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Is this the year the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ break through under Lowe?

We’ll get an inkling of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s upside this week at the Big 12 Softball Championship in Oklahoma City. The second-seeded ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ will face No. 7 seed UCF in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. Thursday.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ — ranked 13th nationally and sitting at No. 11 in RPI as of Wednesday afternoon — will be heavily favored. Anything short of an appearance in the title game vs. No. 1 seed Texas Tech would be considered a disappointment.

With the Big 12 Championship, Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament on tap, we spoke to Kenzie Fowler, former UA All-American and current softball analyst for ESPN.

Fowler discussed Devyn Netz’s standout senior season, transfer Sydney Stewart’s impact and how Lowe has shaped the program in Candrea’s wake.

You can hear the full interview on . The excerpts below have been lightly edited.

On paper, this is the best team Caitlin Lowe has had. What do you think about that?

A: “Agreed. I think this is her strongest team. It’s her strongest offense. It’s the first year that they have had a solidified ace in the circle. That has been the question the last couple of seasons. It’s been a pitch-by-committee. I know Hannah Bowen really took the reins in the postseason when ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ made that 2022 Women’s College World Series run. But in terms of the bulk of (it), from February to now May, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ knows that Devyn Netz is their ace. That is where this game starts. It starts in the circle.

“They have the best fielding percentage (in the Big 12). They have the best batting average. So you’re (No. 1) in those respective categories. And then you just look at the depth that she has on the bench. Without a doubt, her best team so far.�

Devyn Netz is having by far her best year as a pitcher. What has made her so much more effective?

A: “To me, it’s mental. I think she’s fearless. I think she does more with less, which is a compliment. She doesn’t throw 73, 74 miles an hour, which is what you’ll see from Ruby Meylan, the ace, All-American for Oklahoma State, (Texas Tech’s) NiJaree Canady, the ace, Pitcher of the Year for the Big 12. They’re throwing mid-70s. Devyn’s not bringing that kind of velocity. She does throw hard, and she has had good movement. But she’s just fearless. She’s gritty. She’s always in attack mode.

“To me, that is because she’s a fifth-year senior. It’s because she was able to sit out all of last season (because of injury) and wait. You have that competitive drive, right? It’s stewing, and you’re like, ‘I want to get on the field.’ And you know that your time is ticking and you have one year to make it count. So she’s feeling good. She’s healthy.

“You have all those things coming together. And, of course, having her hit, I feel like that is such a mental cleanse for a pitcher. It just keeps your mind so free. You’re able to produce for your team in different ways.�

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ has not been built on transfers like some other teams. But the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ do have one position player who’s made a huge impact in catcher Sydney Stewart, who came over from Washington. What has she brought to the mix?

A: “A presence at the plate. Experience. Power. The most important hitters are the two hitters that are hitting in front and behind your best player. Your best player right now is Devyn Netz. Who’s hitting in front of her, and who’s hitting behind her? Well, who’s hitting in front of her is Sydney Stewart. So Sydney Stewart has been getting some pitches this year because people don’t want to be facing Devyn with runners on base.

“When you have somebody that is coming from the old Pac, who was so used to the high-level competition, who was under a phenomenal coach in Heather Tarr, you have that foundation ready to go. And you just plug her into this lineup.

“I didn’t expect her to maybe catch as much as she has this year, because Emily Schepp was amazing last year as a true freshman. (But) you definitely have to have Sydney Stewart’s bat in the lineup. She’s a hitter.

“She just carries herself a little bit different. You can tell that she’s a veteran. You can tell that she has big-time game experience.�

Caitlin Lowe entered into almost an impossible situation. It’s really hard in college sports to follow a legend. Mike Candrea is the godfather of college softball. How do you think she’s handled that whole situation?

A: “I couldn’t think of another person for the job, and I can’t think of anyone that could do it better than she’s done it.

“Even the year where she didn’t have as good a talent, still was able to find a way and get her team to the Women’s College World Series. Obviously, the one blip of missing the tournament in (2023), but then you’re right back to it. You don’t miss a beat. You go to Supers the next year. That is exactly how you follow it up.

“There’s going to be some roster turnover, as coaching changes bring. So it took two years to really mold her team to the way that she wanted it and get her players in. ...

“It’s now to a point where it feels very solid. It feels like the future of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ softball is in as good a place as you could want it to be. All the alums are incredibly happy. That’s what I’m feeling as an alum. I love where my program is at. I think Cait has done a phenomenal job.

“I’ve loved the staff that she’s been able to bring. Having Amber Freeman come in, Lauren Lappin, those are two former Pac-12 Players of the Year (Lappin was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year), All-Americans with not only professional but international experience. And then you add in Coach (Christian) Conrad, who’s done wonders this season with the pitchers. It’s been really fun to watch them work.�

There were a lot of doubts about Caitlin after ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ missed the tournament. She’s bounced back in a big way. Are there certain characteristics that stand out to you about a Caitlin Lowe-coached team?

A: “Teams always reflect their coaches. Being around Caitlin, she’s as consistent as they come. She was a product of Coach Candrea, as most of us were. That was his whole thing: Consistency is key. Come to the office and drop your baggage at the gate, and you come with a certain mentality to the field every single day.

“She is that very business-like, consistent coach. If you have someone that’s a little bit emotional at the top, sometimes that trickles down through the team. You can let your assistants be ... those ones that really rile the team up. A head coach, you have to be the statesman. You have to be the one to set the tone. ‘These are the expectations. I’ve walked the walk. I can talk the talk. I’m not going to get too high, I’m not going to get too low, I’m going to be very matter of fact.’ And she is just like that.

“She was a consistent player. She was one of the best, if not the best, to ever do it at her position. Quality, consistent, simple, which I think is really key for this generation of athletes. You have to really simplify the game. You have to really simplify the noise. If you’re worried about all of the things that are outside of ‘What is our main focus right here between the white lines?’ ... that’s where it can get really tough for these athletes, because there is a lot of noise for the athletes in this generation. So you need someone that can speak to that simplicity.�