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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 16, 2006 19:16:34 GMT -5
This weekend marks the end of the 1st half of Big Tens, and it's certainly been a wild year thus far -- save Penn State, you can't count on anyone coming out victorious. Two questions arise:
1. Could a record 9 teams make it to the NCAA tourney and is the conference deserving (watch out for Pac 10 onslaught here)?
2. Could Megan Hodge be both the freshman AND player of the year in the Big Ten? She leads in kills and points, top 5 in aces, and plays all the way around. Can't think of a better candidiate. Thoughts?
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Post by BearClause on Oct 16, 2006 19:33:53 GMT -5
3 of 11 Big-10 teams look like they're headed for overall losing records. I'm guessing 7 will make the NCAA Tournament.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2006 20:34:09 GMT -5
I doubt Hodge would get POY over Fawcett. But who knows? There's still 12 games to be played.
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Post by abcd098 on Oct 16, 2006 20:37:41 GMT -5
Locks for the tourney: 1. PSU 2. Wisconsin 3. Minnesota 4. Purdue
Bubble Teams: -OSU (the way they are playing, who knows where they will be in December) -Michigan -MSU -Northwestern -Illinois
I would say the overall play in the Big Ten is down a little this year, but all of the teams besides PSU seem to be a lot closer together.
I think Hodge is the frontrunner for Big Ten POY. Who else is having a better year than her?
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Post by wiscvball on Oct 16, 2006 20:40:46 GMT -5
I know it's early, but could the Big Ten have three freshman on the all-big ten team?
Hodge is a lock from PSU, Glass is close to a lock.
Dolgner from UW is probably their best cadidate from the hitting position. In big ten play she's averaging 5.04 kills/gm @.255%, 2.3dpg, and .8bpg.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but has the big ten ever had three freshman make the first team in the same season?
Dolgner's probably a longshot, but hopefully she'll at least put together a nice enough season to merit HM all-big ten.
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Post by D. B. Cooper on Oct 16, 2006 20:41:15 GMT -5
While Fawcett has the better hitting %, Hodge has her in kills, points, aces, digs and plays all around. Looks like Hodge to me.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2006 20:42:03 GMT -5
OK. Is someone pulling my leg? Fawcett is hitting .350+ in the Big10 and Hodge is at .287. She does have more kills.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2006 20:46:30 GMT -5
Never mind. I read the stats wrong. It's .335 to .278. But Hodge leads the team in digs. Maybe you're right.
Still a long ways to go and I'm sure they'd prefer to honor both players.
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Post by D. B. Cooper on Oct 16, 2006 20:50:55 GMT -5
Hodge has 6.28 kills per game in the BIG 10. Averaging 7.18 points per game. If you look at the stats as a whole, Hodge looks better.
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Post by ugopher on Oct 16, 2006 20:56:04 GMT -5
Hodge takes a ton of swings which would lead to a lower %. In one match this past weekend I believe she had 56 swings in a 3 game match.
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Post by parent on Oct 16, 2006 21:35:58 GMT -5
Glass is close to a lock? Only because she just chucks the ball to her outsides.
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Post by parent on Oct 16, 2006 21:36:48 GMT -5
Hodge is the best player to ever hit the Big Ten, no question. Is't scary to think how good she'll be as a senior.
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Post by dontknowjack on Oct 16, 2006 21:57:12 GMT -5
I think Hodge's overall game is superior to Fawcett's. To hit .278 as an outside is pretty stellar (Collymore was in the .230 or .240 range last year and a 1st team AA), so given that Hodge takes a ton of swings out of the backrow, it's impressive. Plus she passes and plays D, and rips a jump serve. Nothing against Fawcett's stats, but if I were voting for a POY, I'd have to go with Hodge.
Glass is a lock for All-Frosh and could easily be All-Big Ten, given that she leads the conference (conference matches) in APG. Hard to argue against that.
In terms of NCAAs, I think 6 at a minimum, and would guess 8 or 9 could sneak in. PSU is at a national title level, but the rest of the conference, save Indy and Iowa at this point, are all NCAA caliber -- thus, I would argue that the conference is "down". Rather, there is more parity. I don't think the years when the top 6 were top 25 worthy and the bottom 5 were basement dwellers made for "up" years.
In: PSU, Wisc, Minnesota, Purdue, Ohio State (they will find a way to sneak out at least 11 or 12 wins, if not more)
Bubble: Mich State (getting better and better, easy preseason helped record); Michigan (still overrated, but the somewalk cakewalk 13-0 preseason gave major cushion); Northwestern (seem to be pulling what they usually do, a slow start with an impressive 2nd half; hard preconference should be considered); Illinois (gaining momentum...at home; easy preconference was also helpful to bolster wins)
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Post by Gorf on Oct 16, 2006 23:02:59 GMT -5
Hodge is the best player to ever hit the Big Ten, no question. Is't scary to think how good she'll be as a senior. While Hodge has definitely shown herself to be a dominant player thus far, she has a long way to go in order to be given the crown of the "best ever Big 10 player". I can think of at least a few other PSU player that many might bring up in differing with your opinion. Terri Zemaitis, 3 time 1st team AA: 1995, 96, 97 Bonnie Bremner, 3 time 1st team AA: 1996, 97, 98, 99 Lauren Cacciamani, 3: time 1st team AA: 1997, 98, 99 (POY) Those three got their team to the nation champtionship match 3 consecutive years in 1997 (3-2 to Stanford), 1998 (3-2 loss to LBSU), 1999 (3-0 win over Stanford). Since Hodge also has a lot of talented players on her team, until she can gets close to doing something similar to those 3 players many could easily quuestion whether she's the best volleyball player in school history let alone the best player ever in the Big 10. There have been many excellent players in the Big 10 since the NCAA era began that could also be mentioned who have already had 4 year stellar careers while Hodge hasn't completed her first year yet. I'll give you one of my favorites from the 80s: Mary Eggers - Big 10 FOY in 85, followed by 3 consecutive Big 10 POY awards. - Led Illinois to 3 consecutive Big 10 titles with the Illini going 53-1 in conference and 97-14 overall. - Let the Illinios to 2 consecutive Final Fours in 1987 and 1988. - She was a 3 time first team AA award winner including becomeing the Big 10's first ever National POY in 1988.
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Post by Gorf on Oct 16, 2006 23:04:47 GMT -5
Hodge takes a ton of swings which would lead to a lower %. In one match this past weekend I believe she had 56 swings in a 3 game match. It also leads to a higher kills per game average.
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