NCAA Softball tournament bracket announced - 5 Big Ten teams

Submitted by oriental andrew on

They just announced the brackets for the 2018 NCAA softball tournament. 

None of the 5 Big Ten teams are seeded and hosting a regional. Looks like Michigan fading down the stretch really hurt our ladies there. So this is how it stacks up for the conference. 

https://www.landof10.com/big-ten/2018-ncaa-softball-tournament-bracket-…

First, Michigan is in the Lexington regional hosted by #16 Kentucky. They play notre dame in the first round on Friday at 12pm ET on ESPN2. The winner of that series takes on the winner of Kentucky-UIC (Illinois Chicago). 

The winner of that series would take on the winner coming out of the Eugene bracket hosted by overall #1 Oregon. 

 

Other Big Ten teams:

  • ohio state is in the Gainesville regional hosted by #2 Florida.
  • Minnesota takes on Texas in teh Seattle regional hosted by #5 Washington.
  • Northwestern plays Cal in the Athens regional hosted by #7 Georgia.
  • Wisconsin plays Oregon State in the Tuscaloosa regional hosted by #12 Alabama. 
  • Other than the Eugene regional games, looks like they all play on Friday. 

 

GO BLUE! 

South Bend Wolverine

May 13th, 2018 at 11:12 PM ^

Depends what you think your ceiling is.  Right now, I have a hard time seeing Michigan get past the supers unless something weird happens, so I'm happy with a draw that gives us a legit chance of getting that far - easier regional = harder super-regional, and this year, that trade-off is worth it.  If you think your team has legit WCWS potential, Minnesota has a better draw for going farther, but each step along the way will be tougher.

jbrandimore

May 13th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^

They were effectively ranked #17 and are in the regional with the weakest #1 seed and don’t have to travel far.

I would imagine a lot of teams will be pissed at our draw - especially the way Michigan limped to the finish line.

RobGoBlue

May 13th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^

However, making it through this regional means a Super-Regional at #1 Oregon, which will be... challenging.

Might've traded a slightly tougher regional draw (Tennessee? Bama?) for a less foreboding potential matchup in the Round of 16.