Michigan now 7-0 in the B1G; Iowa in 5th place; its gonna be hard to catch the Wolverines

[Franisdaman]

UPDATE thru Fri Apr 13th's games:

Michigan now 7-0 in the B1G; Iowa is in 5th place; its gonna be hard to catch the Wolverines I am afraid.

Here is a link to the standings: http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/big10-m-basebl-body.html


ORIGINAL POST:

First, I am assuming the regular season B1G champion is considered the official B1G Champion, similar to men's basketball. The B1G Tournament champion simply gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Am I correct on that?

Also, when you look at the current standings, who da thunk IU would be so far down? Michigan is most certainly benefiting from an easy schedule. Michigan's B1G schedule is at the end of this post; as you can see, NO Indiana, NO Minnesota, and NO Ohio State; we will need help from Rutgers, Purdue and the ILLINI.

Michigan has 3 wins vs MSU and 3 wins vs N'western, but take a look at those 2 team's current RPI's: Meanwhile, take a look at Iowa's first 3 B1G opponents' RPI's. Talk about a huge difference in Iowa's schedule vs Michigan's schedule.

RPI's After completion of Apr 8 games:

20 IU
35 Illinois
36 Iowa
51 OSU
52 Minny
67 Purdue
68 Michigan
103 Maryland
114 Nebraska
143 Rutgers
212 Michigan St
221 Penn St
222 N'western


CURRENT STANDINGS

Michigan 6-0-0
Minnesota 5-1-0
Rutgers 4-2-0
Purdue 4-2-0
Illinois 5-3-0
Iowa 5-3-0
Indiana 3-2-0
Maryland 3-2-0
Ohio State 3-3-0
Michigan State 3-5-0
Nebraska 2-6-0
Northwestern 1-8-0
Penn State 1-8-0

MICHIGAN"S B1G Schedule
03/23/18 MICHIGAN STATE W 12-3
03/24/18 at Michigan State W 3-1
03/25/18 MICHIGAN STATE W 11-0
03/28/18 CENTRAL MICH. W 8-5
03/30/18 DELAWARE W 6-2
03/31/18 DELAWARE W 11-0
04/01/18 DELAWARE W 4-2
04/04/18 TOLEDO 4:00 PM
04/07/18 at Northwestern W 6-0
04/07/18 at Northwestern W 3-0
04/08/18 at Northwestern W 7-3
04/13/18 MARYLAND 4:00 PM
04/14/18 MARYLAND 2:00 PM
04/15/18 MARYLAND 2:30 PM
04/20/18 PENN STATE 4:00 PM
04/21/18 PENN STATE 2:00 PM
04/22/18 PENN STATE 1:00 PM
04/27/18 at Iowa 7:05 PM
04/28/18 at Iowa 3:05 PM
04/29/18 at Iowa 2:05 PM
05/01/18 EASTERN MICH. 6:00 PM
05/02/18 at Eastern Mich. 6:00 PM
05/04/18 at Rutgers 3:00 PM
05/05/18 at Rutgers 1:00 PM
05/06/18 at Rutgers 1:00 PM
05/08/18 at Central Mich. 4:00 PM
05/09/18 at Michigan State 3:00 PM
05/11/18 ILLINOIS 6:00 PM
05/12/18 ILLINOIS 2:00 PM
05/13/18 ILLINOIS 12:00 PM
05/17/18 at Purdue 6:00 PM
05/18/18 at Purdue 6:00 PM
05/19/18 at Purdue 1:00 PM

 

[BeepBeepInMyJeep]

That Michigan series will be big. But they are gonna have to win a lot to overcome the RPI hit of their schedule short of winning the tourney. I would much rather be in our position.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

That Michigan series will be big. But they are gonna have to win a lot to overcome the RPI hit of their schedule short of winning the tourney. I would much rather be in our position.

If they win the regular season title and have an RPI anywhere in the 50's or even low 60's my guess it they'd get in as a courtesy.

 

[Franisdaman]

Is the regular season Big 10 Champion or the Big 10 Tournament Champion considered the "true" B1G Champion?

 

[StormHawk42]

Is the regular season Big 10 Champion or the Big 10 Tournament Champion considered the "true" B1G Champion?

Tournament winner gets the auto bid if that’s what you mean

 

[Franisdaman]

Tournament winner gets the auto bid if that’s what you mean

no, just wondering if baseball is like basketball, where the reg season champion is considered "Big 10 Champion."

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

no, just wondering if baseball is like basketball, where the reg season champion is considered "Big 10 Champion."

Yes, they get a trophy that says B1G Champions. Win the tournament and you get one that says B1G Tournament Champions.

 

[Alum-Ni]

no, just wondering if baseball is like basketball, where the reg season champion is considered "Big 10 Champion."

Regular season champion is "Big Ten Champion"

 

[Franisdaman]

Regular season champion is "Big Ten Champion"

thats what i thought but now a days, with unbalanced schedules, it makes you wonder if the reg season actually determines the "true" B1G champion

 

[Alum-Ni]

thats what i thought but now a days, with unbalanced schedules, it makes you wonder if the reg season actually determines the "true" B1G champion

Yeah, like basketball, anymore your schedule is just as much of a determining factor as your actual results.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

This is a really tricky subject because on the one hand, a team can get a way easier regular season schedule and win just because they don't play the best teams. Kind of like in basketball if a team only played the top 4 teams once and it was at home. On the other hand, as we have seen in March Madness, it can be all about getting hot at the right time. If you get great pitching and decent hitting or vice versa, you can win the conference tournament or even make it all the way to the CWS.

Call it even for me

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

My biggest issue with the uneven schedule is the conference tournament. In a sport like basketball everybody makes it.

I suppose in baseball you could in theory do a 12 team tournament if it's single elimination for even the 1st round, but when only 8 teams make it and you have unequal schedules. It is not the best representation. I don't think the B1G cares either.

Look at Michigan's schedule. It's a joke and they may win the conference because of it.

 

[Franisdaman]

UPDATE thru Fri Apr 13th's games:

Michigan now 7-0 in the B1G; Iowa is in 5th place; its gonna be hard to catch the Wolverines I am afraid.

Here is a link to the standings: http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/big10-m-basebl-body.html

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

UPDATE thru Fri Apr 13th's games:

Michigan now 7-0 in the B1G; Iowa is in 5th place; its gonna be hard to catch the Wolverines I am afraid.

Here is a link to the standings: http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-basebl/big10-m-basebl-body.html

Gonna need to sweep them and get a lot of help. We aren't winning the league. Still in 5th, 1.5 ahead of 9th place Maryland who is playing Michigan this weekend and lost last night

 

[Franisdaman]

Gonna need to sweep them and get a lot of help. We aren't winning the league. Still in 5th, 1.5 ahead of 9th place Maryland who is playing Michigan this weekend and lost last night

is the snow storm hitting Michigan? this damn weather!!!!!

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

is the snow storm hitting Michigan? this damn weather!!!!!

I don't know, this weather does suck, though. Hopefully we can take the last game from Nebraska, Purdue takes 1 from Minnesota and then we take 2 from Minnesota next weekend. Minnesota beat Purdue 22-7 last night, though

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

At this point it's not about winning the league. The travesty that is schedule unbalance makes that impossible damn near. The goal is to win more than we lose. Don't lose to 200+ RPI teams especially at home, and put our RPI at a point where we are considered for an at-large bid.

Obviously Iowa needs to make the B1G tournament too.

The SOS and potential for record vs Top 50 schools will be there. Will the wins and RPI?

Our bullpen still concerns me as does our offense at times. I was just thinking to myself how big it would be to have a guy like Nick Gallagher this year in the mix. Then one of the three that start the weekend could be a multi-inning guy on the weekends and/or long reliever. It is what it is though.

 

[r448chlpo]

Hawkeyes need to win and win some more! When the regular season has ended, we can all decide how much we want to bitch about Michigan's schedule. The team needs to earn our right to complain...

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Tell Michigan to lose more.

You're welcome.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

If Iowa sweeps their remaining B1G series then we will be B1G champs

 

[DodgerHawki]

If Iowa sweeps their remaining B1G series then we will be B1G champs

Bit of a high bar. Just kidding. But to your point, if Iowa manages to go 5-4 or better against Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Michigan over the next 3 weekends they would be in excellent shape to get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. 4-5 would still be okay. Last two weekends against Northwestern and Penn State are opportunities for wins. If Hawks are .500 or better in league play that would likely be enough to be in the Big 10 tournament as they teams chasing them/around them all either play each other or have tough opponents. Michigan's schedule is remarkable. No Indiana. No Minnesota. No Ohio State. Iowa has played/will play all of those teams, plus Iowa had to play Illinois. Quite a difference.