Big Weekend in the Big Ten (10-6/7/8)

[edburby]

FRIDAY:
Minnesota @ PSU
Wisconsin @ Ohio State

SATURDAY:
Wisconsin @ PSU

SUNDAY:
Minnesota @ Ohio State


I think both Minn and Wisc will be able to pull of wins in Columbus, but neither will pull of the upset at Penn State. Right now, Wisconsin is more likely to give PSU a scare with their bigger block.

[standingroomonly1]

edburby said:

FRIDAY:
Minnesota @ PSU
Wisconsin @ Ohio State

SATURDAY:
Wisconsin @ PSU

SUNDAY:
Minnesota @ Ohio State


I think both Minn and Wisc will be able to pull of wins in Columbus, but neither will pull of the upset at Penn State. Right now, Wisconsin is more likely to give PSU a scare with their bigger block.

Student coach Stacey Gordon will be at the matches in Columbus. Given her personal past with these two teams in particular, who knows? Possible "upset"--one night and/or the other?

[Gorf]

I like the Gopher's chance much better without Stacey playing for the Buckeyes than with her playing for the Buckeyes.

[Deleted]

How's it an upset if OSU is ranked ahead of both Wisconsin and (unranked) Minnesota?

Or are you already anticipating Wisconsin's move past the Buckeyes this week?

[Deleted]

I suspect OSU will win one of the two. Pick the right one, Buckeyes.

(I thought the same about Illinois last week, however.)

[standingroomonly1]

ruffda said:

How's it an upset if OSU is ranked ahead of both Wisconsin and (unranked) Minnesota?

Or are you already anticipating Wisconsin's move past the Buckeyes this week?

I guess I was just going by the posts from many of the posters on VT who seem to feel that Wisc and Minn are going to do so well as opposed to the numerous posts that suggest the Bucks will struggle, that's all.

[Deleted]

Well, that part is true: WI and MN are better than the Buckeyes.

[bucky415]

I am sure that Ohio State will be tough to beat in Columbus, but I am also really glad that Stacey Gordon no longer has any eligibility left. Wisconsin was actually 6-2 against the Buckeyes when she was there, but she torched them in both matches of her senior year and also had at least two epic performances against the Gophers that year as well.

[happyvalleydrifter]

I would just like to take this time to take pride in another stepping stone to repeating as Big Ten Champs. As we took down Purdue tonight, in 3, we showed that we are the premier team in the Big Ten. Not that there was any doubt, but I was a little worried. Good job girls, keep it up.

Russes are red,
TheHappyValleyDrifter

[Gorf]

I still think there was some sort of NCAA violation involved in the way Staceyed defied gravity during her 4 years at Ohio State.

[standingroomonly1]

bucky415 said:

I am sure that Ohio State will be tough to beat in Columbus, but I am also really glad that Stacey Gordon no longer has any eligibility left. Wisconsin was actually 6-2 against the Buckeyes when she was there, but she torched them in both matches of her senior year and also had at least two epic performances against the Gophers that year as well.

True, Wisconsin just seem to have the Bucks' number the first three years. OSU only had a few losses the first two years and it seemed the Badgers solved them. OSU even got past PSU sometimes. Minn vs OSU, again some great battles even in 2003 when the Bucks were quite bad all year.

[bulldog3]

How has the landscape of the Big Ten changed in the past five years? It seems a little as if Penn State has taken on the role of the bully more than what I can remember a team in the recent past. Also, two power programs of the past - MSU and Illinois have taken a dive. What can we expect from the Big Ten this year and beyond?

[Gorf]

Only 2 yeas since 1984 has the winning team had more than 2 conference losses.

Penn State joined the Big 10 in the 1991 season:

1991: 15-5 for 2nd; Ohio State 1st at 20-0
1992: 19-1 tied for 1st with Illinois
1993: 18-2 1st; Ohio State 2nd at 17-3
1994: 17-3 2nd; Ohio State 1st at 19-1
1995: 14-6 3rd; Michigan State 1st at 19-1
1996: 18-2 tied for 1st with Michigan State
1997: 19-1 tied for 1st with Wisconsin
1998: 20-0 1st; Wisconsin 2nd at 17-3
1999: 20-0 1st; Minnesota 2nd at 15-5
2000: 16-4 3rd; Wisconsin 1st at 18-2
2001: 14-6 3rd; Wisconsin 1st at 19-1
2002: 14-6 3rd; Minnesota 1st at 17-3
2003: 17-3 1st; Illinois and Minnesota tied for 2nd at 15-5
2004: 18-2 1st; Minnesota and Ohio State tied for 2nd at 17-3
2005: 20-0 1st; Wisconsin 2nd at 15-5

[Deleted]

PSU came back to the pack for a while. Then Tortorello arrived and solved their setting issues. PSU has dominated since, winning titles when they weren't even the best team in the conference (my opinion).

Starting with 2005, they now have more talent -- probably MUCH more -- than the other Big10 teams. They will continue to dominate unless their setting and/or passing breaks down.

Illinois has a nice class coming in next year. MSU is playing much better this year (and were much better last year than in 2004).

My personal opinion is that, except for PSU, the level of play has been off the last two years. The league, however, is much more competitive (except for PSU).

I'm hoping the conference does better in the NCAAs this year, but, right now, they look to be the third best conference behind the Pac10 and the Big12, although RKPI and Pablo may see it differently (they did last year).

[edburby]

bucky415 said:

I am sure that Ohio State will be tough to beat in Columbus....

Not unless Anna brings a lot of friends... OSU plays in a canyon, small crowd - usually tough to hear them over the crickets... MN had better luck in Columbus last year than at home.

Look for OSU to drop both matches this weekend.