Heller is on the verge of building something great. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the conference ends up going forward.
I thought it would be interesting to look at the teams surrounding Iowa and see how they compare IMO:
Minnesota: Anderson is a hall of famer and tremendous coach but his days are numbered. I do think that is a great job though. Minnesota has a TON of D1 talent and very little competition for them. Plus they have all of Wisconsin to go after too. They should always compete for the top of the conference. Iowa has a great weather advantage to sell as far as recruiting goes. but they really don't go head to head on players too often that I am aware of. Maybe on some Wisconsin and Illinois kids from time to time. I think Iowa can surpass them going forward as Anderson's time winds down.
Indiana: Lemonis did a nice job at Louisville but he just doesn't appear to be of the caliber to keep Indiana where they were under Tracy Smith IMO. I mean, just look at the guy? He doesn't take care of himself, how can recruits take that guy seriously? Once Smith's recruits filter through, I suspect IU will be above average to good with maybe a great season sprinkled in occasionally but I just don't think they will be knocking on the door for the CWS again anytime soon. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part but I just don't see "IT" with Lemonis. Indiana is a great area and they are surrounded by tremendous recruiting grounds but there is a ton of competition they have to compete against for those players.
On the positive side, they are probably in the best climate in the B1G as far as baseball goes. They should always compete but can they be elite?
Purdue: While their new stadium is nice and they had a good run for a few years, they don't have the resources to keep up with the big boys IMO. Will be interesting to see who they end up with replacing Schreiber. I don't see them being more than average to a decent run once in a while with an occasional bottom feeder sprinkled in.
Illinois: This is a good job with fertile recruiting in most every direction. Their coach has been there a while. I think he is a good coach but not a "great" or elite coach.. They should always be solid. I really think Iowa can over take them if they haven't already.
Nebraska: Are they capped out? Very possibly. Their fans will come here and say "BUT we made a regional this year!" That was a freaking gift from heaven for them and they know it. Maryland EASILY should have been in before them. I'm not sure how good of a coach Erstad is. I know they thought they would be the new B1G power after the move from the mighty B12. However, I can see Iowa surpassing them too. I think Heller is a better coach and the support is growing every day. This will be interesting to watch Iowa over take them. Nebraska has great support, but as in football, their fans are unrealistic and live on history. They are not near great recruiting and now that they are playing in the northern based B1G, I think that hurts them.
Northwestern: Could be a bit of a sleeping (mini, mini) giant. I think they can maybe be like FB, solid to occasionally really good. Might get to the point where you have to come to play each game with them. Just like FB. Geeks can play ball and they are in a good position. New stadium. New coach replacing a guy that was just collecting a paycheck. They could be a real thorn in the side of many B1G programs. I don't think they will be a near lock as a sweep or at worst a series win in a few years.
So, looking at those 6 teams, I can certainly see Iowa as THE program in the midwest going forward. Sure, there is a bit of homerism in this but the momentum is there. Thoughts?
I thought it would be interesting to look at the teams surrounding Iowa and see how they compare IMO:
Minnesota: Anderson is a hall of famer and tremendous coach but his days are numbered. I do think that is a great job though. Minnesota has a TON of D1 talent and very little competition for them. Plus they have all of Wisconsin to go after too. They should always compete for the top of the conference. Iowa has a great weather advantage to sell as far as recruiting goes. but they really don't go head to head on players too often that I am aware of. Maybe on some Wisconsin and Illinois kids from time to time. I think Iowa can surpass them going forward as Anderson's time winds down.
Indiana: Lemonis did a nice job at Louisville but he just doesn't appear to be of the caliber to keep Indiana where they were under Tracy Smith IMO. I mean, just look at the guy? He doesn't take care of himself, how can recruits take that guy seriously? Once Smith's recruits filter through, I suspect IU will be above average to good with maybe a great season sprinkled in occasionally but I just don't think they will be knocking on the door for the CWS again anytime soon. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part but I just don't see "IT" with Lemonis. Indiana is a great area and they are surrounded by tremendous recruiting grounds but there is a ton of competition they have to compete against for those players.
On the positive side, they are probably in the best climate in the B1G as far as baseball goes. They should always compete but can they be elite?
Purdue: While their new stadium is nice and they had a good run for a few years, they don't have the resources to keep up with the big boys IMO. Will be interesting to see who they end up with replacing Schreiber. I don't see them being more than average to a decent run once in a while with an occasional bottom feeder sprinkled in.
Illinois: This is a good job with fertile recruiting in most every direction. Their coach has been there a while. I think he is a good coach but not a "great" or elite coach.. They should always be solid. I really think Iowa can over take them if they haven't already.
Nebraska: Are they capped out? Very possibly. Their fans will come here and say "BUT we made a regional this year!" That was a freaking gift from heaven for them and they know it. Maryland EASILY should have been in before them. I'm not sure how good of a coach Erstad is. I know they thought they would be the new B1G power after the move from the mighty B12. However, I can see Iowa surpassing them too. I think Heller is a better coach and the support is growing every day. This will be interesting to watch Iowa over take them. Nebraska has great support, but as in football, their fans are unrealistic and live on history. They are not near great recruiting and now that they are playing in the northern based B1G, I think that hurts them.
Northwestern: Could be a bit of a sleeping (mini, mini) giant. I think they can maybe be like FB, solid to occasionally really good. Might get to the point where you have to come to play each game with them. Just like FB. Geeks can play ball and they are in a good position. New stadium. New coach replacing a guy that was just collecting a paycheck. They could be a real thorn in the side of many B1G programs. I don't think they will be a near lock as a sweep or at worst a series win in a few years.
So, looking at those 6 teams, I can certainly see Iowa as THE program in the midwest going forward. Sure, there is a bit of homerism in this but the momentum is there. Thoughts?
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