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Post by spikerthemovie on Oct 2, 2006 16:05:39 GMT -5
I may be wrong, but I don't think the point was that Michigan was "underachieving." They do seem to have competed as well or even better than they "should." I think the Michigan point was that -- as in so many things -- the AVCA poll had it wrong and that they were never a Top 20 team, as AVCA at one point had them ranked.
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Oct 2, 2006 16:09:44 GMT -5
Again, that is not at all evident, aside from the loss to Indiana.
Minnesota is way underrated, and Purdue and Wisconsin are ranked ahead of them.
Minnesota is absolutely a top 20 team. As is Purdue. As is Wisconsin. As long as they are ranked below those teams (or where those teams should be), then they could be a top 20 team.
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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 2, 2006 16:12:44 GMT -5
with the exception of Penn State, i don't think any team shoudl shouldn't be beating folks -- the way the conference has leveled 2-8, it's a week-to-week thing. i was hoping for more from iowa, but they keep chipping away games.
the avca had mich at 19, which is why i think people think they are underachieving with the 0-4 start in big tens after a 13-0 beginning.
and p-dub is right on -- top 8 in the big ten means you are pretty freaking good!
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Oct 2, 2006 16:23:15 GMT -5
Michigan's 0-4 start despite being #19 in AVCA tells _me_ that the AVCA has massively underrated Minnesota, as opposed to having massively overrating Michigan.
Underachieving? They lost to Indiana. Everything else they have done is not surprising to me in the least.
If a loss to Indiana is underachieving, then underachieving they are. But ONLY in that loss. Nothing they did last weekend is an underachievement.
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Post by ohiovb on Oct 2, 2006 16:28:27 GMT -5
Someone, way earlier in this thread, mentioned that he thought OSU would make the Sweet Sixteen. I'm pretty skeptical about that, with their deficiencies in the middle. I just don't see that area improving too much before tournament time, and it will cost them. Plus, they might have to take on Ohio U. again and my suspicions are that they'll be unable to handle their defense and diversity, as last year.
My kudos to Erica Short and her play at Indiana. She's a local girl (Orrville), had a terrific high school career, and deserves all the success that comes to her and her team.
jw
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Post by bomber on Oct 2, 2006 17:04:57 GMT -5
re: mich, i think they made a few recruitg errors, mainly with that setter from last year -- yikes. but miller, katie b, and stelsky were all top, widely sought after recruits. bowman was also a big time recruit b/c of her physicality, but she has really developed much skill. at any rate, lots of talent coming in -- seems like they aren't panning out ultimately. also, would katie B be the L1 at most other big ten schools? maybe maybe not. not to say she wouldn't start, but i can see some coaches not relying on her to carry the offense. Miller, katie B and Selsky are all quality recruits and players. It's surprises me that Bowman was a big time recruit as well. She had 1 block as a middle for last weekend, and hit negative on Friday night, so I don't know what skill she has developed you are referring to. I don't think she's very good. And Katie B would start for many other Big Ten schools, but you're right, she wouldn't have to carry an offense.
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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 2, 2006 17:22:09 GMT -5
was me -- bowman was a big time recruit due to raw ability and potential. but, i said (or meant to say) she HAD NOT developed into a skilled player (spawned by another post about someone saying NU recruits hadn't panned out).
my guess is katie B would have been an L2 or libero at most other Big Ten schools, except maybe Iowa or Indiana. on the flip side, holloway isn't playing at all for Penn State, but could easily be the L1 or RS and numerous Big Ten schools, carrying the offense.
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Post by edburby on Oct 2, 2006 17:25:38 GMT -5
Biggest surprises thusfar:
Indiana! Excellent job by the Hoosiers to pull of that win against michigan. It may not prove to be such an impressive win later in the season, but it really has made the rest of the conference sit up and take notice.
Northwestern.... very dissapointing, but I concur with earlier notes that they will peak in the second half of the season again.
Michigan State -- I was very impressed with their quick offense against MN. They will give every team a great match this season, I would not be surprised to see them in the tourney this year - if they can stay consistent.
Illinois -- It's still early, but those players have got to be dissapointed. What an eye-opener to a new kind of volleyball without Vanmeter.
Iowa -- just because I thought they would start to turn things around. I'll give the new coach a few more years to try and build a program... who knows, they could become the next Purdue recovery story!
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Post by Revbang on Oct 2, 2006 20:20:14 GMT -5
Illinois players disappointed? 2-2 and in 5th place all alone? Not so disappointing. If they can pull off a couple of wins this weekend in MI, there will be no dissappointment from the chief (or his players).
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Post by katiefromhaiti on Oct 2, 2006 22:07:28 GMT -5
Katie B was Michigan's L2 until this year, with starting L1 Pflum's career cut short by injury. Miller was moved to outside hitter, but is not experienced enough to carry the L1 position.
Aside from the two starting MBs: Bowman & Karpiak. Miller is the only other MB on the Michigan roster. Draves hasn't played middle since high school, but I think some rosters still list her as a MB.
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 3, 2006 2:43:16 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of what people have posted on this thread. Northwestern has been disappointing, especially after they played pretty well in Hawaii. Gardner did a good job for them last year, but I think Nobilo has been fine, so they should be better than they have been thus far. Getting swept by Illinois at home in a match they needed to win wasn't a good sign. Speaking of the Gardners, they were at the Wisconsin match on friday. Has any family contributed more players to Big Ten volleyball?
I think Michigan is in some trouble. The loss to IU at home hurts, and the ways they lost their matches this weekend isn't a good sign for them. They let a couple of leads get away at Minnesota, and the Wisconsin match was ugly. Down 2-0 to the Badgers on the road was gut check time. The response: 17-4, 22-7, 27-11, I think. Ouch. Almost nothing went right for them. Their confidence probably isn't too high right now. They really need to beat Illinois and Northwestern. I think Bruzdzinski is a very good player; she might be best suited as an L2, but she has done better against the Badgers the last two years than a lot of left side hitters in the Big Ten and is solid all around. Selsky is probably an upgrade at setter, but they clearly miss her at libero.
I know I am biased, but I think Wisconsin is the second best team in the conference right now. Next weekend will be crucial, but they really started strong. Simpson is looking really confident and had the Michigan schools' blocks off balance all weekend. It is encouraging that the Badgers swept MSU and Northwestern, both of whom gave Minnesota a battle. I think the Gophers are underrated. As for all-conference from Wisconsin, Reineke should make it if she can block like she has recently. I don't know how many blocks she had on friday (I saw two versions of the box score), but she really made life tough for Johnson. As for a second player potentially if the Badgers do well, I would say Simpson or Carlini. Carlini is averaging 3.64 kills a game and hitting .285. I will take that. Jeffers is healthier but not getting a ton of sets. I think the Badgers will present a tougher challenge than Minnesota for PSU at this point in the season, but that might just be wishful thinking.
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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 3, 2006 6:28:37 GMT -5
Good post.
I agree about Michigan. To move away from the IU loss, the 30-16 game 3 loss at the hands of wisconsin is the most glaring. to be #19 in the country and not be able to be competitive against a strong, but not invincible wisconsin team is not good. their games weren't uber competitive in minneapolis, either.
NU started somewhat similarly last year -- blew the opener in 3 to iowa (much like losing in 3 to illinois), and i think started out 1-3, or maybe 0-4 to get the season going. their ncaa years have seen them start slow, then knock off some big wins in the home stretch (penn state, wisconsin, minnesota, etc.), so still hope for them.
wisconsin is gaining momentum -- looks like they will be more of a steady force in the big ten rather than being a little up and down then surprising everyone with a near-final four run in the ncaas. if jeffers was contributing like last year, this team would give PSU even more of a run.
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Post by AntennaMagnet on Oct 3, 2006 9:32:47 GMT -5
Shondell effect:
Previous poster mentioned how Northwestern's Chan and Michigan's Rosen should take lessons from Purdue's Shondell. Perhaps. A couple of observations, however:
Firstly, when you have players like Alisha Glass going to PSU or Paolini going to Texas rather than Michigan, it is hard to move the team to a higher level when good talent is bleeding out of state. Parenthetically, why these players went to academically inferior schools is puzzling. Same issue can be said of NWU and Illinois where prime players are going to WI and MN and elseswhere.
Secondly, the assistant coaches can make a big difference in terms of technical improvements. Last year, NWU's late season run largely was due to the assistant coaches and their ability to make mid-game adjustments as well as to get the players more consistent.
The battle for middle spots in the conference will be fought this weekend. My hunch is that MSU will prevail.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2006 9:35:47 GMT -5
I forgot that Manz left after last year...
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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 3, 2006 11:07:17 GMT -5
Yeah, but Theis and Manz are at FLA, and they (the program) aren't having that great of a year (for Florida...)
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