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Post by Gorf on Nov 19, 2005 21:19:52 GMT -5
Northwestern leads the match 2-0 at the break.
Game 1: 30-24 Game 2: 30-28
The Wildcats had a big lead midway through the 2nd game, then the Wolverines came back to take the lead in the early 20s, but the Wildcats staged their own late comeback to take the game.
Northwestern is looking to win their 6th straight match.
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Post by Gorf on Nov 19, 2005 21:42:28 GMT -5
Michigan takes game 3 at 30-22.
Northwestern leads 2-1 heading to game 4.
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Post by Gorf on Nov 19, 2005 22:21:07 GMT -5
Northwestern takes game 4 at 30-24 and the match 3-1 to get their conference record to 9-9 and their overall record to 18-10.
With their final 2 matches of the conference season being against Wisconsin (at home) and Indiana (on the road) they're likely to be at worst 10-10 in the Big 10 and a pretty good bet for getting a bid to the NCAA tournament.
I believe only one that was at least 10-10 in the Big 10 since 1991 when Penn State joined the conference has not been given a bid to the NCAA tournaent.
On the flip side Michigan falls to 7-11 in the Big 10, 13-14 overall and all but officially eliminated from getting an NCAA tournament bid with their final 2 matches at home against Ohio State and Penn State. The Wolverines would have to win both of those matches to achieve an overall record over .500 at 15-14 to qualify for an NCAA tournament bid.
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Post by VBCOACH on Nov 20, 2005 0:50:15 GMT -5
This match wasn't nearly as well played (by either team, actually) as was last nights match vrs. Michigan State. Northwestern does win its 6 match in a row, so YEAAAAAAAAAAA!! for the Purple and White. Northwestern needs to go to the middle a LOT more, however, if they expect to do good in the NCAA'S. WAY to much high and outside stuff.
Michigans setting was horrid, and Marc Rosen switched setters at times. Yes, their passing was terrible, but the setting was crummy even with good passes.Sarah Draves (6'5" and listed as a Sophomore Middle Blocker) came off the bench at leftside hitter and got some kills, but Michigan isn't going to win many matches playing as poorly as they did tonight.
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Post by Wolfgang on Nov 20, 2005 13:47:59 GMT -5
Northwestern takes game 4 at 30-24 and the match 3-1 to get their conference record to 9-9 and their overall record to 18-10. With their final 2 matches of the conference season being against Wisconsin (at home) and Indiana (on the road) they're likely to be at worst 10-10 in the Big 10 and a pretty good bet for getting a bid to the NCAA tournament. Actually, Northwestern would be 9-11 at worst in the Big Ten, not 10-10. They could lose to Wisconsin AND Indiana. Yes, Indiana is crappy but that's why they play the games.
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Post by Go Iowa on Nov 20, 2005 16:51:40 GMT -5
That's why he said "likely." It's "likely" that they won't lose to Indiana, because few lose to them.
I don't think Northwestern should be invited either way... sure, they've played well recently, but throughout the season... yuck. I say that with much love, of course.
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Post by Gorf on Nov 20, 2005 16:58:21 GMT -5
A record of 18-10 at the moment and a decent chance to get 20 wins is playing poorly?
If they do manage to upset Wisconin next Wednesday that would give them 7 consecutive victories with 3 of those coming over top 20 ranked teams.
It is generally stated that playing well late in the regular season gets a team more regard in relation to getting NCAA tournament bids and Northwestern is certainly playing very well down the stretch.
They deserve some major consideration for a bid even if they do lose to Wisconsin and defeat Indiana.
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Post by Go Iowa on Nov 20, 2005 17:19:48 GMT -5
fine... if they beat Wisconsin, give them a bid. But let's not forget the ugliness in losing to Iowa and Michigan State earlier in the season, and they had a cupcake schedule outside of playing Arizona in the preseason. Going 10-10 in the Big Ten is just not that great in my eyes.
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Nov 20, 2005 20:22:30 GMT -5
Northwestern beats Indiana and they are in, regardless of what they do against Wisconsin.
Yeah, their non-conference wasn't the strongest (outside of the loss to Arizona), but it certainly was not the weakest non-conference schedule in the Big Ten. It did include wins over Kentucky, who are likely going to be invited, and Winthrop, who is definately going (won their conference). Put that together with wins over Purdue and Minnesota, and it easily takes care of their losses to Iowa and Michigan St.
You can claim all you want about bad losses and such, but in the end, there still have to be 34-odd at-large berths. You aren't going to find 34 teams without a bad loss that have the wins NW has.
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Post by sweetspot on Nov 20, 2005 20:31:14 GMT -5
Hey Go Iowa, you are on drugs. If there are 25 teams in America playing better than Northwestern right now, I will jog from Columbus Ohio to State College Penn. Northwestern is flat our for real right now! Not only will Northwestern get in the NCAA, they will win their first round match. I think Northwestern's RPI is in the low 30's.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2005 20:34:10 GMT -5
I think Northwestern deserves the bid. But their play is an indication of how much the rest of the Big10 has slipped. This is not that good of a team...
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Post by Go Iowa on Nov 20, 2005 20:50:09 GMT -5
Don't get your panties in a wad, people. It's just my opinion... and I get to see them (NU) play all the time, so it's not as if I'm pulling this out of my a$$.
On drugs or not, I agree with Ruff - the Big Ten teams have slipped (aside from Penn State). I'm a huge Big Ten fan, but Northwestern just is NOT that good.
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Post by bucky415 on Nov 20, 2005 23:35:01 GMT -5
I hope Wisconsin is able to play well and beat them. A match in Evanston the night before Thanksgiving seems to have danger written all over it for the Badgers. Wisconsin got the job done this weekend but wasn't as dominant overall as they were earlier in the season. On the good side, though, the Badgers swept Northwestern pretty easily in Madison a month and a half ago. I know Northwestern has been playing well recently (better than Wisconsin against their common opponents), but the Badgers still have a lot more talent, in my opinion. I hope that will get them through. On the good side, the passing and setting for the Badgers this weekend were both much improved from previous weeks.
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Post by sweetspot on Nov 21, 2005 9:30:15 GMT -5
I think all of the people who think the Big Ten is so down will be stunned when the Big Ten once again puts 4 or five teams in the Sweet 16.
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Post by JustMyTwoCents on Nov 21, 2005 9:42:15 GMT -5
Northwestern is a lock for the tourney.
If they had lost to Michigan and/or Michigan State, it would have been shaky shaky sweaty sweaty waiting to see. It's agreed they're not going to be anything more than a speedbump if they have to play Nebraska or Penn State or more than a few top 10 teams. But, they're playing well enough late in the season to get a bid.
It's likely they will be the last Big Ten team to get a bid. Unless Illinois can win out against Minnesota and Iowa (and not 5 game barnburners), the Big Ten will go the way of the Pac 10 where there are teams up there in the RKPI/RPI/Pablo but not eligible for the tourney. Indiana and Iowa were never in it. Michigan and Michigan State took themselves out of any consideration. Illinois is the only one left with a chance, albeit slim. They have had great success in Minneapolis, but Iowa has always been a stumbling block (even during the Rita years).
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