Big Ten Announces Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket
Four top seeds to host quarterfinal matchups on Nov. 4
bigten.org
BIG tournament Friday
- Thread starter GeddyHoosier
- Start date
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Good luck, Hoosiers, from a Maryland fan who has lurked on this site for years, because your program is and was the class of the conference long before our team showed up...
I am actually confident IU wins tonight. PSU has been the most disappointing team in the country despite having everyone back pretty much.
What happened is Mangione and Butts have been their only two players willing to score a lot of goals this year. Last year those two put the ball in the back of the net a lot, but Privett and Kuhn combined for 14 goals as well in 2021. Fast forward to 2022 and those two have combined for two just goals. Teams now have to shut down two goal scoring threats instead of four which is easier. No idea why Kuhn and Privett have been basically invisible this year after doing so much last year. However, it has made defending the Nittany Lions a lot easier, hence their struggles.
Ironically, this path gives IU a chance to work way into the top 16 and bye in NCAA Tournament. With a PSU team sitting around 50 in the RPI, than a road game at top 20 Maryland, and another road game at top 35 Ohio State or top 50 Rutgers, that would boost RPI enough from the current 30 to near 16. If they had beaten the Terps they would have had all games at home(and home wins don't boost RPI like road wins do), first against NW who has an RPI in the 160's and beating them would have dropped it further. Team would have then hosted Ohio State or Penn State before hosting Maryland or Rutgers. This path would have had IU's RPI about 26 or 27 if they had held on last weekend but would have only bumped it up to 21 or 22 if IU had raised both trophies. Team would still likely be playing a first round NCAA game. Current draw has RPI at 30 right now but if team somehow wins the three games it would move into the top 20 and very close to 16 which should be enough. Since the team is a lock to make the NCAA Tourney no matter what, I would rather have a hard draw for the conference tourney that gives team a chance to move into top 16 if they somehow pull off the next three, then pull the double and play in the first round of NCAA's which is where team was headed until Maryland scored.
What happened is Mangione and Butts have been their only two players willing to score a lot of goals this year. Last year those two put the ball in the back of the net a lot, but Privett and Kuhn combined for 14 goals as well in 2021. Fast forward to 2022 and those two have combined for two just goals. Teams now have to shut down two goal scoring threats instead of four which is easier. No idea why Kuhn and Privett have been basically invisible this year after doing so much last year. However, it has made defending the Nittany Lions a lot easier, hence their struggles.
Ironically, this path gives IU a chance to work way into the top 16 and bye in NCAA Tournament. With a PSU team sitting around 50 in the RPI, than a road game at top 20 Maryland, and another road game at top 35 Ohio State or top 50 Rutgers, that would boost RPI enough from the current 30 to near 16. If they had beaten the Terps they would have had all games at home(and home wins don't boost RPI like road wins do), first against NW who has an RPI in the 160's and beating them would have dropped it further. Team would have then hosted Ohio State or Penn State before hosting Maryland or Rutgers. This path would have had IU's RPI about 26 or 27 if they had held on last weekend but would have only bumped it up to 21 or 22 if IU had raised both trophies. Team would still likely be playing a first round NCAA game. Current draw has RPI at 30 right now but if team somehow wins the three games it would move into the top 20 and very close to 16 which should be enough. Since the team is a lock to make the NCAA Tourney no matter what, I would rather have a hard draw for the conference tourney that gives team a chance to move into top 16 if they somehow pull off the next three, then pull the double and play in the first round of NCAA's which is where team was headed until Maryland scored.
Offensive futility around the league tonight. All 3 other games tied 0-0 late 2nd half, including NW at Maryland.
Looking like at Maryland, as NW gifts the Terps an own goal. OSU beats MSU and Rutgers heading to OT with Wisconsin.
Thanks for stopping by. It’s pretty dull on the Soccer Board, so always glad to have visitors. Great program you have as well!
