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.