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Post by abcd098 on Oct 13, 2006 21:04:30 GMT -5
Illinois swept OSU tonight. What is going on in Columbus? I am not going to lie, I was way off base when I thought they would finish second in the Big Ten. They have some inexperienced players, but the core of Main/Meyer/Stevens should be able to get them some of these wins that they are not getting. I'm really confused. Hopefully they will be able to pick it up the second half of the season.
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 13, 2006 22:25:37 GMT -5
I wish Wisconsin had been able to finish them off in Columbus, but I have to give the Buckeyes credit for coming back. It looks like they didn't do much offensively or defensively tonight. Stevens only had five digs, which isn't a good sign. They also weren't able to get McCarthy many swings, despite the fact that Meyer didn't have a great night and Szerszen was off as well, indicating their ball control wasn't great. They really need to get things together soon; I think this is their best chance to do some damage in the league and the NCAAs. They will have good hitters next year, but Main will be a huge loss.
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Post by bomber on Oct 14, 2006 1:19:29 GMT -5
They have basically no effective middle play,defensively or offensively, which is a serious weakness in this conference. And frankly, few options on offense.
If their go to hitters struggle, they are in trouble. I think their ridiculously easy pre conference schedule did them a great disservice in not adequately preparing them for conference play ( see Michigan). And losing Main next year, as Bucky observed, will be very tough to adjust to. (See Purdue minus Dargan)
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Post by ohiovb on Oct 14, 2006 2:39:37 GMT -5
Yep, that non-conference "bum of the day" schedule hurt them. You can't address problems if you don't even notice them, and when you're playing stiffs, and winning easily, it's harder to self-examine. Probably against those inferior teams, whose offenses are much slower, the OSU middles were competent, especially defensively. But when the competition began to move the ball around, with more deceptive setters, it was all over for them. I don't know that there would have been a fix for the problems in the middle anyway, even if it was obvious in early September, but at least they would have seen what was to come.
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Post by Keystonekid on Oct 14, 2006 6:42:28 GMT -5
I think coach Stone noticed them well before he played a match. I think you are seeing why they didn't have a tough pre-conference. The Big 10 is tough, needed to get enough wins outside of it, to get in the tournament.
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Post by ugopher on Oct 14, 2006 8:09:20 GMT -5
Hey, they are ranked #16 in the AVCA poll! Better than MN.
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Post by maninyellowhat on Oct 14, 2006 8:18:19 GMT -5
Has OSU ever had a really difficult pre-season schedule? I can't remember. Last the Gophers had a patsy pre-season slate and they paid for it later on.
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Post by ugopher on Oct 14, 2006 8:34:13 GMT -5
I believe coach's read their team and decide if they need to challenge the team with a tougher non-conference schedule or to use that time to develop the team.
MN had a pretty tough schedule in 04 as they had a veteran team. I think that schedule paid off during the conference season as the 04 team was a very tough team mentally. Last year, they had a fairly young team and needed a softer pre-season schedule and it showed later on as you mentioned.
It is a difficult task, preparing a schedule that will prepare your team for the tough matches later in the season but not so difficult that you could be knocked out of a top 16 seed before the conference season begins.
OSU's struggles may be more of an indication as to how difficult the Big 10 conference can be. We may not always have the longer travel of other conferences or the reputation but the competition, especially among the top 4-5 teams can be fierce.
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Post by Keystonekid on Oct 14, 2006 12:29:45 GMT -5
didn't they play LBSU and Nebraska last year?
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Post by ohiostatetad on Oct 14, 2006 16:11:44 GMT -5
Has OSU ever had a really difficult pre-season schedule? I can't remember. Last the Gophers had a patsy pre-season slate and they paid for it later on. Next year: Texas, Washington, USC, I'm told. I know that's not 2006, but with a new setter, we're already biting our nails down to the bone. Didn't they go out to Hawaii in 2002? Oh. You were discussing STRENGTH of schedule. didn't they play LBSU and Nebraska last year? Yup. Got totally hosed by NU and totally hosed LBSU. Same inconsistency this year. They beat Wisconsin-- who looked way better than Minnesota. Football is my more in-the-know, and this just doesn't happen as much with good teams. So, I'll scratch my head and watch Michigan State's football coach blow a blood vessel (24-0 at the half). ;D PS: Sorry, Bomber. I mentioned the F-sport here. Please. Forgive me. Why, I couldn't bear your wrath.
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Post by bomber on Oct 14, 2006 16:42:40 GMT -5
That's OK, Ohiostatetad. I'm fully medicated again, so I shouldn't be any more of a bother.....
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Post by VBCOACH on Oct 14, 2006 22:56:55 GMT -5
It's the setting. Main is terrible. I said the same thing last year when I saw her at Northwestern. VERY inconsistant. She jams her hitters, sets them low and doesn't read the opposing block well. She often sets hitters when the block is already stacked against that hitter. She's supposed to be great. I don't see it.
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Post by Reach on Oct 15, 2006 0:38:44 GMT -5
I agree. Main is super over-rated! OSU needs a real setter now!
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Post by texas22 on Oct 15, 2006 3:59:30 GMT -5
setting kills a lot of programs.... Look at UT Look at Pepperdine Look at Michigan
it causes a lot of up and down problems all year. this is why the setter is so vital
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Post by ohiovb on Oct 15, 2006 6:52:51 GMT -5
I saw Main a few times last season, when Myers was manning one of the middle spots. They had no trouble in connecting on either quicks or slides, and Myers hit for a terrific percentage. Now that their are two new middles, and that connection and success is no longer there, how can you possibly fault Main? She's been the constant, she hasn't changed. Is she over-rated? Maybe a little. But she's certainly a well above average D1 setter, and if she had even decent middles, OSU would be solidly in second place in the Big Ten.
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