Sweet 16: Minnesota vs Ohio State | Dec 8 (Thu) 11 a.m.CT

[hipsterfilth]

I know the set scores could be 25-19, 25-13, and 25-21, but I don't know who I'm picking to win it.

I honestly think either team matches up about the same vs TX: As in, if they play to their absolute highest potential and TX doesn't, there's the potential for a five-set upset.

[AmeriCanVBfan]

Dec 5, 2022 11:43:06 GMT -5 hipsterfilth said:

I know the set scores could be 25-19, 25-13, and 25-21, but I don't know who I'm picking to win it.

I honestly think either team matches up about the same vs TX: As in, if they play to their absolute highest potential and TX doesn't, there's the potential for a five-set upset.

I like the way Minnesota is playing right now and I think they match up well against Texas.
I also think Marquette could beat Minnesota if they get past Texas.

[SayonaraTachikara]

Dec 5, 2022 11:55:59 GMT -5 AmeriCanVBfan said:

Dec 5, 2022 11:43:06 GMT -5 hipsterfilth said:

I know the set scores could be 25-19, 25-13, and 25-21, but I don't know who I'm picking to win it.

I honestly think either team matches up about the same vs TX: As in, if they play to their absolute highest potential and TX doesn't, there's the potential for a five-set upset.

I like the way Minnesota is playing right now and I think they match up well against Texas.
I also think Marquette could beat Minnesota if they get past Texas.

Minnesota and Ohio State have both been Jekyll and Hyde at times this year. Both teams have looked extremely dominant and then, not. Hopefully, both teams bring the best versions of themselves. If OSU starts thinking too much it will be a long day for them. 

[hornshouse23]

Both teams match up well against Texas but in opposite ways. Do we want left pin/big block? Or right pin/floor defense? No clue who I want/think will win but I’m hoping for a five set slugfest so whoever we see on Saturday (🙏) is still nursing their wounds.

[hipsterfilth]

Dec 5, 2022 12:08:55 GMT -5 hornshouse23 said:

Both teams match up well against Texas but in opposite ways. Do we want left pin/big block? Or right pin/floor defense? No clue who I want/think will win but I’m hoping for a five set slugfest so whoever we see on Saturday (🙏) is still nursing their wounds.

I think this is where the day off at regionals makes a huge diff tbh.

[BigDigEnergy]

Can anyone provide some stats comparison for these two teams, especially during the tournament or last 4-5 matches?

[volleynerd]

courtney lyle on the call as the play by play and holly mcpeak will do color

[spikerthemovie]

Dec 5, 2022 13:51:18 GMT -5 volleynerd said:

courtney lyle on the call as the play by play and holly mcpeak will do color

Excellent!

[spikerthemovie]

Dec 4, 2022 23:41:05 GMT -5 PeoriaBucky said:

Minnesota is impossible to read this year, and OSU had been on fire until abruptly faceplanting their final 4 games of the season (but now looking great again?), so I have no freaking clue how this is going to turn out. Any conceivable outcome would make sense, from a Minnesota sweep to an OSU one. Should be fun. Loser gets the Big Ten “Most Jekyll and Hyde Award” for 2022.

You mean the Gopher team that has won 12 consecutive sets?

[stanfordvb]

3 weeks ago this felt like an elite 8 matchup. im kinda sad

[stanfordvb]

Dec 4, 2022 16:42:48 GMT -5 slxpress said:

Dec 4, 2022 16:02:38 GMT -5 hgc159 said:

Regional of rematches. TX/OSU have already played 2x. OSU/MN 2x. TX/MN 1x.

Also, the Minnesota match against Texas was in Gregory, so the Gophers won’t exoperience the kind of shell shock we often see wit other opponents.

Although frankly the B1G has so many great venues I wouldn’t expect that to occur regardless.

Minnesota I think is used to it in general. texas is definitely more in your face than a lot of places, but nebraska, osu, psu, wisco are not easy places to play. even Maryland and Purdue get rowdy in their small gyms. and obviously as you mentioned they've already played in greg. I find it'd be hard to really phase any B1G team with an environment. yes, texas is said to be uniquely loud but a ton of rowdy passionate fans cheering against you is just another Wednesday night in the B1G. it'd be a bigger stage but shouldn't be something that effects either osu or Minnesota greatly

[slxpress]

Dec 5, 2022 15:57:16 GMT -5 stanfordvb said:

Dec 4, 2022 16:42:48 GMT -5 slxpress said:

Also, the Minnesota match against Texas was in Gregory, so the Gophers won’t exoperience the kind of shell shock we often see wit other opponents.

Although frankly the B1G has so many great venues I wouldn’t expect that to occur regardless.

Minnesota I think is used to it in general. texas is definitely more in your face than a lot of places, but nebraska, osu, psu, wisco are not easy places to play. even Maryland and Purdue get rowdy in their small gyms. and obviously as you mentioned they've already played in greg. I find it'd be hard to really phase any B1G team with an environment. yes, texas is said to be uniquely loud but a ton of rowdy passionate fans cheering against you is just another Wednesday night in the B1G. it'd be a bigger stage but shouldn't be something that effects either osu or Minnesota greatly

We're in agreement. The B1G prepares teams in a way that other conferences don't in that regard, frankly. Home court advantage still matters, though. While it's true B1G teams are prepared, they still tend to lose more often away from home, just like in every sport.

Of course, that said, here we are talking about a matchup where both teams won on their opponent's home floor, so there you go. 

[stanfordvb]

Dec 5, 2022 16:06:27 GMT -5 slxpress said:

Dec 5, 2022 15:57:16 GMT -5 stanfordvb said:

Minnesota I think is used to it in general. texas is definitely more in your face than a lot of places, but nebraska, osu, psu, wisco are not easy places to play. even Maryland and Purdue get rowdy in their small gyms. and obviously as you mentioned they've already played in greg. I find it'd be hard to really phase any B1G team with an environment. yes, texas is said to be uniquely loud but a ton of rowdy passionate fans cheering against you is just another Wednesday night in the B1G. it'd be a bigger stage but shouldn't be something that effects either osu or Minnesota greatly

We're in agreement. The B1G prepares teams in a way that other conferences don't in that regard, frankly. Home court advantage still matters, though. While it's true B1G teams are prepared, they still tend to lose more often away from home, just like in every sport.

Of course, that said, here we are talking about a matchup where both teams won on their opponent's home floor, so there you go. 

yes. would I ever wanna play in greg against texas? um maybe once in my career in preseason for the experience but for the tourney thats a hard pass. texas will probably be the most difficult environment of any of the regionals, but you couldn't ask for two teams more prepared for a crazy environment than minny and osu.
ive seen the powers of greg. there have certainly been times where I credit the fas in their with texas wins

[nellynel]

I wonder what the attendance will be like. I plan on attending but may be a few minutes late. I assume this match will have the feel of a pre-season early morning neutral court game.

[hangonsloopy]

Dec 5, 2022 12:08:55 GMT -5 hornshouse23 said:

Both teams match up well against Texas but in opposite ways. Do we want left pin/big block? Or right pin/floor defense? No clue who I want/think will win but I’m hoping for a five set slugfest so whoever we see on Saturday (🙏) is still nursing their wounds.

Ohio State only get wounds when they don’t play 5 sets.