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Post by vbprisoner on Nov 25, 2014 11:51:03 GMT -5
I usually only read the B1G / team threads and don't post, but I wanted to give you my 2 cents as an outsider looking in since I like Minnesota and follow them the most of the B1G teams (I go to Minneapolis on business occasionally and love that city). The Gophers are young, but they never should have lost to Louisville (especially at home) and they did beat Iowa State, but probably needed at least two more 30-60 RPI teams scheduled in OOC and they would have won those probably.
I like the talent Minn. has right now, but with the loss of Dixon (who seemed to be the go to player and leader) from last years team I thought the sophomore group were going to take over from the get go this season. In the 5 matches I have seen they have just been inconsistent. Wilhite started out slow and has progressed over the course of the matches I have seen, but she needs to take a step up next year and play to her full potential. I do think SSS is going to have an impact and make the front row players better and get better production from the middles and the overall hitting % should improve. I think they need one more "real threat" front row player, but don't know if they have one on the bench or are counting on a freshman.
Who is going to take Nora's spot next year?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 12:01:05 GMT -5
Nora's pretty much already lost her spot this year.
To followup:
Tulsa 37 --> 52 Louisville 40 --> 97 Yale 45 --> 67 Milwaukee 77 --> 91 Duquesne 90 --> 154! Toledo 106 --> 281!! Notre Dame 111 --> 173 IPFW 144 --> 203 Albany 239 --> 271
Boston College is probably the only team they faced that was better in 2014 than 2013. Well, besides ISU (RPI anyhow).
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Post by rainbowbadger on Nov 25, 2014 12:14:29 GMT -5
I remember when Mike took his team to Japan. They got smoked. I'm sure it will be beneficial, unless they're hoping to work on their confidence. Would SSS go on this trip if enrolled early? I assume so? Is SSS for sure enrolling early?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 12:15:22 GMT -5
That's what the commitment release said.
Edit: Read it somewhere. Not the commitment, however.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 12:21:27 GMT -5
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Post by ugopher on Nov 25, 2014 12:26:01 GMT -5
Who is going to take Nora's spot next year? I would believe the staff hopes that Wilhite will take, and hold, the second OH position and Hannah or Paige to take the OPP position with SSS playing all around. The sad part is that they may have finally come across a line-up that could work for them. But, it may have been found too late.
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Post by vbprisoner on Nov 25, 2014 12:31:03 GMT -5
I have not seen a gopher match in a couple weeks and Ruffda said Nora had basically lost her role. What has been the line-up the last couple matches that has been successful?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 12:34:33 GMT -5
They've started running a 6-2. They used Hannah Tapp and Wilhite at opposite the last match against the Boils.
I didn't see it, but this means Wilhite isn't hitting out of the back row, which was also working a couple of matches ago. I don't think we can say they've settled on a lineup since it changes from match-t0-match and during the match, BUT they did stick with this one throughout the Purdue match, unless I missed something.
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Post by vbcoltrane on Nov 25, 2014 12:34:58 GMT -5
The best thing MN could do for its tournament chances is right before them -- beat Ohio State on the road.
Everyone is sort of assuming that they'll lose. It's a fair assumption - OSU has played better overall and the Gophers barely beat OSU at home. But, it's not like it's impossible. Now would be a great time to show progress, that they can go on the road and beat quality team.
Of course, they'd have to back that up with a win at home over Indiana, who already beat MN. But, MN has shown with NW and Purdue that they can turn the tables.
I'd imagine that 20-11, 10-10 would get them in. So they do sort of control their own destiny. But, I wonder if they can get in with just one more win, rather than two - 19-12, 9-11.
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Post by baywatcher on Nov 25, 2014 12:40:37 GMT -5
The latest trojansc bracket, which us usually pretty accurate, has a bundle of WCC teams sneaking in and Minnesota, Michigan State, and Purdue out. I can't see that and it's probably not fair. Minnesota looks best of the bubble teams from the B1G.So GoGophers to the Iowa State subregional! !
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Post by ugopher on Nov 25, 2014 14:09:12 GMT -5
The latest trojansc bracket, which us usually pretty accurate, has a bundle of WCC teams sneaking in and Minnesota, Michigan State, and Purdue out. I can't see that and it's probably not fair. Minnesota looks best of the bubble teams from the B1G.So GoGophers to the Iowa State subregional! ! Thank you, baywatcher. But, I hope that it's Go Gophers to the Minnesota sub-regional!
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Post by ugopher on Nov 25, 2014 14:14:02 GMT -5
The best thing MN could do for its tournament chances is right before them -- beat Ohio State on the road. Everyone is sort of assuming that they'll lose. It's a fair assumption - OSU has played better overall and the Gophers barely beat OSU at home. But, it's not like it's impossible. Now would be a great time to show progress, that they can go on the road and beat quality team. Of course, they'd have to back that up with a win at home over Indiana, who already beat MN. But, MN has shown with NW and Purdue that they can turn the tables. I'd imagine that 20-11, 10-10 would get them in. So they do sort of control their own destiny. But, I wonder if they can get in with just one more win, rather than two - 19-12, 9-11. A loss to Ohio St. makes all tournament talk a moot point for the Gophers. And, they would need to beat Indiana, as well, to have a chance. For bubble teams like MN, the committee will look for reasons they should be excluded vs. included. And, I don't feel that is unfair. If you are a bubble team, you need to make your case. Two wins this week and they are 6-2 in the last 4 weeks with wins over Michigan State (on the road), Northwestern, Purdue, and Ohio St. The losses were on the road to Michigan and Penn St. The level of play late in the season could help.
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Post by mnsports255 on Nov 25, 2014 14:41:17 GMT -5
They've started running a 6-2. They used Hannah Tapp and Wilhite at opposite the last match against the Boils. I didn't see it, but this means Wilhite isn't hitting out of the back row, which was also working a couple of matches ago. I don't think we can say they've settled on a lineup since it changes from match-t0-match and during the match, BUT they did stick with this one throughout the Purdue match, unless I missed something. 8 of the 9 players in our rotation are freshmen or sophomores. The other one is a junior. That's incredible!! One of the youngest teams in the country. With the addition of SSS and hopefully a transfer, this team should be MUCH improved next year.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Nov 25, 2014 14:41:23 GMT -5
With MN firmly on a thin bubble, I wonder if Hugh re-thinks his OOC schedule going forward. A projected RPI of 55 could be the team's undoing when it comes the selection committee. While Pablo shows that the B1G is 3rd strongest conference, I have to believe their overall RPI is greatly weakened by the addition of Maryland (151) and, particularly, Rutgers (184). Even perennial doormat Iowa has improved to 95 and I feel they will become stronger over the next few years. Teams with a stronger RPI than MN include Lipscomb, Arkansas-Little Rock, and Central Florida. In my opinion, MN will need to schedule stronger in years to come. I would read that Pablo has the Big Ten as the 2nd strongest conference this year - if you go by the average rating instead of avgerage ranking. CW is that Minnesota needs to be 10-10 in conference in order to make the tournament - and that 10-10 in the Big 10 should be a virtual auto-bid. In a normal past year - that would be enough. Take Rutgers and Maryland off the conference schedule - and Minnesota's record would be 7-10. This equates to something like 8-12 in a 'normal' season. 8-12 was typically a bubble point for a Big 10 team. Oregon State is likely to be a bubble team, but in at 9-11 this year. They finish at 8-12 - and they are in the exact same spot as Minnesota. I don't want to be harsh - I like Minnesota - but Minnesota hasn't been good enough (yet) to make the tournament. 10-10 (if they get there) is like an 8-12 season when the Big 10 is very good. And no team has felt comfortable about the tournament at 8-12 in conference during a down season for the Big 10. As for the OOC schedule and RPI - always schedule the toughest games possible that you will win. It is rarely worth losing to a good team. Playing any team with a very poor record is harmful.
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Post by spikerthemovie on Nov 25, 2014 14:42:30 GMT -5
The best thing MN could do for its tournament chances is right before them -- beat Ohio State on the road. Everyone is sort of assuming that they'll lose. It's a fair assumption - OSU has played better overall and the Gophers barely beat OSU at home. But, it's not like it's impossible. Now would be a great time to show progress, that they can go on the road and beat quality team. Of course, they'd have to back that up with a win at home over Indiana, who already beat MN. But, MN has shown with NW and Purdue that they can turn the tables. I'd imagine that 20-11, 10-10 would get them in. So they do sort of control their own destiny. But, I wonder if they can get in with just one more win, rather than two - 19-12, 9-11. Agreed but one reason not to get hopes too high about the OSU match is that -- for me, anyway -- the close Gopher win over the Buckeyes at home has an asterisk next to it, since Sandbothe was out.
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