Softball Ranked #5 Preseason
The preseason softball poll is out, and it looks like MGoSoftball & myself aren't the only ones with high expectations for the team this season! The owners of six straight Big Ten Championships clock in at #5 in the preseason poll and are the highest-rated Big Ten team. Nebraska is the only other ranked Big Ten team at #9 in the country. Obviously preseason rankings never mean a whole lot, but it is nice to see the ladies ranked so highly. Hopefully they live up to the expectations!
Season opens in about two and a half weeks with games against #4 Florida and #25 USF. I'm working on a full season preview, which I will post once we get a little closer to first pitch.
Full story: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/012114aab.html
January 22nd, 2014 at 3:49 AM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 7:46 AM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
still the only one we have?
January 22nd, 2014 at 8:43 AM ^
We won in 2005 - our only one. What's crazy is that Hutch has been at U-M for 29 years now. She predates my time at school.
January 22nd, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
If Nebraska really is #9 material, I think that's the bigger story. Michigan has been here before and quite recently, but I for some reason doubt we've had a Top 10 Big Ten mate for a while. I don't think Northwestern's been at that level in ~a half-decade.
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
No doubt about that. Nebraska does seem to be the real deal. They took two of three from us in Lincoln last year, and the one we got required a furious & thrilling late-game comeback. They're an up-and-coming team and will give us a real run for our money in the Big Ten this season. Sadly we don't have a series against them on the schedule, but perhaps we'll cross paths in the Big Ten tournament!
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
Nebraska went pretty far last postseason, IIRC, so that's probably why they're getting the love.
January 22nd, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
I like girls who like girls
January 22nd, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
Well, thanks LADY. At least I know the difference between "losing" and "loosing", the latter of which ISN'T EVEN A WORD.
HAAAAAAAAAA
January 22nd, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
They should be #4.
January 22nd, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
The west coast is absolutely dominant (although growing less so seemingly by the season) followed by pockets of SEC and Big XII country (Alabama, Florida, USF, UAB, Oklahoma, Texas). Two teams east of the Mississippi have won a title since the NCAA began sponsoring womens sports in 1982 and only one north of the Mason-Dixon line (Alabama 2012 and Michigan 2005). Hutch managing an elite program here is one of the most impressive coaching accomplishments in Michigan history, and that's saying an awful lot.
January 22nd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
January 22nd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
Closest thing to Bo we have on campus.
January 22nd, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
If Michigan can get enough timely hitting this year, they have the potential to be a very special team. Assuming continued improvement from everyone coming back, they really are top notch in all phases of the game this year. The way Hutch has them prepared, this is always a fun Michigan team to watch play. Can't wait!
January 22nd, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
No doubt about that! As I've been looking at the different position groups, I'm really struck by what a complete team this year's roster provides. We return so much from last season's team, which was pretty brilliant in its own right. All we need is standard incremental improvement across the board & a couple freshmen stepping up and we'll be firmly in the WCWS mix. Given Hutch's comments about the team, I'd say that we have a pretty good shot at exactly that.