and Colwell batted .300 with seven doubles and 15 RBIs. There's no reason the offense shouldn't be solid in the spring.

Jim Schlossnagle guided TCU to new heights many seasons ago. But last season, the Horned Frogs' coach raised the bar even more.

He directed his team to an NCAA super regional.

The Horned Frogs took care of Oregon State in the Forth Worth Regional before falling short of a College World Series berth with a tough three-game series loss to Texas.

Now the Frogs hope to take the next step in 2010 with a trip to Omaha.

They have the pitching to get the job done with the return of all three weekend starters and a talented crop of relievers. The Frogs also have left-handed pitcher Matt Purke as part of their arsenal of arms.

The Frogs welcome back a few key hitters, but certainly will miss their top three hitters from last season. Offense definitely is a concern with the season just a couple of months away.

TCU could be outstanding if the offense rises to the occasion.

It's time to dissect the Horned Frogs.

TCU's five keys

1. Move on without the Big Three at the plate -- The Horned Frogs have the tough chore of replacing leading hitters Matt Vern, Matt Carpenter and Chris Ellington. All three signed professional contracts this past summer and must be replaced in the spring. Vern finished last season with a .360 batting average, 17 homers and 54 RBIs. Carpenter, meanwhile, was one of the nation's best third basemen and batted .333 with 23 doubles, six triples, 11 homers and 47 RBIs. Ellington batted .331 with 21 doubles, two triples, six homers and 52 RBIs. It'll be interesting to see which hitters rise to the occasion and replace the Big Three. The Horned Frogs are in business if that happens.

2. Get big campaigns from top four returning hitters -- The Horned Frogs need several hitters to rise to the occasion in the spring with the departures of Vern, Carpenter and Ellington. The list includes Taylor Featherston, Jason Coats, Matt Curry and Bryan Holaday. Featherston batted .322 with five homers and 28 RBIs last season. Coats batted .316 with six homers and 32 RBIs, Curry batted .315 with three homers and 31 RBIs and Holaday batted .300 with 10 doubles, 10 homers and 48 RBIs. It's critical for the foursome to emulate or best last season's offensive numbers. Can they do it?

3. Set the weekend rotation -- The Frogs have an issue that most teams wish they had -- they have too many talented arms in the mix for a weekend starting job. The Frogs welcome back starting pitchers Paul Gerrish, Kyle Winkler and Tyler Lockwood. Now the Frogs have the luxury of throwing former first-round pick Matt Purke in the mix. Gerrish went 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA in 61 innings last season. He also struck out 59 and walked 16 and limited teams to a .261 batting average. Winkler compiled a 4.15 ERA in 73 2/3 innings. He struck out 48 and walked 35 and teams hit him at a .262 clip. Lockwood, meanwhile, had a 4.71 ERA in 70 2/3 innings. He struck out 44 and walked 18 and limited teams to a .281 batting average. There's also Purke, who has excellent stuff and will be in the rotation at some point in this spring. This should be a very solid unit.

4. Bullpen needs to meet expectations -- The Horned Frogs must find a way to replace Taylor Cragin, who compiled a 2.50 ERA in 57 2/3 innings last season. But otherwise, the Frogs are in fantastic shape with the return of several talented relievers. The Frogs welcome back Greg Holle, Steven Maxwell, Eric Marshall, Trent Appleby, Erik Miller and Kaleb Merck. Holle could be used as a reliever or starter and finished last season with a 3.89 ERA in 41 2/3 innings, Maxwell is a reliever and starter and compiled a 6.10 ERA in 38 1/3 innings, Marshall made 24 appearances and had a 1.48 ERA in 30 1/3 innings, Appleby made 24 appearances and had a 3.61 ERA in 57 1/3 innings, Miller appeared in 22 games and had a 4.50 ERA in 26 innings and Merck made 17 appearances and had a 5.94 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. There's no reason this shouldn't be an elite group.

5. Embrace higher expectations -- TCU has had a solid program since Schlossnagle stepped foot in Fort Worth, Texas. But the program entered a new dimension when it reached an NCAA super regional last season. The Frogs now are a name on the national stage and must play like a team with extremely high expectations. There are some teams that can't seem to handle high expectations. There also are those that embrace them. TCU needs to be one of the teams that embraces them. Will that happen, though?

1. Alex Wimmers needs to be Alex Wimmers -- This key may sound like common sense or even be strange to some people, but there have been plenty of times in the past when a pitcher expected to throw exceptionally well cratered the next season. Wimmers can't do that if the Buckeyes plan on reaching the College World Series. As a sophomore last season, he had a 9-2 record and compiled a 3.27 ERA in 104 2/3 innings. He also struck out 136 and walked 55 and limited opposing teams to a .211 clip. Wimmers will be a preseason All-American and will have much pressure to succeed. It'll be interesting to see how the talented pitcher handles the spotlight.

2. Rest of the weekend rotation needs to be much better -- Wimmers is Ohio State's bell cow and one of the nation's best, but the same can't be said for the rest of the Buckeyes' weekend rotation. Eric Best was good at times last season. But another starter, Dean Wolosiansky compiled rather unimpressive numbers. Best started 13 games last season and had a 5.95 ERA in 75 2/3 innings. He also struck out 55 and walked 34 and limited opposing teams to a .315 batting average. Wolosiansky, meanwhile, started 16 games and had a 6.04 ERA in 92 1/3 innings. He struck out 55 and walked 34 and teams hit him at an incredibly high .330 clip. There's no question this unit must improve if Ohio State is to make a trip to Omaha next June.

3. Build more quality bullpen depth -- The bullpen is OSU's only major of concern with the season a couple months away. The Buckeyes finished last season with a 6.39 ERA and the bullpen is to blame for much of that calculation. Drew Rucinski is the top returning reliever. Joining him are Ross Oltorik, Andrew Armstrong and Jared Strayer. Rucinski made 36 appearances last season and had a 5.54 ERA in 74 2/3 innings, Oltorik made 11 appearances and had a 9.58 ERA in 31 innings, Armstrong made 11 appearances and had an 11.51 ERA and Strayer made 20 appearances and had a 10.55 ERA in 29 innings. We can't stress enough how much better this unit must be in the spring, both from a production and quality depth standpoint.

4. Offense needs to meet expectations -- This certainly will be the Buckeyes' strength in the spring. The Buckeyes had one of the nation's youngest offensive lineups last season and still managed to finish the campaign with a .328 batting average. The Bucks welcome back five hitters that finished '09 with batting averages better than .340. The list includes Ryan Dew, Dan Burkhart, Zach Hurley, Michael Stephens and Cory Kovanda. Dew led the team in hitting with a .388 batting average. Burkhart and Stephens, meanwhile, are the team's leading power hitters. It wouldn't surprise me if the Buckeyes finish the '10 season with a batting average equal to or better than .328.

5. Embrace the high expectations -- There have been times in the past when teams with incredibly high expectations folded like a cheap tent once the season began. Ohio State definitely hopes to avoid that fate. Ohio State hasn't been to Omaha in 42 years and would love nothing more than to end that hiatus in the spring. Accomplishing that goal will be a long and potentially rugged road with every team on the schedule gunning for them. Still, this is a team that gained a lot of experience by reaching the Tallahassee Regional final last season. There's no need for the Buckeyes to get overwhelmed by the high expectations. They need to embrace the publicity.

When Brian Shoop left Birmingham Southern for UAB, he dreamt of guiding the Blazers to an NCAA regional.

Perhaps his wish isn't too far from becoming reality.

There's no question the Blazers still have much work to do to join the regional discussion, but the program at least is heading the right direction.

UAB took a step forward last season by finishing the campaign with a 31-26 record. It still has work to do in Conference USA, however, after ending league play with an 11-12 mark.

The good news is hope is alive and well in Birmingham, Ala.

The Blazers welcome back several key hitters from last year's team, so offense isn't much of a concern. The pitching staff welcomes back a few seasoned arms, but this unit must improve and become much more consistent.

It's time to dissect the Blazers.

UAB's five keys

1. Keep making progress -- The Blazers have come a long way in the last year. Two seasons ago, UAB finished the season with a 26-34 record and were near the bottom of the league standings. Last season, though, UAB made a huge push forward and finished sixth. It also compiled a respectable overall record. UAB has made major strides in the talent, attitude and production department. Now it's all about continuing to improve and consistently putting all the pieces together. We'll see if Shoop and his staff can get it done.

2. Starting pitching must be better -- The Blazers return a pair of weekend starters in Shay Crawford and Kyle Roberson. They also lost a weekend starter in Beau Pender. But his loss shouldn't hurt them after he finished last season with a 6.16 ERA in 61 1/3 innings. Crawford and Roberson must be much better in the spring. Crawford was the staff ace last season and had a 5.14 ERA in 77 innings. He also struck out 71 and walked 36 and held opposing teams to a .283 batting average. Roberson, meanwhile, had a 5.69 ERA in 80 2/3 innings and teams hit .296 off him. The Blazers could take a huge step forward if the starting pitching improves.

3. Bullpen must rise to the occasion -- The Blazers finished last season with a rather unimpressive 5.91 ERA. You can put the blame on the bullpen. UAB had one often-used reliever -- Mark McKinley -- that finished last season with an ERA lower than 5.00. That's not good news if you're a team hoping to make another huge push in the spring. McKinley made 17 appearances last season and had a 4.12 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. Other returning relievers include Blake Huddleston, Nick Graffeo, Tristan Farrell, Colin McMurry and Trey Vice. Huddleston made 19 appearances last season and had a 5.37 ERA in 55 1/3 innings, Graffeo had a 5.88 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, Farrell had a 6.00 ERA in 51 innings, McMurry had a 6.16 ERA in 30 2/3 innings and Vice had an 8.03 ERA in 12 1/3 innings. We'll see if this unit is ready to elevate its game.

4. Emulate last season's production at the plate -- There's no reason why UAB can't emulate last season's offensive production. They finished last season with a solid .305 batting average. Sure, the Blazers must find a way to replace key hitters Brint Hardy and Cody McMurry. But they also welcome back several key hitters, including Digger Towe, Andrew Manning, Jonathan Merritt and Jamal Austin. Towe batted .353 with nine homers and 61 RBIs last season, Manning batted .318 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs, Merritt batted .317 with a pair of homers and 30 RBIs and Austin batted .297 with 20 stolen bases. The Blazers also have high hopes for Nick Crawford and power hitter Luke Stewart. This UAB lineup has some consistent hitters nestled with some power hitters. That usually is a good recipe for success.

5. Improve defensively -- Besides the bullpen, the other area of major concern is team defense. The Blazers finished last season with a .957 fielding percentage, which was good enough for 197th in the nation. That is unacceptable. If the Blazers want to take a step forward and be a regional contender, its defense must improve. It'll be interesting to see how many strides the team can make in this category in a matter of a few months.

Houston will be determined more than ever to get off to a fast start in 2010.

The Cougars compiled a respectable 13-11 record in Conference USA last season. That was good enough to tie Tulane for third place.

What kept the Cougars from making an NCAA regional, though, was their dismal 27-31 overall record.

Houston played much better down the stretch last season, but began the campaign on the worst note possible. At one point the Cougars lost eight consecutive contests.

With last season now a distant memory, the Cougars hope to avenge last season's struggles with a campaign that will put them back in the national spotlight.

UH has a couple key pitchers to replace in Wes Musick and Donnie Joseph, but welcomes back a pair of weekend starters and almost every key hitter from the '09 team. Pitching is somewhat of a question mark. Offense, though, will be a strength.

The Cougars can make a huge statement if their bullpen surpasses expectations.

It's time to dissect the Cougars.

Houston's five keys

1. Use last season as motivation -- The Cougars don't have anyone else but themselves to blame for not making an NCAA regional last season. However, they can use last season as a strong source of motivation. The Cougars entered the campaign with high hopes, but got off to a horrid start and weren't able to recover for several weeks. In the upcoming season, you can bet the Cougars will make getting off to a fast start a top priority. I expect Houston to be one of the more dialed in teams in Conference USA.

2. Figure out the final spot in the weekend rotation -- The Cougars welcome back weekend starters Michael Goodnight and Jared Ray in the spring, but must find a way to replace talented left-hander Wes Musick. Goodnight compiled a 4.43 ERA in 65 innings last season. He also struck out 58 and walked 31 and limited teams to a .278 batting average. Ray, meanwhile, started eight games and had a 5.34 ERA in 62 1/3 innings. He also struck out 52 and walked 26 and limited teams to a .279 clip. The Cougars have some options in terms of starters with the return of Ty Stuckey and Mo Wiley, but perhaps they'll take a look at William Kankel or Barry Laird in the role, too. A wild card for the final spot is Taylor Hammack. Hammack missed last season with an injury, but really surprised the coaching staff with an incredibly strong fall.

3. Better bullpen, more depth -- The Cougars had one of the conference's best relievers last season in Donnie Joseph, but he has since signed a professional contract. That leaves the Cougars with a huge void to fill. Joseph was Mr. Consistent for UH. Now the Cougars must lean on William Kankel and Chase Dempsay to spearhead the bullpen. Kankel made 14 appearances last season and had a 4.82 ERA in 28 innings. Dempsay, meanwhile, had a stellar freshman campaign before taking a step back last season. He made 22 appearances and had a 5.00 ERA in 45 innings. He also struck out 39 and walked 18 and limited teams to a .279 batting average. Also keep an eye on Barry Laird, Ty Stuckey and Mo Wiley. All three must be much better. Laird had a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings, Stuckey had a 7.01 ERA in 25 2/3 innings and Wiley had a 6.55 ERA in 44 innings. UH could be a legitimate super regional contender with a strong bullpen.

4. Sort out the offense -- The Cougars have a problem most teams wish they had -- there are too many quality players with only nine spots in the lineup. The Cougars only return a couple hitters that approach elite status, but have a solid group of good hitters. Blake Kelso and Caleb Ramsey are back after compiling batting averages of .335 and .332, respectively, last season. UH also welcomes back Zak Presley, who finished last season with a .301 average and 17 stolen bases. Other quality returnees include Taylor White, William Kankel, Chase Dempsay, Chris Wallace, David Murphy and Ty Stuckey. Also keep an eye on newcomers Ryan Still, Austin Gracey and Matt Creel. This unit is expected to hit well over .282 in the spring.

5. Find more power -- This is the area where the Cougars expect the most contributions from their newcomers. Houston finished last season with just 25 homers. That was good enough for 259th in the country. Chris Wallace, who was injured for much of last season, returns after hitting nine homers last season. Caleb Ramsey finished second on the team in homers with four. There's no question this aspect of the offense must improve if the Cougars plan to take a step forward in the spring.

When Selection Monday arrived this past May, Tulane coach Rick Jones fully expected to see his team's name scroll across the screen as a regional participant.

That never happened.

The Green Wave finished in a tie for third in Conference USA and also compiled a 34-25 record. The Wave, though, had a less than stellar RPI and that cost them dearly in the eyes of the NCAA Selection Committee.

Now the Green Wave moves forward with a source of extra motivation.

Tulane should have a solid pitching staff with the return of a pair of weekend starters in addition to Robby Broach, who missed last season with an injury.

Offensively, the Green Wave has a few questions to answer. Jeremy Schaffer and Nick Boullosa are solid returnees, as is Rob Segedin who had a great campaign two seasons ago before an injury sidelined him for much of last season. But overall, the Green Wave expect to have one of the youngest lineups in the conference.

This could be a special team if the offense rises to the occasion.

It's time to dissect the Green Wave.

Tulane's five keys

1. Use last season as motivation -- The Green Wave knows they didn't put together the best possible resume to make the postseason last season, but it doesn't diminish the fact they might've deserved to be in a regional for their conference finish. Instead of staying angry about the regional snub, it's time for Tulane to channel that into motivation and hard work for the upcoming season. A hard-nosed attitude can take a team a long way and perhaps the snub will serve as a rallying point for a program some believe may be declining. It'll be interesting to see how Tulane responds in a few months.

2. Get big-time campaigns from Jeremy Schaffer and Rob Segedin -- The Green Wave will enter the spring without five key hitters from last season's team, including Josh Prince, Sam Honeck and Scott Powell, who each finished the campaign with batting averages better than .300. In turn, the Green Wave needs Schaffer and Segedin to meet high expectations. Schaffer batted .311 with eight doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 56 RBIs last season. Segedin, meanwhile, missed much of last season with an injury. But two seasons ago, Segedin batted .322 with 18 doubles, six homers and 59 RBIs. Tulane could be much better at the plate if the dynamic duo meets expectations.

3. Figure out the rest of the offense -- There's no question offense is the biggest concern as the Green Wave prepares for the spring. In addition to Schaffer and Segedin needing to have big campaigns, Tulane also is looking for others to rise to the occasion. Nick Boullosa is another solid returnee. He batted .298 with 10 doubles and 15 RBIs last season. He also was 22-of-30 in stolen bases. Also keep a close eye on freshman shortstop Garrett Cannizaro. Cannizaro had a very strong fall and is a guy Jones and the rest of the coaching staff are excited about. The Green Wave expect to have three or four more freshmen in the lineup before spring arrives. Much of Tulane's success hings on the success of the offense. We'll see if they surprise everyone.

4. Weekend rotation needs to meet expectations -- The Green Wave has a hole to fill with the departure of Josh Zeid, but otherwise is in great shape with the return of starting pitchers Conrad Flynn and Matt Petiton. Flynn started 14 games last season and had a 3.93 ERA in 87 innings. He also struck out 58 and walked seven and held opposing teams to a .267 batting average. Petiton, meanwhile, started 10 games and had a 5.13 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. He struck out 45 and walked 23 and held teams to a .280 batting average. Also keep an eye on Robby Broach, who missed last season but had an impressive fall. Two seasons ago, Broach started 10 games and had a 5.15 ERA in 57 2/3 innings. Teams hit him at a .299 clip.

5. Build more bullpen depth -- The Green Wave welcomes back some talented relievers, but they also have some tough relievers to replace. The list includes Mason Griffin, Taylor Rogers, Aaron Loup and Jonathan Garrett. Those departures put much pressure on Nick Petiton, Ryan Doiron and Preston Claiborne. Petiton made 22 appearances last season and had a 3.26 ERA in 38 2/3 innings. He struck out 42 and walked 16 and held opposing teams to a .250 batting average. Doiron made 20 appearances and had a 4.85 ERA in 29 2/3 innings and Claiborne made 16 appearances and had a 5.67 ERA in 27 innings. Look for freshmen pitchers Kyle McKenzie and Alex Byo to factor into the equation as well. Both could start or relieve. This unit needs more depth, but still should be solid.