B1G Baseball Update 3/21 - 3/29

Basketball brackets are a smoldering pile of ash. Football is almost six months away. What do you look forward to? IT'S BASEBALL TIME MOTHERF@#*AS!!!

By Doc1028 Mar 31, 2017, 11:00am CDT

STANDINGS	CONF.	PCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	LAST 10	STREAK
Michigan State	3-0-0	1.000	15-6-0	.714	1-1-0	10-3-0	4-2-0	6-4-0	L1
Minnesota	3-0-0	1.000	15-8-0	.652	8-5-0	7-3-0	0-0-0	6-4-0	W6
Indiana	3-0-0	1.000	14-9-1	.604	4-2-0	8-5-1	2-2-0	8-2-0	L1
Maryland	2-1-0	.667	15-8-0	.652	10-1-0	1-5-0	4-2-0	7-3-0	L1
Iowa	2-1-0	.667	14-9-0	.609	6-1-0	2-5-0	6-3-0	7-3-0	W3
Michigan	1-2-0	.333	19-6-0	.760	6-1-0	7-3-0	6-2-0	7-3-0	W3
Purdue	1-2-0	.333	13-11-0	.542	1-1-0	12-10-0	0-0-0	7-3-0	L1
Nebraska	0-0-0	.000	13-10-0	.565	7-2-0	3-2-0	3-6-0	8-2-0	W3
Penn State	0-0-0	.000	10-13-0	.435	4-2-0	4-9-0	2-2-0	5-5-0	W1
Rutgers	0-0-0	.000	10-14-0	.417	2-1-0	8-13-0	0-0-0	5-5-0	W4
Ohio State	0-3-0	.000	10-14-0	.417	2-4-0	3-5-0	5-5-0	4-6-0	W1
Illinois	0-3-0	.000	6-16-0	.273	3-7-0	3-7-0	0-2-0	2-8-0	L4
Northwestern	0-3-0	.000	6-17-0	.261	2-8-0	4-9-0	0-0-0	3-7-0	W1

Usually the first week gives a little glimpse of what is in store for the season and we still don't know who the pretenders or contenders are in the grand scheme of things. This year it's telling us right off the bat (puns!). As you can see from the opening weekend a good chunk of teams established themselves as others are already playing catch-up. RPI as of 3/30/17

Illinois 6-16 (0-3) RPI: 227

03/21/17 ILLINOIS ST. W 7-1
03/24/17 MICHIGAN STATE L 4-12
03/24/17 MICHIGAN STATE L 1-12
03/26/17 MICHIGAN STATE L 6-17
03/28/17 BRADLEY L 0-2

The Illini are still struggling to find wins and that sweep by MSU certainly had to hurt considering the run discrepancies. Illinois takes a break from B1G play this weekend to regroup but also takes on a suddenly hot Tigers team possibly out for revenge.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Indiana St.
4/4 Missouri

Indiana 14-9 (3-0) RPI: 24

03/22/17 CINCINNATI W 3-2
03/24/17 at Northwestern W 13-9
03/24/17 at Northwestern W 6-5
03/26/17 at Northwestern W 10-9
03/28/17 EVANSVILLE W 6-3
03/29/17 INDIANA ST. L 3-7

The Hoosiers had themselves quite the week. Dropped only one game, swept a conference series, put themselves atop the B1G standings, and now are the top RPI team in the B1G. Indiana will try to keep their momentum going with a big home series with the Huskers this weekend.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Nebraska
4/4 Ball St.

Iowa 14-9 (2-1) RPI: 78

03/22/17 BRADLEY W 12-1
03/24/17 PURDUE L 0-2
03/25/17 PURDUE W 5-1
03/26/17 PURDUE W 7-2
03/28/17 GRAND VIEW W 6-5

Iowa is steadily moving along picking up a series win with Purdue and a couple mid-week bouts. Their RPI is looking good so far as well. No B1G foes this week so the Hawkeyes have a good opportunity to pad those stats/wins.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 UNLV
4/4 & 4/5 South Dakota St.

Maryland 15-8 (2-1) RPI: 75

03/21/17 at UNCW L 7-10
03/22/17 at UNCW W 10-6
03/24/17 MICHIGAN W 7-2
03/25/17 MICHIGAN W 5-4
03/26/17 MICHIGAN L 2-6

Won the bout with Michigan which certainly helps the Terps' quest for the top of the B1G but still somehow dropped 20 RPI spots. However, the focus is to be at the top of the heap come May and those wins will help Maryland out in the long run.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 @Rutgers
4/4 Richmond

#22 Michigan 19-6 (1-2) RPI: 42

03/22/17 WESTERN MICHIGAN W 6-4
03/24/17 at Maryland L 2-7
03/25/17 at Maryland L 4-5
03/26/17 at Maryland W 6-2
03/28/17 TOLEDO W 12-0
03/29/17 CENTRAL MICH. W 13-4

Michigan stumbled in the road trip to Maryland but are still the only ranked B1G team and are in good RPI shape. The Wolverines will try to rebound this week with a visit from the Nits and Irish.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 PSU
4/4 Notre Dame
4/5 Bowling Green

Michigan State 15-6 (3-0) RPI: 39

03/21/17 CENTRAL MICH. W 11-2
03/24/17 at Illinois W 12-4
03/24/17 at Illinois W 12-1
03/26/17 at Illinois W 17-6
03/28/17 WESTERN MICHIGAN L 2-3

Had a pretty productive week in thoroughly sweeping Illinois and only dropping one game but still somehow dropped 20 RPI spots. The Spartans will get a change to stay atop the B1G with a huge match-up with Minnesota this weekend.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Minnesota
4/4 @Eastern Michigan

Minnesota 15-8 (3-0) RPI: 83

03/24/17 at Ohio State W 5-2
03/25/17 at Ohio State W 15-5
03/25/17 at Ohio State W 6-5
03/28/17 at Kansas W 5-2

Perfect week for Minnesota and all on the road to boot so Goldy has got to be feelling good. Things will get a little more challenging with a trip to East Lansing coming up.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 @MSU
4/4 North Dakota St.

Nebraska 13-10 RPI: 92

03/21/17 at CSU Bakersfield L 6-8
03/23/17 at Cal Poly W 3-2
03/24/17 at Cal Poly L 2-3
03/25/17 at Cal Poly W 6-5
03/25/17 at Cal Poly W 6-4
03/28/17 KANSAS ST. W 11-1

Pretty good week for Nebraska in getting the 4 game series win vs. Cal Poly and crushing the hated other version of purple wildcats. Big week coming up for the Huskers in the trip to Bloomington, a bout with a wounded rival, and another showdown with a "rival" in Stormchaserville.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 @Indiana
4/4 Creighton
4/5 @UNO (Werner Park)

Northwestern 6-17 (0-3) RPI: 288

03/21/17 ILL.-CHICAGO L 1-7
03/24/17 INDIANA L 9-13
03/24/17 INDIANA L 5-6
03/26/17 INDIANA L 9-10
03/29/17 CHICAGO ST. W 2-0

As an astute commenter noted it seems the Cubs stole all baseball mojo from the state of Illinois lately since the fellow Northsider Wildcats are also on the strugglebus to go with the Illini. NW did manage to split the "Chicago" series with the Flames and Cougars.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Air Force

Ohio State 10-14 (0-3) RPI: 99

03/21/17 YOUNGSTOWN ST. W 12-8
03/24/17 MINNESOTA L 2-5
03/25/17 MINNESOTA L 5-15
03/25/17 MINNESOTA L 5-6
03/28/17 OHIO W 3-0

Got the broom treatment from the Gophers but still established their dominance over the other Buckeye state schools. That sweep though cost aOSU around 20 RPI spots. They will try to rebound with a visit from the revamped Boilermakers.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Purdue
4/5 Kent St.

Penn State 10-13 RPI: 199

03/21/17 BUCKNELL W 4-3
03/24/17 COLUMBIA W 11-7
03/25/17 COLUMBIA W 10-6
03/25/17 COLUMBIA L 2-4
03/26/17 COLUMBIA L 5-8
03/29/17 CORNELL W 8-2

PSU went the Ivy league route this week and got some wins but that split series with Columbia helped drop them 30 RPI spots. They'll get a big chance to rectify that with a trip to Ann Arbor.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 @Michigan
4/4 @Pittsburgh

Purdue 13-11 (1-2) RPI: 76

03/22/17 at Ball State W 16-4
03/24/17 at Iowa W 2-0
03/25/17 at Iowa L 1-5
03/26/17 at Iowa L 2-7
03/28/17 KENT ST. W 3-2
03/29/17 VALPARAISO L 1-5

Would ya look at that. Purdue with a winning baseball record deep into the season. Good to see although they did have the series loss to Iowa as well as dropping one to instate "rival" Valpo. Still though the RPI is in ok shape and the Boilermakers will get a shot to increase it against a vulnerable Buckeye squad.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 @aOSU
4/4 Indiana St.

Rutgers 10-14 RPI: 49

03/21/17 RIDER L 2-7
03/24/17 at USC Upstate W 5-1
03/25/17 at USC Upstate W 10-7
03/25/17 at USC Upstate W 11-3
03/29/17 MONMOUTH W 6-4

Also good to see Rutgers racking up some wins even though its against the upstate version of South Carolina. Their surprisingly low RPI will be put to the test this weekend in a visit from the Terps.

Up next:
3/31 - 4/2 Maryland
4/5 @Villanova

Wisconsin -
C

Players of the Week

March 27th 2017

Player of the Week - Matt Lloyd So. Indiana

Had an amazing avg. this week at .643 which included 9 hits, 10 RBIs, 4 HRs and scoring 6 runs. The 4 HRs included a hat trick in a win over NW. Not only was Lloyd stellar at the plate he did some relief work on the mound recording 2 Ks in an inning pitched vs. Cincinnati. This is his first player of the week award.

Pitcher of the Week - Zach Daniels So. Iowa

Was a stellar reliever for the Hawkeyes netted two wins over Bradley and Purdue. In those wins Daniels recorded 9 Ks in only 5 innings. This is his first pitcher of the week award.

Freshman of the Week - Bryce Kelley Michigan State

Hit .462 with 3 RBIs, 6 hits, and scored 5 runs. This is his first freshman of the week award.

I Want My BTN

All times EST

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Baseball Schedule

Friday, March 31, 2017

Nebraska - Indiana 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 01, 2017

Purdue - Ohio State 6:00 PM

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Creighton - Nebraska 7:30 PM

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Softball Schedule

Friday, March 31, 2017

Rutgers - Ohio State 5:00 PM

Sunday, April 02, 2017

Northwestern - Michigan 2:00 PM