Baseball: Big Ten Tourney Bracket Released
Presenting the Big Ten Tourney Bracket (view the image to embiggen):
Michigan will face the highest seed that wins from Wednesday's game. So, if seeds meant anything in such an evenly matched conference, if the two top seeds win, Michigan would face NU and Minnesota would face Iowa. But if NU were to lose to Indiana, but Iowa still wins, Michigan would face Iowa and Minnesota would face the Hoosiers. Hope that all makes sense.
Yes, that is no Ohio State playing at home in the field. Crowds may be miniscule for this one. NU and Iowa aren't known for fans traveling well, although Northwestern did have a few more at Michigan than expected. Not sure what to expect from Purdue, but I also imagine not many.
Indiana should see a good contingent up from Bloomington, and Minnesota normally has a good fan base. The question for Minnesota is the travel time. The Gopher team is actually staying in Columbus and not returning home. They just wrapped up a series there and it wasn't worth busing them back and forth.
I like baseball
Puts the biggest smile on my face :)
No OSU in Columbus is even better.
MSU had the tourney berth in the bag, but then gave up a 3-run homer to Snieder of Northwestern with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th to not make the tourney in your typical SPARTY, NO! moment.
He's an awesome coach... but with that being said... that is amazing!
Michigan has a really good shot at this thing!
I miss those "SPARTY, NO!" moments, we need more of them. Central's comeback was a pretty good one though.
do all big ten teams have a baseball program? only 6 teams making it seems odd
all but WISC
Wisconsin cut their program in the early 90s due to budgetary needs. It's not uncommon for teams a bit north not to have teams. Even the Big 12, a power baseball conference, doesn't have all 12 schools with baseball programs (Colorado and Iowa State are without).
So I guess this is a neutral site event after all.
FA, how many wins would we have needed to get an at-large bid? I'm still new to the game of college baseball and I'm trying to figure it all out...it's tough given the lack of coverage. I've heard 40+ being thrown around as a benchmark for at-large status, is that accurate?
With that said, I really like our chances. The Big Ten isn't exactly a juggernaut...here's to a Big Ten championship and a manageable regional!
I'm not FA, but it appears from the historical results over the last 6 or so years that the answer is 38. All Big Ten teams with 38 or more wins have received at large bids, no Big Ten teams with 37 or fewer wins have received at large bids. Also, the cutoff (in terms of winning percentage) is .667.
Since 2003:
41 wins--Michigan '05 (RPI #50)--IN
40 wins--Minnesota '07 (RPI #53)--IN, Ohio State '09 (RPI #36)--IN
39 wins--Minnesota '03 (RPI #31)--IN, Michigan '07 (RPI #45)--IN
38 wins--Minnesota '09 (RPI #24)--IN
37 wins--Ohio State '06 (RPI #99)--OUT
36 wins--Ohio State '04 (RPI #76)--OUT
34 wins--Michigan '04 (RPI #95)--OUT, Minnesota '06 (RPI #88)--OUT, Illinois '09 (RPI #70)--OUT
So...
(1) All six of the Big Ten's at large bids over the past seven years have been for teams who win over 38 games. Nobody with more has been excluded, nobody with less has been included.
(2) All six of the Big Ten's at large bids over the past seven years have been for teams who have a winning percentage over .667. Nobody better has been excluded, nobody worse has been included.
(3) All six of the Big Ten's at large bids over the past seven years have been for teams with RPI of 53 or better. Nobody higher has been excluded, nobody worse has been included.
Right now, with a 33-20 record and an RPI of #69, Michigan's only hope seems to be a tournament championship. The best they could do without winning the tournament is 37-22 (losing Thursday, winning 2 on Friday and 2 on Saturday and losing Sunday).
The BT will be a one bid conference this year. Even Minnesota, the conference leader, will not get an at large. Their RPI is an abysmal 130+. Ironically, behind Michigan's lead in RPI, are OSU and MSU, who aren't even in the BT tourny.
Everything said above.
I'm not sure 38 would have got us in this year either. Normally, the Big Ten isn't this weak. Perhaps if the additional wins would have come over UNC/Coastal, Michigan might be in business. If they'd won one or two more games in Big Ten play, maybe not. With Minnesota and Northwestern started the season so poorly and the teams that started so well tanked.
I've seen and agree with the projection that the BT winner will "stay north", to help out attendence at a northern host. I.E. Pack your bags for UConn.
I'm not sure if I'd rather have UCONN or Louisville, and I don't just mean that from a Michigan perspective, but a whole Big Ten. Both teams are damn good despite not being in power conferences. I'm not sure any Big Ten team has what it takes to win a regional. It would take the perfect matchup.
I don't think the Huskies will be the top seed in theirs. They earned a host, but I think they'll be a 2 seed, with a SEC or ACC "almost host" going on the road as the 1 seed. UConn's going to be a tough regional, and I'd bet anything the BT winner will be the 4 seed.
L'ville will be top dog in theirs.
Go to Louisville than Storrs, from a traveler's point of view.
Technically, I believe it'd be Norwich, but it doesn't change your point.
I guess the good news for Ohio State is they won't have the chance to let an ACC team hang 37 runs on them in the big boy games.