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Post by MTC on Aug 15, 2014 6:50:27 GMT -5
The more I look at Purdue's roster and schedule, the more I feel they could be a real sleeper at first and then a giant slayer. It will be a very good year for the Big Ten. What can you tell us about Purdues roster? More than you apparently. Stahl is a name to remember.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 7:01:04 GMT -5
Purdue lost a ton of experience in graduation - four starters plus a fifth year part-time starter. You don't win in this league with a young team. I think Purdue is a 6-8 finisher this year. Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Somehow the Buckeyes have played themselves into that role.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 15, 2014 8:02:47 GMT -5
Purdue lost a ton of experience in graduation - four starters plus a fifth year part-time starter. You don't win in this league with a young team. I think Purdue is a 6-8 finisher this year. Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Somehow the Buckeyes have played themselves into that role. But they return 5 starters? (Nichol, Jones, Adelaja, Epenesa, Drews).....
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Post by akbar on Aug 15, 2014 8:09:18 GMT -5
You don't win in this league with a young team. I'll take that bet.
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Post by akbar on Aug 15, 2014 8:10:57 GMT -5
Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. They won't ever wake up. Shelves are bare of B1G talent here.
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Post by southie on Aug 15, 2014 8:50:11 GMT -5
Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Biggest name in college athletics? Okay.
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Post by rampageripster on Aug 15, 2014 10:01:42 GMT -5
Wow, the Buckeyes at #9. How good is Ohio State this year. I watch them 3 years ago, and they were really good. A LOT of question marks. That 2011 team was probably Carlston's best team so far in terms of balance and experience. Buckeyes are going to have to replace Leary, but that may be a good thing in the long run. You can't be a one trick pony in the B1G, it will bite you in the rear, which is what happened. I expect a mixture of Sr. OH Sekinger, Jr OH Mitchell and So OH Randall to fill that roll but certainly the transfer from Duke Jr OH Campbell could be included. It will certainly be offense by committee as no name really jumps out at you (I think Mitchell has the best chance out of the bunch to be that star). I've heard good reviews from the freshman, but nothing that inspires confidence that they'll be major contributors... Speaking of major freshman contributors, I expect Sandbothe to be a major force in the middle again. She is so versatile compared to our middles in the past that I can see her being set a lot.... Speaking of setting, will this FINALLY be the year we have a full time starting senior setter? Or will Geoff go back to his musical setter ways? Sr Sherwin is quite capable, and had flashes of all-B1G quality at times, but I've heard that So Helm has been pushing her. I would hate for more musical setters to stunt the development of the offense. Defensively, we have to replace buth Di'Salvatore and Mandolfo, but that could be a blessing in disguise. Both were highly unpredictable, with very high ceilings but very low floors, especially Di'Salvatore. We saw a TON of now Sophomore León last year as a true freshman and I was truly impressed. I would expect to see her or Sr Winner at Libero, but the lack of meaningful time Winner has received in her first three years has me wary. Geoff did bring in two freshman defensive specialists, and we all know how he likes to throw those types of players right in the fire, so I would expect to see a heavy rotation of all 4 in the favorable OOC schedule. In terms of where they fall in the B1G, this looks about right. I think their ceiling is probably 6 and 10 is most likely the floor. An early test in Eugene should be an interesting first game watermark, but I really wouldn't judge the team by those results. That 2011 team went to Hawaii and got thrashed and then made a run into the regionals and pushed Illinois big time. The rest of the OOC is rather pedestrian, with a couple of interesting matches mixed in. Anything more than 3 losses would be kinda disappointing to be honest. The beginning of the B1G schedule is BRUTAL: @minn, @ Wisc, @ Iowa, @ Neb, v. Illinois. Ugh. They don't play at home for over a month (9/7-10/7) which sucks... Also no favors in the unbalanced schedule: Maryland once, Northwestern once, Indiana once, Penn State in back to back (Wed/Sat), plus road trips to every one of the big programs (no return for Nebraska or Purdue though, which I see as bad cause it takes away a big win chance). I don't really see a trip to the tourney in the stars for this team due to the question marks everywhere and a brutal schedule with a lot of winnable games either on the road or just flat out not there. We'll see....
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Post by rampageripster on Aug 15, 2014 10:02:15 GMT -5
Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Biggest name in college athletics? Okay. That's homer for even me....
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Post by bucky415 on Aug 15, 2014 11:10:51 GMT -5
Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Biggest name in college athletics? Okay. Not so much, but, as you know southie, the biggest name in college athletics isn't exactly reaching its potential in a lot of sports. Elliott has taken a lot of criticism here, but the fact is that his program is a national title contender every year, which is what you would hope for from an athletic department with so many resources. I think Strong was a good hire and will get the football program back toward where they want to be.
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Post by southie on Aug 15, 2014 12:13:02 GMT -5
Biggest name in college athletics? Okay. Not so much, but, as you know southie, the biggest name in college athletics isn't exactly reaching its potential in a lot of sports. Elliott has taken a lot of criticism here, but the fact is that his program is a national title contender every year, which is what you would hope for from an athletic department with so many resources. I think Strong was a good hire and will get the football program back toward where they want to be. I definitely wasn't implying that Texas is the biggest name in sports at the moment. It's all opinion and perspective: - Results: Probably Alabama based on football, softball, golf, etc. - Merchandise Sales: I believe Texas continues to be at the top - Sears Cup: Stanford and UCLA will probably always reign supreme - TV leverage: Notre Dame is the only school who has all its home football games aired by a major TV network like NBC, no matter if they win or lose Ohio State is up there with the best of 'em, that's for sure.
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Post by Phillytom on Aug 15, 2014 13:25:01 GMT -5
You might be surprised. She worked hard and improved a lot last year from about midseason on. Quietly playing much better defense, and she and Hancock have come a long way with middle sets. She's probably Penn State's second-best server -- very tough float serve and she doesn't miss a lot. Nia has always had all the athletic ability in the world -- I suspect the challenge for her has been concentration and intensity, and the challenge of reading and anticipating. With some tremendous freshmen arriving to play middle, that should only make Grant even better her senior year. Lots of talented players in the B1G, including some amazing incoming freshmen (you would expect one or two to end up making the All B1G Team come end of season). I'll be surprised if Nia Grant is on the all-conference team in November.
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Post by mclvbdad on Aug 15, 2014 14:22:52 GMT -5
Purdue lost a ton of experience in graduation - four starters plus a fifth year part-time starter. You don't win in this league with a young team. I think Purdue is a 6-8 finisher this year. Looking for a sleeper, try Ohio State. That is if the biggest name in college athletics can be considered a sleeper. Somehow the Buckeyes have played themselves into that role. Unless you are Penn State?
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Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 15, 2014 14:36:02 GMT -5
What can you tell us about Purdues roster? More than you apparently. Stahl is a name to remember. And what can you tell us about her from watching her play?
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Post by lionsfan on Aug 15, 2014 16:36:44 GMT -5
You might be surprised. She worked hard and improved a lot last year from about midseason on. Quietly playing much better defense, and she and Hancock have come a long way with middle sets. She's probably Penn State's second-best server -- very tough float serve and she doesn't miss a lot. Nia has always had all the athletic ability in the world -- I suspect the challenge for her has been concentration and intensity, and the challenge of reading and anticipating. With some tremendous freshmen arriving to play middle, that should only make Grant even better her senior year. Lots of talented players in the B1G, including some amazing incoming freshmen (you would expect one or two to end up making the All B1G Team come end of season). I'll be surprised if Nia Grant is on the all-conference team in November. I hope so. But you have to wonder if she might become Melissa Walbridge 2.0
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Post by network155 on Aug 15, 2014 17:16:14 GMT -5
Wow, the Buckeyes at #9. How good is Ohio State this year. I watch them 3 years ago, and they were really good. A LOT of question marks. That 2011 team was probably Carlston's best team so far in terms of balance and experience. Buckeyes are going to have to replace Leary, but that may be a good thing in the long run. You can't be a one trick pony in the B1G, it will bite you in the rear, which is what happened. I expect a mixture of Sr. OH Sekinger, Jr OH Mitchell and So OH Randall to fill that roll but certainly the transfer from Duke Jr OH Campbell could be included. It will certainly be offense by committee as no name really jumps out at you (I think Mitchell has the best chance out of the bunch to be that star). I've heard good reviews from the freshman, but nothing that inspires confidence that they'll be major contributors... Speaking of major freshman contributors, I expect Sandbothe to be a major force in the middle again. She is so versatile compared to our middles in the past that I can see her being set a lot.... Speaking of setting, will this FINALLY be the year we have a full time starting senior setter? Or will Geoff go back to his musical setter ways? Sr Sherwin is quite capable, and had flashes of all-B1G quality at times, but I've heard that So Helm has been pushing her. I would hate for more musical setters to stunt the development of the offense. Defensively, we have to replace buth Di'Salvatore and Mandolfo, but that could be a blessing in disguise. Both were highly unpredictable, with very high ceilings but very low floors, especially Di'Salvatore. We saw a TON of now Sophomore León last year as a true freshman and I was truly impressed. I would expect to see her or Sr Winner at Libero, but the lack of meaningful time Winner has received in her first three years has me wary. Geoff did bring in two freshman defensive specialists, and we all know how he likes to throw those types of players right in the fire, so I would expect to see a heavy rotation of all 4 in the favorable OOC schedule. In terms of where they fall in the B1G, this looks about right. I think their ceiling is probably 6 and 10 is most likely the floor. An early test in Eugene should be an interesting first game watermark, but I really wouldn't judge the team by those results. That 2011 team went to Hawaii and got thrashed and then made a run into the regionals and pushed Illinois big time. The rest of the OOC is rather pedestrian, with a couple of interesting matches mixed in. Anything more than 3 losses would be kinda disappointing to be honest. The beginning of the B1G schedule is BRUTAL: @minn, @ Wisc, @ Iowa, @ Neb, v. Illinois. Ugh. They don't play at home for over a month (9/7-10/7) which sucks... Also no favors in the unbalanced schedule: Maryland once, Northwestern once, Indiana once, Penn State in back to back (Wed/Sat), plus road trips to every one of the big programs (no return for Nebraska or Purdue though, which I see as bad cause it takes away a big win chance). I don't really see a trip to the tourney in the stars for this team due to the question marks everywhere and a brutal schedule with a lot of winnable games either on the road or just flat out not there. We'll see.... Thank you so much for the update!
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