today with Purdue to finish out that series. Link:
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/m-basebl-standings.html
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/m-basebl-standings.html
Here are the B1G standings after the weekend action. Neb has a game...
- Thread starter ptrich
- Start date
Do I have it right that if we win one of our last 3 against OSU or Minn loses of if its last 3 games against MSU, we can finish no worse than 8th in the B1G, qualifiying for the tournament?
That's correct...or...if IU sweeps OSU and MD and MSU are swept (all those 13-8 teams are on the road this weekend), couldn't IU finish 4th (12-10 being a better pct than 13-11).
I like your positive thinking rather than my defensive posture. VBG
IU got no favors from the schedule this season. They played all 6 teams ahead of them and only PSU and Rutgers out of the 6 teams below them in the standings. And until Maryland, they had lost series to Illinois, Iowa, Michigan St and Michigan. But after dominating Maryland in College Park, why not think they can dominate the Bucks at home?
Why not think they can? Because the game of baseball can be a cruel mistress. We are getting hot at the right time, but the game can turn on you quick. Important week/weekend.
snowling
Hall of Famer
Follows with this discussion:
Embracing the pressure
Hoosiers have won five of last six games heading into final week of season
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana baseball isn’t downplaying the pressure it’s facing.
The Hoosiers needed a late-season surge in order to salvage any chance of qualifying for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
They nearly squandered their chances away after losing game one of a three-game series with Long Beach State, putting themselves squarely on the brink once again.
Indiana’s response? Back-to-back come from behind wins to take the series with the Dirtbags.
The series is just the latest addition to a resume that already includes 10 wins against ranked opponents, four of which were top-15 wins, and the best strength of schedule in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers have embraced playing under pressure, and it’s working.
“When a team’s back is against the wall, it has to show its true colors,” senior second baseman Casey Rodrigue said. “Maybe we like the pressure? Maybe we respond better to a pressure situation? That’s great because in the playoffs it’s magnified 100 times.”
Head coach Chris Lemonis said the playoffs may have well started about three weeks ago because that’s the mindset his team has been playing with. He said every game has been treated as a must-win because of how close IU is to making the NCAA Tournament field.
The latest projection from D1baseball.com has IU as the last team out of the NCAA Tournament, but those projections came before IU took the series against Long Beach State.
Regardless of if the Hoosiers sneak into the field with the newest projections set to come out later this week, one thing is certain: IU’s four remaining games against Ball State and Ohio State will be crucial.
“We’re fighting for our lives right now,” Rodrigue said. “We’re kind of like a wild card team, so every win helps getting to the postseason. Hopefully, we’re going to run the table and maybe not have to win the (Big Ten) Tournament to get to the NCAA Tournament.”
The self-described wild card has now won five of its last six games between a sweep against then-No. 20 Maryland and taking two from Long Beach State. The streak has been a welcome turnaround after losing four games in a row before getting hot.
Senior pitcher Ryan Halstead said the difference in the last two weeks has been a combination of timely hitting and strong pitching coming together at the same time.
Halstead has been part of a bullpen effort that has earned Lemonis’ praise for eating up innings lately. Lemonis said the next step forward is being able to extend his starters a bit longer.
Lemonis said the hitting, especially with two outs, has been key. Indiana has averaged 7.5 runs per game in the last six after managing just 2.75 per game in the previous four.
“We’re having some guys play at a high level right now,” Lemonis said.
The next challenge is maintaining that high level of play.
Indiana will travel Muncie, Ind. on Tuesday for a mid-week game before finishing with three games against Ohio State Thursday-Saturday.
All IU needs is one Big Ten win or a Minnesota loss to secure a berth in the Big Ten Tournament, but the Hoosiers hope that’s only the beginning of their postseason run.
IU senior outfielder Will Nolden said last week that IU never lost faith in itself even when struggling. He said the Hoosiers have always felt like they’re an NCAA Tournament caliber team.
With four regular-season games remaining, all that’s left to do is prove it.
“We’re starting to gel as a team late, so that’s a good sign,” Halstead said. “Everyone’s playing well. We’re getting great at-bats out of our hitters. Pitchers are coming in throwing strikes. It’s just what we need right now."
Go Hoosiers!
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051115aaa.html
Embracing the pressure
Hoosiers have won five of last six games heading into final week of season
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana baseball isn’t downplaying the pressure it’s facing.
The Hoosiers needed a late-season surge in order to salvage any chance of qualifying for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
They nearly squandered their chances away after losing game one of a three-game series with Long Beach State, putting themselves squarely on the brink once again.
Indiana’s response? Back-to-back come from behind wins to take the series with the Dirtbags.
The series is just the latest addition to a resume that already includes 10 wins against ranked opponents, four of which were top-15 wins, and the best strength of schedule in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers have embraced playing under pressure, and it’s working.
“When a team’s back is against the wall, it has to show its true colors,” senior second baseman Casey Rodrigue said. “Maybe we like the pressure? Maybe we respond better to a pressure situation? That’s great because in the playoffs it’s magnified 100 times.”
Head coach Chris Lemonis said the playoffs may have well started about three weeks ago because that’s the mindset his team has been playing with. He said every game has been treated as a must-win because of how close IU is to making the NCAA Tournament field.
The latest projection from D1baseball.com has IU as the last team out of the NCAA Tournament, but those projections came before IU took the series against Long Beach State.
Regardless of if the Hoosiers sneak into the field with the newest projections set to come out later this week, one thing is certain: IU’s four remaining games against Ball State and Ohio State will be crucial.
“We’re fighting for our lives right now,” Rodrigue said. “We’re kind of like a wild card team, so every win helps getting to the postseason. Hopefully, we’re going to run the table and maybe not have to win the (Big Ten) Tournament to get to the NCAA Tournament.”
The self-described wild card has now won five of its last six games between a sweep against then-No. 20 Maryland and taking two from Long Beach State. The streak has been a welcome turnaround after losing four games in a row before getting hot.
Senior pitcher Ryan Halstead said the difference in the last two weeks has been a combination of timely hitting and strong pitching coming together at the same time.
Halstead has been part of a bullpen effort that has earned Lemonis’ praise for eating up innings lately. Lemonis said the next step forward is being able to extend his starters a bit longer.
Lemonis said the hitting, especially with two outs, has been key. Indiana has averaged 7.5 runs per game in the last six after managing just 2.75 per game in the previous four.
“We’re having some guys play at a high level right now,” Lemonis said.
The next challenge is maintaining that high level of play.
Indiana will travel Muncie, Ind. on Tuesday for a mid-week game before finishing with three games against Ohio State Thursday-Saturday.
All IU needs is one Big Ten win or a Minnesota loss to secure a berth in the Big Ten Tournament, but the Hoosiers hope that’s only the beginning of their postseason run.
IU senior outfielder Will Nolden said last week that IU never lost faith in itself even when struggling. He said the Hoosiers have always felt like they’re an NCAA Tournament caliber team.
With four regular-season games remaining, all that’s left to do is prove it.
“We’re starting to gel as a team late, so that’s a good sign,” Halstead said. “Everyone’s playing well. We’re getting great at-bats out of our hitters. Pitchers are coming in throwing strikes. It’s just what we need right now."
Go Hoosiers!
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051115aaa.html
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