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Post by Kearney Kingston on Jul 18, 2024 18:29:48 GMT -5
Tier 2 Serious Challengers Penn State, Purdue Tier 2 1/2 Possible Challengers The other teams you mentioned + Indiana. I am curious about Michigan State this season. Does anyone think they might give Minnesota and USC a run for the money? I don’t. Michigan State has created a self-initiated stir of sorts with their social media and staff posts. One big win last year - a home match vs. Penn State. Nothing else on the entire season. Players out and players in. Mostly noise. If UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon were not joining the league, they have outside chance of upper-half finish. With those four - it’s a long shot.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 18, 2024 18:50:51 GMT -5
I am curious about Michigan State this season. Does anyone think they might give Minnesota and USC a run for the money? I don’t. Michigan State has created a self-initiated stir of sorts with their social media and staff posts. One big win last year - a home match vs. Penn State. Nothing else on the entire season. Players out and players in. Mostly noise. If UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon were not joining the league, they have outside chance of upper-half finish. With those four - it’s a long shot. For sh*ts and giggles....lets do a comparison of Michigan State and USC (whom you put in the same tier as Penn State and Purdue). Of the returning players, other than middle blocker, where do you see USC as having a notable advantage over Michigan State? I ask because having actually watched a lot of USC last year, and a decent amount of Michigan State, my personal disdain for all things USC aside, I can't see anything distinctively different between those two programs re setting, returning pin quality, serving effectiveness, or quality backcourt touches (both in serve receive and defensively). I don't mean to lay it on but USC outside of Skylar Fields and non-stuff block-block touches, USC was pretty average last year as it relates to middle conference P5 teams. That isn't my opinion, it's just fact. Now, that's not to say they can't or won't be as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, they very well could!...heck, for all we know, Michigan State could also be just as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, we won't actually know until the matches are played. I'm just talking about things we could discuss objectively.
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Post by jwvolley on Jul 18, 2024 19:53:13 GMT -5
Do we know any of the schools' selected athletes for B1G Media Day in a couple of weeks?
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Post by gopherhim on Jul 18, 2024 20:05:49 GMT -5
Do we know any of the schools' selected athletes for B1G Media Day in a couple of weeks? Mckenna Wucherer and Lydia Grote will be representing the Gophers.
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Post by huskersoftroy on Jul 18, 2024 20:20:50 GMT -5
Tier 2 Serious Challengers Penn State, Purdue Tier 2 1/2 Possible Challengers The other teams you mentioned + Indiana. I am curious about Michigan State this season. Does anyone think they might give Minnesota and USC a run for the money? I’d probably give USC the edge due to the advantages at Middles and Setter. Depending on how both teams outside situation shakes out MSU could have the advantage there. Libero is probably a tossup honestly and Opposite is a hard one to predict. I do think Michigan State could finish towards the top of “Tier Three” teams this year ahead of Washington, Maryland, etc. Definitely a lot of potential for them this year.
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Post by gopherhim on Jul 18, 2024 20:21:34 GMT -5
Do we know any of the schools' selected athletes for B1G Media Day in a couple of weeks? Mckenna Wucherer and Lydia Grote will be representing the Gophers. Didn't dig through social media but after some quick googling, the only other school that has named participants is Iowa. Michelle Urquhart (OH, Sr.) and Anna Davis (MB, Sr.)
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Post by PostPrime on Jul 18, 2024 20:25:42 GMT -5
I am curious about Michigan State this season. Does anyone think they might give Minnesota and USC a run for the money? I’d probably give USC the edge due to the advantages at Middles and Setter. Depending on how both teams outside situation shakes out MSU could have the advantage there. Libero is probably a tossup honestly and Opposite is a hard one to predict. I do think Michigan State could finish towards the top of “Tier Three” teams this year ahead of Washington, Maryland, etc. Definitely a lot of potential for them this year. That edge may be blunted by the massive amount of miles traveling. That will be a factor in November IMO.
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Post by wahinefan on Jul 18, 2024 20:31:06 GMT -5
I would not put USC that high. They somehow seem to self implode every year. No matter how much talent they have. This will be magnified in the B1G.
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Post by psuvbfan10 on Jul 18, 2024 20:31:28 GMT -5
Gotta feel for Rutgers. In 2023 they had a strong non-con record, plus a huge victory against Minnesota and few five setters against other mid-to-low tier B1G teams. It felt like they might be on the brink of getting out of the basement with another year of development… And then they lose Nayar, Chitty, Grkovic, Rikki Williams(?) and Humphrey. Ouch , are they grads with an extra year?
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Post by photos1 on Jul 18, 2024 20:45:24 GMT -5
I would not put USC that high. They somehow seem to self implode every year. No matter how much talent they have. This will be magnified in the B1G. That was pre-Tyler…
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Post by sparty1855el on Jul 18, 2024 20:49:08 GMT -5
I am curious about Michigan State this season. Does anyone think they might give Minnesota and USC a run for the money? I don’t. Michigan State has created a self-initiated stir of sorts with their social media and staff posts. One big win last year - a home match vs. Penn State. Nothing else on the entire season. Players out and players in. Mostly noise. If UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon were not joining the league, they have outside chance of upper-half finish. With those four - it’s a long shot. Looking at their team Instagram right now and really don't see any posts that are out of the ordinary for other teams? Awards, players playing overseas this summer, holidays, recruiting, birthday posts, marketing for team store/kids club, schedule announcement. Isn't this the same stuff that almost every team is posting? There's a few posts where they collaborated with content someone else made but otherwise only a few posts strayed from those same things most teams post.
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Post by Kearney Kingston on Jul 18, 2024 20:59:56 GMT -5
I don’t. Michigan State has created a self-initiated stir of sorts with their social media and staff posts. One big win last year - a home match vs. Penn State. Nothing else on the entire season. Players out and players in. Mostly noise. If UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon were not joining the league, they have outside chance of upper-half finish. With those four - it’s a long shot. For sh*ts and giggles....lets do a comparison of Michigan State and USC (whom you put in the same tier as Penn State and Purdue). Of the returning players, other than middle blocker, where do you see USC as having a notable advantage over Michigan State? I ask because having actually watched a lot of USC last year, and a decent amount of Michigan State, my personal disdain for all things USC aside, I can't see anything distinctively different between those two programs re setting, returning pin quality, serving effectiveness, or quality backcourt touches (both in serve receive and defensively). I don't mean to lay it on but USC outside of Skylar Fields and non-stuff block-block touches, USC was pretty average last year as it relates to middle conference P5 teams. That isn't my opinion, it's just fact. Now, that's not to say they can't or won't be as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, they very well could!...heck, for all we know, Michigan State could also be just as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, we won't actually know until the matches are played. I'm just talking about things we could discuss objectively. I have tremendous respect for your knowledge of the game and the teams. Maybe I’m giving the 2023 PAC 12 too much credit. But I see SC beating teams of note, Illinois, San Diego, Purdue, UCLA, Utah 2X, Colorado, Washington 2X, Arizona State, and Wash State. I see MSU beating teams of note, UNC, Northwestern, Penn State, and Maryland. I believe Sparty returns more starters. But USC has rebuilt as well. I
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Post by photos1 on Jul 18, 2024 21:01:22 GMT -5
I don’t. Michigan State has created a self-initiated stir of sorts with their social media and staff posts. One big win last year - a home match vs. Penn State. Nothing else on the entire season. Players out and players in. Mostly noise. If UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon were not joining the league, they have outside chance of upper-half finish. With those four - it’s a long shot. For sh*ts and giggles....let’s do a comparison of Michigan State and USC (whom you put in the same tier as Penn State and Purdue). Of the returning players, other than middle blocker, where do you see USC as having a notable advantage over Michigan State? I ask because having actually watched a lot of USC last year, and a decent amount of Michigan State, my personal disdain for all things USC aside, I can't see anything distinctively different between those two programs re setting, returning pin quality, serving effectiveness, or quality backcourt touches (both in serve receive and defensively). I don't mean to lay it on but USC outside of Skylar Fields and non-stuff block-block touches, USC was pretty average last year as it relates to middle conference P5 teams. That isn't my opinion, it's just fact. Now, that's not to say they can't or won't be as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, they very well could!...heck, for all we know, Michigan State could also be just as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, we won't actually know until the matches are played. I'm just talking about things we could discuss objectively. Oh come on, just at setter, Mia Tuaniga vs anyone poor Johnson sends out there is a colossal mismatch… and there is a massive coaching staff mismatch. USC’s roster is on another level… these two are on different levels… There is nothing from 2023 that can possibly give any credence to Michigan state being in any position to challenge Purdue…or Penn State. Sorry 🏐
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 18, 2024 21:07:51 GMT -5
For sh*ts and giggles....lets do a comparison of Michigan State and USC (whom you put in the same tier as Penn State and Purdue). Of the returning players, other than middle blocker, where do you see USC as having a notable advantage over Michigan State? I ask because having actually watched a lot of USC last year, and a decent amount of Michigan State, my personal disdain for all things USC aside, I can't see anything distinctively different between those two programs re setting, returning pin quality, serving effectiveness, or quality backcourt touches (both in serve receive and defensively). I don't mean to lay it on but USC outside of Skylar Fields and non-stuff block-block touches, USC was pretty average last year as it relates to middle conference P5 teams. That isn't my opinion, it's just fact. Now, that's not to say they can't or won't be as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, they very well could!...heck, for all we know, Michigan State could also be just as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, we won't actually know until the matches are played. I'm just talking about things we could discuss objectively. I have tremendous respect for your knowledge of the game and the teams. Maybe I’m giving the 2023 PAC 12 too much credit. But I see SC beating teams of note, Illinois, San Diego, Purdue, UCLA, Utah 2X, Colorado, Washington 2X, Arizona State, and Wash State. I see MSU beating teams of note, UNC, Northwestern, Penn State, and Maryland. I believe Sparty returns more starters. But USC has rebuilt as well. I But those wins for USC came on the back of Skylar Fields. I don’t disagree that USC has talent, but one doesn’t just rebuild a player who produced almost 6 points per set hitting almost .300 with Ally Batenhorst and a bunch of freshmen. I’m not even trying to rag on USC with that, it’s just the truth.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 18, 2024 21:14:38 GMT -5
For sh*ts and giggles....let’s do a comparison of Michigan State and USC (whom you put in the same tier as Penn State and Purdue). Of the returning players, other than middle blocker, where do you see USC as having a notable advantage over Michigan State? I ask because having actually watched a lot of USC last year, and a decent amount of Michigan State, my personal disdain for all things USC aside, I can't see anything distinctively different between those two programs re setting, returning pin quality, serving effectiveness, or quality backcourt touches (both in serve receive and defensively). I don't mean to lay it on but USC outside of Skylar Fields and non-stuff block-block touches, USC was pretty average last year as it relates to middle conference P5 teams. That isn't my opinion, it's just fact. Now, that's not to say they can't or won't be as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, they very well could!...heck, for all we know, Michigan State could also be just as good as Penn State or Purdue this upcoming year, we won't actually know until the matches are played. I'm just talking about things we could discuss objectively. Oh come on, just at setter, Mia Tuaniga vs anyone poor Johnson sends out there is a colossal mismatch… and there is a massive coaching staff mismatch. USC’s roster is on another level… these two are on different levels… There is nothing from 2023 that can possibly give any credence to Michigan state being in any position to challenge Purdue…or Penn State. Sorry 🏐 USC was 19-13 with a team full of blue chip recruits and probably the best attacker in the country last year. Spare us with the Brad Keller is a great coach narrative. I’ll believe it when I see it.
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