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Post by Boof1224 on Oct 19, 2014 13:47:56 GMT -5
There scheduke wasn't balanced at all. Heavy road work against very good teams first month of season
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Post by bkedane on Oct 19, 2014 13:48:46 GMT -5
Penn state doesn't leave rec hall again in over a month Are they going to skip the match at Ohio State then?
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Post by Boof1224 on Oct 19, 2014 13:56:38 GMT -5
Penn state doesn't leave rec hall again in over a month Are they going to skip the match at Ohio State then? The one match that's it. Pretty much home for month
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Post by Boof1224 on Oct 19, 2014 13:59:50 GMT -5
They have adjusted their lineup with Washington playing every day now. Takes awhile to gel. Expect them to be in full form going into tourney
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Post by Boof1224 on Oct 19, 2014 14:03:29 GMT -5
Watching her the other day, I don't know if there's many in nation that can stop her. Some of the sets she got blocked the set wasn't near high enough for her leaping ability. Expect that to get better. Sure most arnt use to setting balls to teammates that can get close to 11 ft. It will be there at end if season
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Post by vbnerd on Oct 19, 2014 14:28:12 GMT -5
Penn states 7 of next 8 at Rec hall. Expect them to go on run Ohio State x2, Rutgers, Maryland and Iowa in a row. Is that a run or a nap?
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Post by gnu2vball on Oct 19, 2014 15:29:28 GMT -5
tOSU should give them more trouble than they did in 2013. Just showing up will be an improvement.
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 19, 2014 17:31:05 GMT -5
Here would be my guess looking at the remaining schedules. Wisconsin (18-2) Penn State (17-3) Illinois (15-5) Purdue (14-6) Nebraska (13-7) Ohio State (12-8) Minnesota (11-9) Michigan State (10-10) Michigan (9-11) Northwestern (9-11) Indiana (5-15) Iowa (4-16) Maryland (3-17) Rutgers (0-20) I think everyone knows that Penn State's schedule gets much easier. Minnesota has also played the hardest part of their schedule. Michigan's schedule looks to get much tougher and Ohio State has 3 matches left with PSU and Wisconsin. So as already said I do not think PSU will lose again. Imo PSU has tured the corner and this new lineup is settling in....with a wrinkle or two to come. This being said, and considering you have Wisconsin losing at least one it leads me to three questions. Alcapone/Bluepenquin 1. Who do you see Wisconsin losing to? 2. If both PSU and Wisconsin end at 18-2 does PSU win the title on on the head to head or do they Co-? 3. If Wisconsin comes in 2nd will their runner-up ring ceremony be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network? :) (just having fun) you guys are generous. UW could lose to Purdue X2, Illinois, Nebraska, and one or more of the following: Ohio State, MSU (they tend to play poorly, except last year, against MSU), plus one of those "UW crapped the bed matches" which could be anyone.
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Post by volleyfuntimes on Oct 19, 2014 18:16:24 GMT -5
So as already said I do not think PSU will lose again. Imo PSU has tured the corner and this new lineup is settling in....with a wrinkle or two to come. This being said, and considering you have Wisconsin losing at least one it leads me to three questions. Alcapone/Bluepenquin 1. Who do you see Wisconsin losing to? 2. If both PSU and Wisconsin end at 18-2 does PSU win the title on on the head to head or do they Co-? 3. If Wisconsin comes in 2nd will their runner-up ring ceremony be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network? (just having fun) you guys are generous. UW could lose to Purdue X2, Illinois, Nebraska, and one or more of the following: Ohio State, MSU (they tend to play poorly, except last year, against MSU), plus one of those "UW crapped the bed matches" which could be anyone. You are right, but for some reason I don't think they will. Maybe one loss in there...Split with Purdue?
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Post by rampageripster on Oct 19, 2014 18:28:10 GMT -5
tOSU should give them more trouble than they did in 2013. Just showing up will be an improvement. HEY! I... uh... that's... erm... nevermind
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Post by Boof1224 on Oct 19, 2014 18:28:28 GMT -5
Penn states 7 of next 8 at Rec hall. Expect them to go on run Ohio State x2, Rutgers, Maryland and Iowa in a row. Is that a run or a nap? I don't really feel threatened by Michigan and Michigan st this next week to start there home run. The last match of the next 8 at home is Minnesota. That's the only threat I believe, but Minnesota is always gonna be Minnesota and find way to lose. After that they only have 4 games left the last being Nebraska at home with Michigan Maryland and northwestern just before ( none I really see beating psu). I agree, they could run table rest of year. They just need Purdue and Wisconsin to lose Atleast one more
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Post by badgerbreath on Oct 19, 2014 20:49:28 GMT -5
Personally, I would be surprised if UW doesn't lose at least once more and I wouldn't be surprised if they lost 2-3 times more. One might be Purdue in WLafayette. Oddly, I'm less worried about Nebraska. Illinois at home will be a challenge, too -- i think we play better away than at home. We could lose that match if the badgers aren't as focused as they were against the gophers in the first two sets in Minneapolis and against OSU at home. OSU away will be a challenge as well, especially if Sandbothe catches fire. We barely saw her in Madison and she is an emotional lynchpin for that team, and a great hitter. Then you never know what you're going to get with the Michigan teams this year. So there are lots of opportunities for losses. The Badgers have it all to earn yet.
As for PSU, I honestly don't see where the next loss will come from. OSU away seems the most likely to me. Nebraska at home? Somehow I don't think so. I don't think they will have problems with the Minnesota team the Badgers just faced...especially if Santana is out for any length of time. It's clear that team is still that team trying to find an identity and consistency in the engine room. Michigan away? You never know, but it's a long shot.
So until UW shows me that they can handle Nebraska at home and Purdue away, I am not willing to give them the upper hand in this battle, even with the one game lead. That said, this is the most balanced and flexible Badger team I have ever seen. They can win multiple ways, and have no problem doing so. They are improving in aspects of their game that were deeply suspect earlier in the year -- like blocking and avoiding the block. Carlini is being more aggressive and tactical about dumping as well. Nelson and Thompson in the middle keep getting better as the season goes along. They are becoming very hard to prepare for because of that balance. If the badgers can handle Purdue like they did in the NCAAs, I think they have to be considered the favorites going forward.
BTW...I really hate, hate the fact that we will not play PSU again this year. I'm praying that they meet again in the NCAAs. I think this team will always have an asterisk next to their name, no matter what they do, until they beat PSU.
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Post by pogoball on Oct 20, 2014 0:02:18 GMT -5
I started to do an off the top of my head prediction of the final records, and I realized that it was pretty bad about half-way through. Anyway, my casual prediction had Penn State winning the conference with 3 losses. Their remaining schedule is very kind to them and Wisconsin, Illinois & Purdue all likely have a few more losses with much tougher schedules. I do predict that those four will be at the top with a gap to Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota & NU in the next tier. I know, not very earthshaking.
I wonder if Purdue fan Bofa would be willing to do a prediction of the final standings using Pablo? I have no idea how hard/how much work that is.
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Post by Goose on Oct 20, 2014 0:21:53 GMT -5
The odd thing I love about Nebraska this year compared to years past is that they have potential to beat some good teams when they're playing well. In years past theres been a certain consistency to them that you just expected that they would win. They had there limits as well, playing Texas last year in the regional final was a good example. There was just no way they were going to beat that team with the way Texas was playing. The down fall to this team is that they have potential to lose first round of the tournament as well. I'm hoping they can string together some Michigan 2013 or Wisconsin 2014 middle of the Big Ten magic. Not holding my breath on it either
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 20, 2014 4:53:34 GMT -5
I know this is probably stating the obvious, but it is so obviously crucial: the huge advantage Wisconsin has over every other B1G team is the setting of Carlini (and to a lesser extent Courtney Thomas if a team tries to go at Carlini constantly to have her make the first touch). I know Micha fans hate to read this kind of statement because Micha is a great setter in her own right with a deadly weapon of a serve, but Carlini is the best I have seen watching women's college volleyball for over 40 years. Wisconsin is competent at every other position (but not great)...the difference maker for them is that they have the best second touch in collegiate volleyball, and that elevates every Badger hitter, and should instill a calm and confidence in the Badgers that it is rare that a Carlini set is not going to be placed exactly where it is supposed to be. Every vb fan should make a point of watching Carlini set the Badgers. As long as you are not a big fan of the opposing team, her setting is a true thing of vb beauty.
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