The UCLA baseball team lost 41 games last year, but that did not
deter coach John Savage from giving his team the most daunting
schedule in college baseball.
In fact, the difficulties the Bruins faced late in the season a
year ago gave Savage even more reason to schedule difficult
matchups in the non-conference schedule.
“We could play a weak schedule and have a really pretty
(non-conference record,)” Savage said. “But, in terms
of the freshmen, we want to get more experience. We want the new
guys to gain the experience of playing tough games.”
The Bruins’ schedule this year is rated No. 1 in the
country by Boyd’s World, an online baseball statistical
publication. The Bruins are scheduled to play 32 games against
teams that competed in the regional playoffs last year.
With an upcoming three-game series against No. 16 Miami at home,
UCLA begins a stretch that features matchups against Pepperdine,
Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, North Carolina State,
Mississippi, and UNLV in the pre-conference schedule.
The Bruins are essentially faced with the rigors of a playoff
schedule from February until June.
“(Ratings Percentage Index) is important,” Savage
said. “If you play in the Pac-10, your RPI is always going to
be high. But we have a road trip to NC State, for example, that
should create the kind of atmosphere we want our guys to get used
to for the Pac-10 season.”
Last year, the Bruins posted 11 of their 15 total wins in
non-conference play.
This is a fact that hasn’t escaped anyone, as the club
knows that it must grab as many victories as it can before
conference play.
“It’s a great test,” freshman outfielder Tim
Murphy said. “This is how you become the best. The Pac-10 is
one of the toughest leagues in baseball, so we have to face better
competition to prepare for it.”
The schedule, although highly difficult, does not intimidate the
new players on the team. If anything, it makes the Pac-10 schedule
a little easier to swallow.
“It’s not intimidating at all; it’s
exciting,” junior pitcher Tyson Brummett said.
“It’s exciting to match up against these great
teams. I’ve never played in the Pac-10 before; it’s a
big time power conference, but this schedule does make it look a
little easier.”
The Pac-10, which sent three teams to super regionals last year
““ Arizona State, USC, and Oregon State ““ is once again
projected to be one of the strongest conferences in baseball.
The Bruins, who finished last in conference play a year ago and
are predicted to finish eighth out of nine in 2006, will have to
gather a great deal of experience in the non-conference schedule if
they are to compete in the Pac-10.
“The Pac-10 is very strong this year,” Savage said.
“There are several teams that could end up going to (the
College World Series in) Omaha. Oregon State is predicted to win
the league, which gives you an idea of how strong the league
is.
“It’s the best conference in college
baseball.”