39 collegiate starts are a sign of experience.
A first-round draft label is a sign of raw talent.
Both are critical in college baseball.
No. 1 UCLA baseball (5-1) defeated No.

This post was updated Feb. 22 at 9:17 p.m.
Noise.
Nonstop noise.
26-25.
Senior middle blocker Cameron Thorne and sophomore outside hitter Sean Kelly rose to the net for a set-point block against opposite hitter Wojciech Gajek to take the third.

This post was updated Feb. 22 at 9:15 p.m.
4.9 seconds.
94 feet.
Donovan Dent slips by the first defender, splits two more at the free throw line and goes up and under the fourth, throwing the ball up as time expires.

Linear algebra, despite its name, is not straightforward, stumping college students and graduates alike.
In the same vein, even when one’s path to sports stardom looks linear, that does not mean it is without hardship, strife and dedication.

Confidence and composure often define the elite.
No. 11 UCLA softball (10-3) embodied both throughout three wins Thursday and Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, defeating Auburn (11-3) 23-1 in five innings to open the tournament before coming from behind to defeat Nevada (7-7) 6-5 and No.

The Bruins are returning to Westwood for their first home game since suffering back-to-back blowout defeats to then-No. 2 Michigan on Feb. 14 and No. 15 Michigan State on Tuesday – falling by a combined 53 points.

Illinois was not on anyone’s mind, even though the No. 10-ranked team, outside of the AP Poll, is the fourth-best team and top-ranked offensive squad in the country, per KenPom.