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Post by bucky415 on Oct 27, 2006 13:26:37 GMT -5
Purdue surely has a good chance to gain ground on the Badgers this weekend, but I still think the Badgers are a better team overall. Purdue, however, has managed to win their five gamers, while Wisconsin has struggled in that department after being really strong the last two years. The Boilers might not be dominant, but they have been clutch. Also, the fact that we are comparing them with the top teams in the conference just highlights what a job Shondell has done there. Initially, the biggest difference I saw in rally scoring was that it took Wisconsin more than an hour to beat Purdue. Now, the Badgers (and everyone else) just want to win that match in any amount of time.
While it is easier to look good against IU than against Penn State, I think you can take some things from a match regardless of the strength of the opposition. Did you avoid unforced errors? Were you able to serve tough? Also, they got everyone involved in the offense and had them be effective. That is a good sign, especially that the middles hit so well. They really weren't in rhythm against Minnesota and Wisconsin; I was wondering if Lynch ever really got to hit the ball with a full swing. It looks like that wasn't a problem against IU, so that is a good sign. It will be interesting to see how they fare next weekend, but the schedule after that is favorable.
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Post by bomber on Oct 27, 2006 13:32:32 GMT -5
We will see who is in 3rd place in the Big Ten, after this weekend. I bet it won't be Wisconsin! It's not really important who's in third place after this weekend. It would be way more relevant to look at the standings after the regular season is completed, not just after Wisconsin plays OSU and PSU while Purdue "tangles" with Indiana and Iowa this weekend. |
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Post by macktruck on Oct 27, 2006 13:55:59 GMT -5
It seems that many Badger fans are evaluating teams based on their performance in one match - at Wisconsin. I am not sure that is makes much sense. Wisconsin is a tough place to play - as our many Big Ten venues. I am sure Badger fans would hate to have their team ranked on thier efforts at Minnesota, Penn State, or their final three games at OSU.
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 27, 2006 14:16:11 GMT -5
I have also watched the televised matches of Purdue against Minnesota and Ohio State, so those have had an effect on my evaluation as well. I am pretty sure that the Wisconsin match was the worst of the year for Purdue, and I thought that when I was watching the match. Still, given those matches and some other close matches that the Boilers have won, I think the Boilers aren't quite as talented as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and PSU and thus have a little less margin for error to pull out wins. To their credit, they have gotten wins when things weren't going great for them, which is a mark of a good team.
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Post by bomber on Oct 27, 2006 14:37:11 GMT -5
It seems that many Badger fans are evaluating teams based on their performance in one match - at Wisconsin. I am not sure that is makes much sense. Wisconsin is a tough place to play - as our many Big Ten venues. I am sure Badger fans would hate to have their team ranked on thier efforts at Minnesota, Penn State, or their final three games at OSU. As a Badger fan,I wholeheartedly agree that it ridiculous to evaluate a team (or player, for that matter) based on one match. I even had a "discussion" with someone on this very subject on another thread. Which is why I said earlier above it would be best to evaluate how your team does AFTER the regular season ends. As opposed to this weekend, as some venturesome Boiler fan had proposed. |
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Post by BoilerUp! on Oct 27, 2006 14:56:10 GMT -5
It irks me to have someone say Wisconsin is heads and tails better than Purdue. Wisconsin has a tougher travel partner. Purdue had to play 6 out of its first 8 Big Ten matches on the road, with OSU and PSU thrown in as the "easy" home games. Ug. So maybe Purdue has had to battle more, but part of it is due to the schedule. And they had a cruddy game against Wisconsin, but I bet they don't when they play in the Boiler Box.
RPI
Rank Name Conf W-L Road Neut Home Non-Div I
9 Wisconsin Big Ten 15-5 5-3 2- 1 8-1 0-0
10 Purdue Big Ten 17-4 7-3 2- 0 8-1 0-0
That doesn't look heads and tails better to me.
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