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If there's a time for change, it's now for Utah baseball.
They bring back "the most experienced team" that coach Bill Kinneberg has led in the Pac-12 years, and with experience comes that mercurial quality of "knowing what it takes to compete."
Of course, Utah hasn't competed the past four seasons, when it comes to Pac-12 play; they've finishing last every year, including 2015's 16-36-1 (7-22-1) campaign. So when the players repeat familiar lines of "taking the next step" and "winning the close ones" they've uttered the past few seasons, there's urgency behind the cliches as the Utes begin their season Friday.
Senior second baseman Kody Davis points to a series the whole team has been chewing on all offseason: a 1-2 series against Arizona State. While the 6-5 win itself was an achievement against a nationally ranked program, the series played at Smith's Ballpark was bookended by extra-innings losses.
"It's so frustrating to lose those close ones," he said. "This year, it's not really an option for us.
It would be meaningful for the Utes just to break out of the basement, or reach double-digit Pac-12 wins this year. If it's going to happen, it might just be this group.
The Utes return starters at every field position, led by Davis, senior Cody Scaggari and junior Dallas Carroll manning the infield. Kinneberg may also play junior college transfer Ellis Kelly in the infield, giving Utah some different options up the middle — including the possibility of Davis playing outfield. Senior Wyler Smith led the Utes in hits (57) last season and returns in the outfield with junior Josh Rose, and freshman DaShawn Keirsey Jr. could add a dose of speed to the unit as well.
Utah looks to replace junior Bret Helton on the mound after he was drafted last summer, and they're expecting big things out of returning starters senior Dalton Carroll and sophomore Jayson Rose, who was a Pac-12 honorable mention last season. Pointing to Utah's 5-8 record last year in one-run games, Carroll sees that as where the Utes can start making the changes they've so long been seeking.
"The biggest thing we've added is experience," Carroll said. "We were pretty young as a staff last year, and now we've seen a lot of the situations, and we're ready to face them."
That doesn't mean newbies won't be influential: Utah's Sunday starter could be returned missionary and former American Fork standout Riley Ottesen. Utah will need something to be different this season after finishing last in ERA (5.17).
Consistency would be a start. Kinneberg said he's seen it in Utah's offseason habits, at the very least.
"This group has been committed, and it's been a really good group to watch and see the difference," he said. "We're going to see how we react to tough situations. Clutch hitting and pitching are huge in this league, and we're going to need it."
The program has handled its share of tough situations the past few seasons. This time, they hope to smooth them out a little bit more.
Twitter: @kylegoon