COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Arizona Wildcats received their 2011 schedules in January, typed sheets of paper that included dates, times and locations - but no opponents.
Instead, typed 55 times on 55 lines, were two words: "THE GAME."
Of course, some games are more important than others.
The UA will ride its manic May into June today, when it takes on Seton Hall at 10:35 a.m. in the first day of the College Station Regional. The four-day, double-elimination tournament at Olsen Field also features Texas A&M and Wright State; the winner advances to next week's super regionals.
After months of inconsistent play, Arizona (36-19) finally seems to be playing up to its ability. The Wildcats have won 12 of their last 15 games, with all three losses coming by just one run. Last weekend's sweep of Washington vaulted the UA into fourth place in the Pac-10 and earned it a No. 2 seed in the College Station Regional.
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Not that it matters now.
Sitting in the UA team hotel's lobby Thursday night, coach Andy Lopez said simply making the tournament provides no guarantees.
"You play four months, and then 64 teams show up," he said. "These are the types of settings where you can prove who you are as a team and as a university."
They're also the times when players, especially veteran ones, can turn their seasons around with a hot weekend.
Catcher Jett Bandy and right fielder Steve Selsky have both struggled in a season in which they were expected to lead the team offensively.
Bandy is hitting .268, the worst of any UA regular, with just one home run and 35 RBIs.
Selsky has been even less of a factor. Wrist and hamstring injuries have limited him to just 15 mostly ineffective starts. The power-hitting outfielder is hitting just .215 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.
Selsky took batting practice with the team Thursday - "he hit like a madman," Lopez said - but will be relegated to a pinch-hit role until he is healthy enough to run the bases.
A big weekend from either Bandy or Selsky could help boost a UA team sorely in need of veteran leadership and a little pop.
"That would make us an even more dangerous team," designated hitter Josh Garcia said. "People don't understand: (Shortstop) Alex Mejia is our hottest hitter right now, and he's not supposed to be a great hitter."
Luckily, the Wildcats boast enough pitching to hang with almost any team in the nation. Sophomore Kurt Heyer will start today, with junior Kyle Simon scheduled to face either Texas A&M or Wright State on Saturday. The two right-handers are a combined 18-6 this season.
Seton Hall (33-23), the Big East Conference tournament champion, is hitting just .249 as a team this season.
"We're built that way," Seton Hall coach Rob Sheppard said Thursday. "We have to hit as a lineup. There's not one or two guys in our lineup that people will look at and say, 'Hey, we can't let him beat us.'"
The Cats insist they won't be focusing on Seton Hall, anyway.
Just THE GAME, Part 56.
"Coach has been harping on us all year about just taking care of Arizona, just taking care of ourselves," second baseman Bryce Ortega said. "If we do that, we should put ourselves in a good position."
On StarNet: Follow all of Arizona's sports throughout the summer at azstarnet.com/wildcats
College Station Regional Schedule
Today
• Game 1: No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 3 Seton Hall, 10:35 a.m., 1290-AM
• Game 2: No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 4 Wright State, 4:35 p.m.
Saturday
• Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10:35 a.m.
• Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4:35 p.m.
Sunday
• Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 10:35 a.m.
• Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 4:35 p.m.
Monday
• Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, if necessary, 4:35 p.m.
