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Post by qc on Sept 23, 2009 5:13:56 GMT -5
If Northwestern beats Penn State, I will change my name to "Willie the Wildcat". Why do I feel this urge to root for Northwestern?
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Post by rogero1 on Sept 23, 2009 13:05:42 GMT -5
Why do I feel this urge to root for Northwestern? Go ahead. Even though I watch NU play every year, I still root for my Illini. My HS buds (who went to NU) & I have this friendly, but intense rivalry between the two schools. At least I'm realistic about the Illini's chances this season.
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Post by edburby on Sept 23, 2009 13:18:43 GMT -5
20:1 odds that Illini beat PSU if PSU's friday night game is a cakewalk. 5:1 odds that Illini best PSU if PSU's friday night game is peppered with multiple blocked hitting attempts and digs. Penn State will have a cakewalk with Northwestern the night before. NU's blocking stats are deceptive with their level of competition. In fact, I doubt that NU gets more than 5 blocks for the match (unless PSU decides they want to hit just over the tape). If Northwestern beats Penn State, I will change my name to "Willie the Wildcat". The only thing in favor of the Wildcats is a great libero (Nobilio), a senior this year. If she can dig a few shots from Hodge -- that might shake things up a bit.
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Post by mango on Sept 23, 2009 14:01:58 GMT -5
The only thing in favor of the Wildcats is a great libero (Nobilio), a senior this year. If she can dig a few shots from Hodge -- that might shake things up a bit. Wildcats have two of the top 10 blockers in the Big 10 from preseason, and given PSU's creampuff preseason, it is difficult to cast a stone at Northwestern's weak preseason schedule as being any measure of Big 10 play. However, in addition to having the top libero in the Big 10, Northwestern has a stealth rocket in Sabel Moffet whose blocking could single handedly demoralize overly audacious Nittany's.
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Post by pennstate7188 on Sept 23, 2009 14:07:31 GMT -5
Why do I feel this urge to root for Northwestern? Go ahead. Even though I watch NU play every year, I still root for my Illini. My HS buds (who went to NU) & I have this friendly, but intense rivalry between the two schools. At least I'm realistic about the Illini's chances this season.Didn't you say they could beat Penn State?!?!
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diffractionspikes
Sophomore
We are all star-stuff contemplating the stars.
Posts: 209
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Post by diffractionspikes on Sept 23, 2009 15:23:55 GMT -5
The only thing in favor of the Wildcats is a great libero (Nobilio), a senior this year. If she can dig a few shots from Hodge -- that might shake things up a bit. Wildcats have two of the top 10 blockers in the Big 10 from preseason, and given PSU's creampuff preseason, it is difficult to cast a stone at Northwestern's weak preseason schedule as being any measure of Big 10 play. However, in addition to having the top libero in the Big 10, Northwestern has a stealth rocket in Sabel Moffet whose blocking could single handedly demoralize overly audacious Nittany's. So who on the PSU team do you believe is "overly audacious"? I know that the VT conventional wisdom is that anyone who roots for Penn State is automatically considered arrogant, but when have any of the players ever been anything but good sports when discussing the other Big Ten teams? I'm looking forward to two good matches this weekend, and I do hope that both NU and UI rise up and play well, but I'll be surprised if either team can demoralize Penn State's players. I think one of the things we've all seen is how Penn State has gotten tougher when they've looked vulnerable, like they did in the B10 season last year when they came close to losing a few games, and like they did against Nebraska in the FF. Remember, 5 of the 8 main players are back from last year's squad (D'Errico, Hodge, Wilson, Brown, and Glass) who beat Nebraska in Omaha after losing their first two games of the season. If losing two games in the Final Four in front of 16,000 hostile fans wasn't enough to demoralize Hodge, how will NU getting a few blocks or digs do any differently? In fact, Hodge in particular appears to play even better when the chips are down, which may be why she was FF MVP two years in a row.
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Post by pennstate7188 on Sept 23, 2009 15:48:43 GMT -5
Wildcats have two of the top 10 blockers in the Big 10 from preseason, and given PSU's creampuff preseason, it is difficult to cast a stone at Northwestern's weak preseason schedule as being any measure of Big 10 play. However, in addition to having the top libero in the Big 10, Northwestern has a stealth rocket in Sabel Moffet whose blocking could single handedly demoralize overly audacious Nittany's. So who on the PSU team do you believe is "overly audacious"? I know that the VT conventional wisdom is that anyone who roots for Penn State is automatically considered arrogant...You've noticed that too?! Thank God...
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Post by rogero1 on Sept 23, 2009 22:47:22 GMT -5
Go ahead. Even though I watch NU play every year, I still root for my Illini. My HS buds (who went to NU) & I have this friendly, but intense rivalry between the two schools. At least I'm realistic about the Illini's chances this season.Didn't you say they could beat Penn State?!?! YES, I did! I think they can beat Penn State this year.
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Post by beachman on Sept 23, 2009 22:50:46 GMT -5
AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN ILLINOIS!!!!!
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Post by pennstate7188 on Sept 24, 2009 1:36:52 GMT -5
Didn't you say they could beat Penn State?!?! YES, I did! I think they can beat Penn State this year. Oh, nevermind. I thought you knew what "realistic" meant. Just kidding. No disrespect, but Illinois will have to play the best ball of their lives and Penn State will have to play their B game. I don't think both things will happen. It's pretty difficult to get PSU to fall that far down.
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Post by pogoball on Sept 24, 2009 18:24:23 GMT -5
Well, what if we made the PSU players use only one hand?
I tink Da Lions would have a very hard time winning by more than 25-2, 25-2, 25-2.
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Post by pennstate7188 on Sept 24, 2009 18:47:27 GMT -5
Well, what if we made the PSU players use only one hand? I tink Da Lions would have a very hard time winning by more than 25-2, 25-2, 25-2. Hahahaha.
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