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Post by ugopher on Nov 25, 2014 15:29:52 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. No worries about being harsh. I think most MN fans have a realistic view of the team. We are hopeful but not overly optimistic. (R)uffda had a good post about the OOC opponents MN had scheduled. I don't know that you can plan/predict for those teams to have such poor RPIs when you are setting up the schedule last spring. But, it is what it is.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 15:42:43 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. This is true, but Minnesota didn't play very well in that match. I don't think it tells us much about what the rematch will be like. Past struggles on the road are probably better indicators. I understand what bluepenguin is saying about Minnesota's record, but one could also argue that not playing Iowa twice, the Michigans here and Illinois here also distorts the record. Nebraska on the road would not be good, of course. But I do think this team would have gone at least 10-10 in the old B1G. Like I said, however, they should not have lost to Northwestern and Indiana (especially) on the road. They should have put Nebraska away at home. They do those things and they are not on the bubble. They are where they are because of their results.
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Post by craftylefty on Dec 2, 2014 15:24:13 GMT -5
Congrats to Paige (All B1G10), and Daly (B1G10 Honorable Mention and Sportsmanship Award)!
I'm already thinking about next season. It's kind of nice to close the book on this one, even though we did witness quite a bit of growth from various players throughout the season. I greatly look forward to checking out the Gophers during their spring matches to see how they improve. Can't wait to see what SSS can do, as well.
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Post by ugopher on Dec 2, 2014 16:02:10 GMT -5
Congrats to Paige (All B1G10), and Daly (B1G10 Honorable Mention and Sportsmanship Award)! I'm already thinking about next season. It's kind of nice to close the book on this one, even though we did witness quite a bit of growth from various players throughout the season. I greatly look forward to checking out the Gophers during their spring matches to see how they improve. Can't wait to see what SSS can do, as well. That could be the most disappointing aspect of missing the tournament. I liked the new line up and wanted to see what it could do in the tournament. It will be interesting, and exciting, to see if players can improve over the spring and off-season. If Hannah can learn to play OPP offensively and Wilhite figures it out at OH, I like this team next year.
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Post by craftylefty on Dec 2, 2014 18:10:15 GMT -5
Congrats to Paige (All B1G10), and Daly (B1G10 Honorable Mention and Sportsmanship Award)! I'm already thinking about next season. It's kind of nice to close the book on this one, even though we did witness quite a bit of growth from various players throughout the season. I greatly look forward to checking out the Gophers during their spring matches to see how they improve. Can't wait to see what SSS can do, as well. That could be the most disappointing aspect of missing the tournament. I liked the new line up and wanted to see what it could do in the tournament. It will be interesting, and exciting, to see if players can improve over the spring and off-season. If Hannah can learn to play OPP offensively and Wilhite figures it out at OH, I like this team next year. I agree. Things really seemed to be coming together these last few weeks with the newer lineup. It really brought out the best of our blocking, in particular, which was pretty great to begin with. Hopefully the good stuff like this will carry over to next season...
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Post by vbcoltrane on Dec 2, 2014 22:55:04 GMT -5
Surprisingly, I don't feel that bad about the Gophers not making the tournament. Mind you, this is a team that in the past 12-15 years, usually makes the tournament, usually wins a round, more than occasionally makes the Round of 16, and occasionally makes it even deeper.
They started to play better at the end of the season (despite blowing set 2 vs OSU). They finally showed progress and it's clear they have talent. That leaves me in a positive frame of mind as the season ends.
And, there's nothing off about them being out. They had more than enough opportunities to earn a tourney berth - closing out Nebraska at home, closing out Ohio State on the road, at least giving themselves a real chance to beat NWU or Indiana on the road (and at least beating one) when they dominated those teams at home, beating Louisville.
Yeah, it's weird that they're not playing in the post-season, but I think they';l be back soon enough. It WAS a frustrating season, but not awful.
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Post by mplssetter on Dec 3, 2014 1:03:58 GMT -5
I really wish there was more coverage of MN volleyball. I would have liked to hear from Hugh his thoughts on the season now that it's over, and why things never really came together for the team? Yes, they were young and can't replace Dixon/Wittman/Palmer. We already know that. They had talent though. But I can think of 4 players (not going to name names) that started last season or at least had significant playing time last season, that seemed to have gotten worse or at least not improved. I'd sure like to know what he thinks happened. Injuries? Confidence? Chemistry? Something else?
I like how some coaches have a weekly radio show. I think John Cook does and Mary Wise. Russ probably does. Shondell likes to talk to the media it seems, as does Sheff. Seems like I don't even hear any post-match interviews from Hugh.
I'm somebody that has bought season tickets before, have driven hours multiple times just to see and support them in spring matches, and have been going to almost every match for more than a decade. I'm starting to lose the passion, to be honest.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 9:04:34 GMT -5
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Post by gophergal on Dec 3, 2014 9:21:01 GMT -5
Thanks, (R)uffda, for the Daily link. And thanks to the Daily for providing some coverage. It's taken me a day or so to snap out of my funk but I'm out and can remember the good stuff. I thought Dalianliz got better throughout the season and Molly was, for me, a nice surprise, too. There are plenty of good things to remember and for the Gophers to build on. Is it time to change this thread's name to Minnesota 2015 or will one of you just start a new one?
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Post by mpsend on Jan 8, 2015 14:39:09 GMT -5
I really wish there was more coverage of MN volleyball. I would have liked to hear from Hugh his thoughts on the season now that it's over, and why things never really came together for the team? Yes, they were young and can't replace Dixon/Wittman/Palmer. We already know that. They had talent though. But I can think of 4 players (not going to name names) that started last season or at least had significant playing time last season, that seemed to have gotten worse or at least not improved. I'd sure like to know what he thinks happened. Injuries? Confidence? Chemistry? Something else? I like how some coaches have a weekly radio show. I think John Cook does and Mary Wise. Russ probably does. Shondell likes to talk to the media it seems, as does Sheff. Seems like I don't even hear any post-match interviews from Hugh. I'm somebody that has bought season tickets before, have driven hours multiple times just to see and support them in spring matches, and have been going to almost every match for more than a decade. I'm starting to lose the passion, to be honest. I found an end-of-the-season interview with Hugh McCutcheon on Gopher Sports Update: gophersportsupdate.com/2015/01/07/gopher-volleyball-head-coach-hugh-mccutcheon/
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Post by spikerthemovie on Jan 8, 2015 15:32:55 GMT -5
I really wish there was more coverage of MN volleyball. I would have liked to hear from Hugh his thoughts on the season now that it's over, and why things never really came together for the team? Yes, they were young and can't replace Dixon/Wittman/Palmer. We already know that. They had talent though. But I can think of 4 players (not going to name names) that started last season or at least had significant playing time last season, that seemed to have gotten worse or at least not improved. I'd sure like to know what he thinks happened. Injuries? Confidence? Chemistry? Something else? I like how some coaches have a weekly radio show. I think John Cook does and Mary Wise. Russ probably does. Shondell likes to talk to the media it seems, as does Sheff. Seems like I don't even hear any post-match interviews from Hugh. I'm somebody that has bought season tickets before, have driven hours multiple times just to see and support them in spring matches, and have been going to almost every match for more than a decade. I'm starting to lose the passion, to be honest. I found an end-of-the-season interview with Hugh McCutcheon on Gopher Sports Update: gophersportsupdate.com/2015/01/07/gopher-volleyball-head-coach-hugh-mccutcheon/For those who want to avoid a lot of blathering on part one, McCutcheon does not show up until part two.
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