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Post by huskergeek on Oct 24, 2016 10:15:48 GMT -5
. . . and three 2nd place finishes out of 5 years. Top 2 four out of five years. Yeah hard to believe Nebraska's at the top of the league. I didn't even specifically mention Nebraska being out of whack and you jump all of it as if that's what I meant. Here's the plain English: Nebraska has played two top dogs which they beat, but upset at home by OSU. Dominating the rest of the competition. PSU has played just one top dog, at home, won in 5. Minnesota has played three top dogs, destroyed 1. It has also been on the road for a month. All losses in 5 sets on the road. Ohio State has played nearly all top dogs, beat one. Defeated Michigan too, a key win. Iowa has beaten the bottom of the schedule. Purdue (?) category of its own. Illinois probably best represents balanced competition. Wisconsin has not played Penn State; destroyed by Minnesota (at home) and Nebraska (on the road). Several 5 set victories, especially relative to Nebraska/Minnesota victories over the same schools. Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers playing as expected. Michigan, Michigan State have some key wins. There, feel better? Does it make you feel even better if I say that Nebraska's schedule and results so far is the most indicative of their level of play? And that the Badgers are higher than Minnesota merely because of scheduling (they have not played MSU or PSU), but don't really belong there, especially because their losses to the top teams were not competitive at all. Dude what?
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 24, 2016 10:38:20 GMT -5
Could it be because Wisconsin has been overhyped/overrated by so many of you Badger fans on here? Were you mauled by a badger as a child? Too bad it wasn't a Wolverine, Lion, or Wildcat so he could redirect. I'm not sure the other mascots could "maul." Maybe Herkie or the Scarlet Knight.
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Post by Northern lights on Oct 24, 2016 11:00:00 GMT -5
A badger is a bad ass predator, mess with anything. A Wolverine is the nastiest, meanest, dirtiest type of badger. Wolverines kill brown bears, and set off human traps, then wait in the bushes for the hunter to show up.
Summary - Badger = bad ass, Wolverine = bad ass badger, or badger on steroids.
Edit #1 - Wolverines do not take steroids, it just seems like they do, cause of the bad ass level, which I already described.
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Post by badgerbreath on Oct 24, 2016 11:05:10 GMT -5
I didn't even specifically mention Nebraska being out of whack and you jump all of it as if that's what I meant. Here's the plain English: Nebraska has played two top dogs which they beat, but upset at home by OSU. Dominating the rest of the competition. PSU has played just one top dog, at home, won in 5. Minnesota has played three top dogs, destroyed 1. It has also been on the road for a month. All losses in 5 sets on the road. Ohio State has played nearly all top dogs, beat one. Defeated Michigan too, a key win. Iowa has beaten the bottom of the schedule. Purdue (?) category of its own. Illinois probably best represents balanced competition. Wisconsin has not played Penn State; destroyed by Minnesota (at home) and Nebraska (on the road). Several 5 set victories, especially relative to Nebraska/Minnesota victories over the same schools. Indiana, Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers playing as expected. Michigan, Michigan State have some key wins. There, feel better? Does it make you feel even better if I say that Nebraska's schedule and results so far is the most indicative of their level of play? And that the Badgers are higher than Minnesota merely because of scheduling (they have not played MSU or PSU), but don't really belong there, especially because their losses to the top teams were not competitive at all. Dude what? Really, wiswell was responding to SMOOVES original paranoid assumption that a comment on the effect of unbalanced schedules on standings somehow related to Nebraska rather than other teams (Wiswell was actually talking about UW and Minnesota, and a few other teams like Iowa). Your comment was just at the end of the line of talk that resulted.
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Post by Northern lights on Oct 24, 2016 11:16:16 GMT -5
Edit #2 - Skip up for edit #1, badgerbreath cut in??? anyway, remember the Wolverine is even more bad ass than a regular Badger...
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Post by huskergeek on Oct 24, 2016 11:18:31 GMT -5
Really, wiswell was responding to SMOOVES original paranoid assumption that a comment on the effect of unbalanced schedules on standings somehow related to Nebraska rather than other teams (Wiswell was actually talking about UW and Minnesota, and a few other teams like Iowa). Your comment was just at the end of the line of talk that resulted. After I went back and read the whole conversation, I realized he was probably responding to the original comment more than me and it just pinged me because it was the last comment. I actually agreed with the original comment, but did not comment at that time.
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Post by Wiswell on Oct 24, 2016 12:13:19 GMT -5
Edit #2 - Skip up for edit #1, badgerbreath cut in??? anyway, remember the Wolverine is even more bad ass than a regular Badger... There should be more teams with a fox as a mascot. They can be pretty, well, foxy. Marist College has red foxes. Any others? Certainly they meet the tough but cute balance so necessary for marketing and toughness purposes.
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Post by rampageripster on Oct 26, 2016 11:09:10 GMT -5
Ok you hooligans... I've had a long enough hiatus for the Buckeyes to make me very sad, then really happy, then clinically depressed, then moderately content.... Being a volleyball fan is as close to being pregnant as I will ever get. Someone rub my feet.
I decided to start from scratch and reevaluate everyone who's name does not rhyme with Mutgers. I used the following criteria:
1) Strength of wins: this includes home/away and the score. I care about how the matches look now and not how they looked at the time.
2) Bad losses: I don't really care if you took a team to 5, I care if you finished the job. But, if it is a BAD loss (like getting ugly swept) or losing to a BAD team, that will hurt.
3) A bit of gut: Iowa is not as good as their record, Purdue is not as bad. I have eyes, I watch things, I can comprehend what goes through. Plus sometimes I just make crap up.
Ok, HERE. WE. GO.
Tier 1 Minnesota: Their three conference loses are all in 5 on the road to Top 1-2 Tier teams. Totally forgivable. Plus they get a chance to avenge all three at home. That final two weekends (Mittens and Neb/UW) will be a GIANT test. Nebraska: Still the class of the league, imo, and have revenged their only loss on the season to the Buckeyes (I love that that is just a normal thing now to win in Lincoln) They have a pretty manageable schedule to close though they get PSU twice and have to go to the Gophs. Finishing with only 2-3 losses on the season is a reasonable expectation.
Tier 2 Penn State: Ugh... Kinda the opposite of the Cheeseweasels. Messy OCC (though no TERRIBLE losses.. CU is sketchy at worst) before tearing most of the B1G a new one until the weird 5 setter in Ann Arbor. The next three matches will tell us if the Nits are for real. Win 2/3 and they are in the top tier. Lose all three and they are permanently exiled. Wisconsin: I went back and forth here. Some good wins OOC in Texas and San Diego, but they've played the other Tier 1 teams and lost both matches 0-3. Gotta put up a fight. They'll get some chances against PSU and MN. Hope they didn't peak too early.
Tier 3 (ie... the Tier of who the F knows?) Michigan: Positives are only 4 loses on the season and nice wins over PSU and tOSU. Negatives are that one of those loses are to Pitt and both those wins are at home and there is nothing else of quality to speak of. There is a distinct home/away difference here and I think the skunkbears are gonna pick up at least 4-5 more losses as their schedule turns over. They could end up tumbling hard here or totally redeem themselves and be looking at a spot in Tier 2. Michigan State Very similar to their Mitten twin minus the BAD loss. Wins over tOSU and Minn at home are keeping them afloat. But remember how I warned about judging them by their win over the Buckeyes who are as bad in the Mit; ten as they are good in Lincoln... Ohio State: Honestly, their lack of a BAD loss and being the only team to beat Nebraska is keeping the Buckeyes in this tier. It was good for them to prove that the Mitten road trip was a fluke with the emphatic sweep of Sparty. Can't let the Turtles trip them up this week, back to back is tough. VERY manageable second half with the only tests being a trip to Choo Chooville and a visit from the Cheeseweasels and the Mountain Kitties.
Tier 4 Illinois: SOOO many losses with the only solid win being a home sweep of Sparty. But nothing I would classify as BAD. Not sure they should be ranked, but they are certainly a tripping point for Tier 3 teams. A BRUTAL 6 game stretch with 5 matches against Tier 1-3 opponents, three on the road. Make or break time for the Illini
Tier 5 Iowa: There is a BAD loss in there to Butler, but everything else is sorta as expected, with a win against Purdue thrown in for good measure. They'll need to get a signature win to make the NCAAs, but they are actually in better shape record-wise than Purdue is. Don't drop a BAD match and maybe spring a home upset and they could sneak in the tourney. Purdue: Lots of losses including a TERRIBLE one to Northwestern, and no real solid wins in conference (they did just pick up a 5-setter at home against Illinois... but that ain't gonna float no boat). They were living on the goodwill from that early Stanford victory for a long time. They have some really tough road matches left (UW, MSU, PSU, tOSU) so they'll probably be fighting for their NCAA lives at 13-8. They need to win all the matches they are favored in to stay above that .500 unless they pick up an upset.
Tier 6 Indiana : Really bad losses to FGCU and Ark St OOC but they've mostly held serve for their ranking in conference. They lose to the big girls and have beaten Rutgers and Northwestern rather handidly. I don't expect them to give anyone above them any trouble (maybe Purdue... I could see that) but a roadtrip out east will decide if they can stay out of the basement Maryland: You are probably way better than this tier, but you have 1 conference "win", got swept by Iowa twice, and have a BAD loss to Towson. You will have more chances to win and turn around the season, starting this week with Ohio State, who is VERY vulnerable on the road. You'll get Purdue and Indiana at home as well as a go at Northwestern and Illinois. Kinda disappointing to be talking like this after getting kinda excited about you going into the conference season. Northwestern: I forgot you the first time... that's about as much commentary needed here
Tier 1034287 Rutgers: I promised you a tier when you won a set and good old Indiana was happy to put out for you. I didn't promise to cease my endless crusade to point out how utterly terrible and useless to this conference you are. You get to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend! I put the over/under at 70 total points for you this weekend... maybe I'll go in person on Friday to witness the destruction myself. You do get Indiana and Northwestern at home so the chance for another set is out there. Like bigfoot.
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Post by jcvball22 on Oct 26, 2016 11:33:57 GMT -5
Ok you hooligans... I've had a long enough hiatus for the Buckeyes to make me very sad, then really happy, then clinically depressed, then moderately content.... Being a volleyball fan is as close to being pregnant as I will ever get. Someone rub my feet. I decided to start from scratch and reevaluate everyone who's name does not rhyme with Mutgers. I used the following criteria: 1) Strength of wins: this includes home/away and the score. I care about how the matches look now and not how they looked at the time. 2) Bad losses: I don't really care if you took a team to 5, I care if you finished the job. But, if it is a BAD loss (like getting ugly swept) or losing to a BAD team, that will hurt. 3) A bit of gut: Iowa is not as good as their record, Purdue is not as bad. I have eyes, I watch things, I can comprehend what goes through. Plus sometimes I just make crap up. Ok, HERE. WE. GO. Tier 1Minnesota: Their three conference loses are all in 5 on the road to Top 1-2 Tier teams. Totally forgivable. Plus they get a chance to avenge all three at home. That final two weekends (Mittens and Neb/UW) will be a GIANT test. Nebraska: Still the class of the league, imo, and have revenged their only loss on the season to the Buckeyes (I love that that is just a normal thing now to win in Lincoln) They have a pretty manageable schedule to close though they get PSU twice and have to go to the Gophs. Finishing with only 2-3 losses on the season is a reasonable expectation. Tier 2Penn State: Ugh... Kinda the opposite of the Cheeseweasels. Messy OCC (though no TERRIBLE losses.. CU is sketchy at worst) before tearing most of the B1G a new one until the weird 5 setter in Ann Arbor. The next three matches will tell us if the Nits are for real. Win 2/3 and they are in the top tier. Lose all three and they are permanently exiled. Wisconsin: I went back and forth here. Some good wins OOC in Texas and San Diego, but they've played the other Tier 1 teams and lost both matches 0-3. Gotta put up a fight. They'll get some chances against PSU and MN. Hope they didn't peak too early. Tier 3 (ie... the Tier of who the F knows?) Michigan: Positives are only 4 loses on the season and nice wins over PSU and tOSU. Negatives are that one of those loses are to Pitt and both those wins are at home and there is nothing else of quality to speak of. There is a distinct home/away difference here and I think the skunkbears are gonna pick up at least 4-5 more losses as their schedule turns over. They could end up tumbling hard here or totally redeem themselves and be looking at a spot in Tier 2. Michigan State Very similar to their Mitten twin minus the BAD loss. Wins over tOSU and Minn at home are keeping them afloat. But remember how I warned about judging them by their win over the Buckeyes who are as bad in the Mit; ten as they are good in Lincoln... Ohio State: Honestly, their lack of a BAD loss and being the only team to beat Nebraska is keeping the Buckeyes in this tier. It was good for them to prove that the Mitten road trip was a fluke with the emphatic sweep of Sparty. Can't let the Turtles trip them up this week, back to back is tough. VERY manageable second half with the only tests being a trip to Choo Chooville and a visit from the Cheeseweasels and the Mountain Kitties. Tier 4Illinois: SOOO many losses with the only solid win being a home sweep of Sparty. But nothing I would classify as BAD. Not sure they should be ranked, but they are certainly a tripping point for Tier 3 teams. A BRUTAL 6 game stretch with 5 matches against Tier 1-3 opponents, three on the road. Make or break time for the Illini Tier 5Iowa: There is a BAD loss in there to Butler, but everything else is sorta as expected, with a win against Purdue thrown in for good measure. They'll need to get a signature win to make the NCAAs, but they are actually in better shape record-wise than Purdue is. Don't drop a BAD match and maybe spring a home upset and they could sneak in the tourney. Purdue: Lots of losses including a TERRIBLE one to Northwestern, and no real solid wins in conference (they did just pick up a 5-setter at home against Illinois... but that ain't gonna float no boat). They were living on the goodwill from that early Stanford victory for a long time. They have some really tough road matches left (UW, MSU, PSU, tOSU) so they'll probably be fighting for their NCAA lives at 13-8. They need to win all the matches they are favored in to stay above that .500 unless they pick up an upset. Tier 6Indiana : Really bad losses to FGCU and Ark St OOC but they've mostly held serve for their ranking in conference. They lose to the big girls and have beaten Rutgers and Northwestern rather handidly. I don't expect them to give anyone above them any trouble (maybe Purdue... I could see that) but a roadtrip out east will decide if they can stay out of the basement Maryland: You are probably way better than this tier, but you have 1 conference "win", got swept by Iowa twice, and have a BAD loss to Towson. You will have more chances to win and turn around the season, starting this week with Ohio State, who is VERY vulnerable on the road. You'll get Purdue and Indiana at home as well as a go at Northwestern and Illinois. Kinda disappointing to be talking like this after getting kinda excited about you going into the conference season. Tier 1034287Rutgers: I promised you a tier when you won a set and good old Indiana was happy to put out for you. I didn't promise to cease my endless crusade to point out how utterly terrible and useless to this conference you are. You get to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend! I put the over/under at 70 total points for you this weekend... maybe I'll go in person on Friday to witness the destruction myself. You do get Indiana and Northwestern at home so the chance for another set is out there. Like bigfoot. You forgot Northwestern, but I am assuming they go in the tier with Indiana and Maryland....
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Post by rampageripster on Oct 26, 2016 11:54:11 GMT -5
You forgot Northwestern, but I am assuming they go in the tier with Indiana and Maryland.... No Northwestern? I'm cool with that. Ya ya ya... fixed
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Post by jcvball22 on Oct 26, 2016 12:10:09 GMT -5
You forgot Northwestern, but I am assuming they go in the tier with Indiana and Maryland.... No Northwestern? I'm cool with that. Ya ya ya... fixed It was 50/50 on whether it was intentional.
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Post by rampageripster on Oct 26, 2016 12:22:47 GMT -5
It was 50/50 on whether it was intentional. Only team that deserves that level of indifference is Rutgers... then again they are so bad that I can't forget them. Only teams I have forgotten this year are Indiana and Northwestern. Bad enough to not deserve my attention but not bad enough to be noteworthy.
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Post by hulahoops on Oct 26, 2016 15:31:43 GMT -5
Quite entertaining as always
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Post by firedup on Oct 26, 2016 16:02:25 GMT -5
Ok you hooligans... I've had a long enough hiatus for the Buckeyes to make me very sad, then really happy, then clinically depressed, then moderately content.... Being a volleyball fan is as close to being pregnant as I will ever get. Someone rub my feet. I decided to start from scratch and reevaluate everyone who's name does not rhyme with Mutgers. I used the following criteria: 1) Strength of wins: this includes home/away and the score. I care about how the matches look now and not how they looked at the time. 2) Bad losses: I don't really care if you took a team to 5, I care if you finished the job. But, if it is a BAD loss (like getting ugly swept) or losing to a BAD team, that will hurt. 3) A bit of gut: Iowa is not as good as their record, Purdue is not as bad. I have eyes, I watch things, I can comprehend what goes through. Plus sometimes I just make crap up. Ok, HERE. WE. GO. Tier 1Minnesota: Their three conference loses are all in 5 on the road to Top 1-2 Tier teams. Totally forgivable. Plus they get a chance to avenge all three at home. That final two weekends (Mittens and Neb/UW) will be a GIANT test. Nebraska: Still the class of the league, imo, and have revenged their only loss on the season to the Buckeyes (I love that that is just a normal thing now to win in Lincoln) They have a pretty manageable schedule to close though they get PSU twice and have to go to the Gophs. Finishing with only 2-3 losses on the season is a reasonable expectation. Tier 2Penn State: Ugh... Kinda the opposite of the Cheeseweasels. Messy OCC (though no TERRIBLE losses.. CU is sketchy at worst) before tearing most of the B1G a new one until the weird 5 setter in Ann Arbor. The next three matches will tell us if the Nits are for real. Win 2/3 and they are in the top tier. Lose all three and they are permanently exiled. Wisconsin: I went back and forth here. Some good wins OOC in Texas and San Diego, but they've played the other Tier 1 teams and lost both matches 0-3. Gotta put up a fight. They'll get some chances against PSU and MN. Hope they didn't peak too early. Tier 3 (ie... the Tier of who the F knows?) Michigan: Positives are only 4 loses on the season and nice wins over PSU and tOSU. Negatives are that one of those loses are to Pitt and both those wins are at home and there is nothing else of quality to speak of. There is a distinct home/away difference here and I think the skunkbears are gonna pick up at least 4-5 more losses as their schedule turns over. They could end up tumbling hard here or totally redeem themselves and be looking at a spot in Tier 2. Michigan State Very similar to their Mitten twin minus the BAD loss. Wins over tOSU and Minn at home are keeping them afloat. But remember how I warned about judging them by their win over the Buckeyes who are as bad in the Mit; ten as they are good in Lincoln... Ohio State: Honestly, their lack of a BAD loss and being the only team to beat Nebraska is keeping the Buckeyes in this tier. It was good for them to prove that the Mitten road trip was a fluke with the emphatic sweep of Sparty. Can't let the Turtles trip them up this week, back to back is tough. VERY manageable second half with the only tests being a trip to Choo Chooville and a visit from the Cheeseweasels and the Mountain Kitties. Tier 4Illinois: SOOO many losses with the only solid win being a home sweep of Sparty. But nothing I would classify as BAD. Not sure they should be ranked, but they are certainly a tripping point for Tier 3 teams. A BRUTAL 6 game stretch with 5 matches against Tier 1-3 opponents, three on the road. Make or break time for the Illini Tier 5Iowa: There is a BAD loss in there to Butler, but everything else is sorta as expected, with a win against Purdue thrown in for good measure. They'll need to get a signature win to make the NCAAs, but they are actually in better shape record-wise than Purdue is. Don't drop a BAD match and maybe spring a home upset and they could sneak in the tourney. Purdue: Lots of losses including a TERRIBLE one to Northwestern, and no real solid wins in conference (they did just pick up a 5-setter at home against Illinois... but that ain't gonna float no boat). They were living on the goodwill from that early Stanford victory for a long time. They have some really tough road matches left (UW, MSU, PSU, tOSU) so they'll probably be fighting for their NCAA lives at 13-8. They need to win all the matches they are favored in to stay above that .500 unless they pick up an upset. Tier 6Indiana : Really bad losses to FGCU and Ark St OOC but they've mostly held serve for their ranking in conference. They lose to the big girls and have beaten Rutgers and Northwestern rather handidly. I don't expect them to give anyone above them any trouble (maybe Purdue... I could see that) but a roadtrip out east will decide if they can stay out of the basement Maryland: You are probably way better than this tier, but you have 1 conference "win", got swept by Iowa twice, and have a BAD loss to Towson. You will have more chances to win and turn around the season, starting this week with Ohio State, who is VERY vulnerable on the road. You'll get Purdue and Indiana at home as well as a go at Northwestern and Illinois. Kinda disappointing to be talking like this after getting kinda excited about you going into the conference season. Northwestern: I forgot you the first time... that's about as much commentary needed here Tier 1034287Rutgers: I promised you a tier when you won a set and good old Indiana was happy to put out for you. I didn't promise to cease my endless crusade to point out how utterly terrible and useless to this conference you are. You get to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend! I put the over/under at 70 total points for you this weekend... maybe I'll go in person on Friday to witness the destruction myself. You do get Indiana and Northwestern at home so the chance for another set is out there. Like bigfoot. A simple Like should be enough, but this continues to be one of the absolute best things to log onto Volleytalk for. Thank you RR for another classic post.
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Post by jcvball22 on Oct 26, 2016 16:08:26 GMT -5
Ok you hooligans... I've had a long enough hiatus for the Buckeyes to make me very sad, then really happy, then clinically depressed, then moderately content.... Being a volleyball fan is as close to being pregnant as I will ever get. Someone rub my feet. I decided to start from scratch and reevaluate everyone who's name does not rhyme with Mutgers. I used the following criteria: 1) Strength of wins: this includes home/away and the score. I care about how the matches look now and not how they looked at the time. 2) Bad losses: I don't really care if you took a team to 5, I care if you finished the job. But, if it is a BAD loss (like getting ugly swept) or losing to a BAD team, that will hurt. 3) A bit of gut: Iowa is not as good as their record, Purdue is not as bad. I have eyes, I watch things, I can comprehend what goes through. Plus sometimes I just make crap up. Ok, HERE. WE. GO. Tier 1Minnesota: Their three conference loses are all in 5 on the road to Top 1-2 Tier teams. Totally forgivable. Plus they get a chance to avenge all three at home. That final two weekends (Mittens and Neb/UW) will be a GIANT test. Nebraska: Still the class of the league, imo, and have revenged their only loss on the season to the Buckeyes (I love that that is just a normal thing now to win in Lincoln) They have a pretty manageable schedule to close though they get PSU twice and have to go to the Gophs. Finishing with only 2-3 losses on the season is a reasonable expectation. Tier 2Penn State: Ugh... Kinda the opposite of the Cheeseweasels. Messy OCC (though no TERRIBLE losses.. CU is sketchy at worst) before tearing most of the B1G a new one until the weird 5 setter in Ann Arbor. The next three matches will tell us if the Nits are for real. Win 2/3 and they are in the top tier. Lose all three and they are permanently exiled. Wisconsin: I went back and forth here. Some good wins OOC in Texas and San Diego, but they've played the other Tier 1 teams and lost both matches 0-3. Gotta put up a fight. They'll get some chances against PSU and MN. Hope they didn't peak too early. Tier 3 (ie... the Tier of who the F knows?) Michigan: Positives are only 4 loses on the season and nice wins over PSU and tOSU. Negatives are that one of those loses are to Pitt and both those wins are at home and there is nothing else of quality to speak of. There is a distinct home/away difference here and I think the skunkbears are gonna pick up at least 4-5 more losses as their schedule turns over. They could end up tumbling hard here or totally redeem themselves and be looking at a spot in Tier 2. Michigan State Very similar to their Mitten twin minus the BAD loss. Wins over tOSU and Minn at home are keeping them afloat. But remember how I warned about judging them by their win over the Buckeyes who are as bad in the Mit; ten as they are good in Lincoln... Ohio State: Honestly, their lack of a BAD loss and being the only team to beat Nebraska is keeping the Buckeyes in this tier. It was good for them to prove that the Mitten road trip was a fluke with the emphatic sweep of Sparty. Can't let the Turtles trip them up this week, back to back is tough. VERY manageable second half with the only tests being a trip to Choo Chooville and a visit from the Cheeseweasels and the Mountain Kitties. Tier 4Illinois: SOOO many losses with the only solid win being a home sweep of Sparty. But nothing I would classify as BAD. Not sure they should be ranked, but they are certainly a tripping point for Tier 3 teams. A BRUTAL 6 game stretch with 5 matches against Tier 1-3 opponents, three on the road. Make or break time for the Illini Tier 5Iowa: There is a BAD loss in there to Butler, but everything else is sorta as expected, with a win against Purdue thrown in for good measure. They'll need to get a signature win to make the NCAAs, but they are actually in better shape record-wise than Purdue is. Don't drop a BAD match and maybe spring a home upset and they could sneak in the tourney. Purdue: Lots of losses including a TERRIBLE one to Northwestern, and no real solid wins in conference (they did just pick up a 5-setter at home against Illinois... but that ain't gonna float no boat). They were living on the goodwill from that early Stanford victory for a long time. They have some really tough road matches left (UW, MSU, PSU, tOSU) so they'll probably be fighting for their NCAA lives at 13-8. They need to win all the matches they are favored in to stay above that .500 unless they pick up an upset. Tier 6Indiana : Really bad losses to FGCU and Ark St OOC but they've mostly held serve for their ranking in conference. They lose to the big girls and have beaten Rutgers and Northwestern rather handidly. I don't expect them to give anyone above them any trouble (maybe Purdue... I could see that) but a roadtrip out east will decide if they can stay out of the basement Maryland: You are probably way better than this tier, but you have 1 conference "win", got swept by Iowa twice, and have a BAD loss to Towson. You will have more chances to win and turn around the season, starting this week with Ohio State, who is VERY vulnerable on the road. You'll get Purdue and Indiana at home as well as a go at Northwestern and Illinois. Kinda disappointing to be talking like this after getting kinda excited about you going into the conference season. Northwestern: I forgot you the first time... that's about as much commentary needed here Tier 1034287Rutgers: I promised you a tier when you won a set and good old Indiana was happy to put out for you. I didn't promise to cease my endless crusade to point out how utterly terrible and useless to this conference you are. You get to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend! I put the over/under at 70 total points for you this weekend... maybe I'll go in person on Friday to witness the destruction myself. You do get Indiana and Northwestern at home so the chance for another set is out there. Like bigfoot. Also, and this is driving me nuts, it's "losses" not "loses". There's that fine THE Ohio State University education for you
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