Iowa baseball - opening weekend of games

[AuroraHawk]

Inside a month until first games in Charleston. Simply as FYI, the air temperature is currently 56 degrees warmer in Charleston than it is in Iowa City (-1 v. 55).

Some pre-season reading links to whet your appetite:

1. Opening opponent Seton Hall - picked to finish 3rd in Big East: https://shupirates.com/news/2023/12...amed-preseason-all-big-east-hall-tabbed-third

2. Saturday opponent Ball State - defending MAC tournament champs/NCAA qualifier: https://ballstatesports.com/news/2023/11/20/baseball-announces-2024-regular-season-schedule.aspx

3. Sunday opponent (8:00 a.m. CST first pitch!) Lehigh - here's their last year results (couldn't find anything notable about '24); they finished tied for 4th/5th in 6 team Patriot League: https://patriotleague.org/schedule.aspx?schedule=10406

Solid opening weekend. Seton Hall and Ball State will be good opponents. Lehigh is definitely a distant third in quality.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Charleston, South Carolina weather for Fri-Sun:

Friday: High of 64 and cloudy.
Saturday: High of 59, cloudy, 65% chance of rain
Sunday: High of 52, cloudy, 50% chance of rain

 

[AuroraHawk]

For those who may be interested . . not a a lot of depth but all quick reads from their respective university websites:

Seton Hall baseball's "heart and soul:" https://shupirates.com/news/2024/1/29/heart-and-soul-devin-hack-and-seton-hall-baseball

Ball State predicted to finish 2nd in MAC by conference coaches: https://ballstatesports.com/news/2024/2/13/baseball-voted-second-in-mac-preseason-poll.aspx

Lehigh's roster includes lots of newcomers: https://lehighsports.com/news/2024/1/24/eleven-newcomers-set-to-make-impact-for-lehigh-baseball.aspx

 

[obfuscating]

Let's go Hawks! What is their schedule ranking for 2024?

 

[GolfHacker1]

Let's go Hawks! What is their schedule ranking for 2024?

Moving target, but per Warren Nolan:

Strength of Schedule (SOS) - 2024 College Baseball | WarrenNolan.com

2024 College Baseball Strength of Schedule (SOS) Updated in REAL-TIME for Every Team at the Completion of Every Game.

www.warrennolan.com

They have enough key games to get to where they need to be. The B1G schedule is weak on its face, but there are always a couple of surprises. This year I think Illinois is a kinda sorta surprise.

 

[ICWestfan]

Moving target, but per Warren Nolan:

Strength of Schedule (SOS) - 2024 College Baseball | WarrenNolan.com

2024 College Baseball Strength of Schedule (SOS) Updated in REAL-TIME for Every Team at the Completion of Every Game.

www.warrennolan.com

They have enough key games to get to where they need to be. The B1G schedule is weak on its face, but there are always a couple of surprises. This year I think Illinois is a kinda sorta surprise.

I looked at your link, looked at BIG predictions, they have Iowa going 22-2 winning the conference but with an SoS of 62.

Are they doing the RPI thing again or did they revise/improve their methodology? I know that doesn't sound right....

 

[AuroraHawk]

Feeling a tad bit like a kid on Christmas . . . I just received confirmation from the USPS that my birthday present arrived in time for tomorrow's Opening Day. Ebbets Field Flannels had a replica U of Iowa baseball hat from the 1968 (year of my birth) team. Was able to get the last 7 3/8s one that they had in stock.

Should be a great lid: https://www.ebbets.com/collections/all/products/university-of-iowa-1968-vintage-ballcap

Will be listening to the game on the radio as I drive from Des Moines to Iowa City. Baseball on the radio is a wonderful thing.

 

[AuroraHawk]

I looked at your link, looked at BIG predictions, they have Iowa going 22-2 winning the conference but with an SoS of 62.

Are they doing the RPI thing again or did they revise/improve their methodology? I know that doesn't sound right....

FWIW, Iowa ended up #32 RPI last year and had a final SoS of 79. A SoS of 62 would be a nice "improvement."

That written, the metrics at this time of year are practically worthless.

EDIT: My original post used 2022 numbers; I knew they didn't look right. Ha!

 

[AuroraHawk]

Charleston, South Carolina weather for Fri-Sun:

Friday: High of 64 and cloudy.
Saturday: High of 59, cloudy, 65% chance of rain
Sunday: High of 52, cloudy, 50% chance of rain

59 degrees predicted for first pitch … and the chance of rain seems to have dissipated.

Let’s Play Ball! Go Hawks.

 

[Fair Child]

59 degrees predicted for first pitch … and the chance of rain seems to have dissipated.

Let’s Play Ball! Go Hawks.

Hey Fran can you get a
ink to watch todays baseball game? if not, ill just
istelisten..Thanks much!

 

[LutherAce]

@Franisdaman