B1G Baseball Update 3/30 - 4/6

The MLB season has just begun but college baseball is approaching the halfway point. Where does your team fall in the standings? *offer not valid in Wisconsin

By Doc1028 Apr 7, 2017, 11:00am CDT

STANDINGS	CONF.	PCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	LAST 10	STREAK
Minnesota	6-0-0	1.000	19-8-0	.704	9-5-0	10-3-0	0-0-0	10-0-0	W10
Maryland	5-1-0	.833	19-8-0	.704	11-1-0	4-5-0	4-2-0	8-2-0	W4
Nebraska	2-0-1	.833	17-10-1	.625	8-2-0	6-2-1	3-6-0	8-1-1	W2
Michigan	4-2-0	.667	23-6-0	.793	10-1-0	7-3-0	6-2-0	8-2-0	W7
Iowa	2-1-0	.667	18-9-0	.667	10-1-0	2-5-0	6-3-0	9-1-0	W7
Indiana	3-2-1	.583	15-11-2	.571	5-4-1	8-5-1	2-2-0	6-3-1	W1
Michigan State	3-3-0	.500	15-10-0	.600	1-4-0	10-4-0	4-2-0	4-6-0	L5
Purdue	3-3-0	.500	15-13-0	.536	1-2-0	14-11-0	0-0-0	5-5-0	L1
Ohio State	1-5-0	.167	12-16-0	.429	4-6-0	3-5-0	5-5-0	4-6-0	W1
Illinois	0-3-0	.000	10-16-0	.385	6-7-0	3-7-0	1-2-0	5-5-0	W4
Penn State	0-3-0	.000	10-17-0	.370	4-2-0	4-13-0	2-2-0	4-6-0	L4
Rutgers	0-3-0	.000	10-18-0	.357	2-4-0	8-14-0	0-0-0	4-6-0	L4
Northwestern	0-3-0	.000	8-19-0	.296	4-9-0	4-10-0	0-0-0	3-7-0	L1

We are about half way through the season with the tiers becoming more apparent by the week. Minnesota remains at the top as they are still undefeated in B1G play but the Terps are close behind. One good thing to see is that we are halfway through the season and over half of the B1G is in the top 100 of RPI. Hopefully if things break right we will see if the B1G can break the record from two years ago in sending teams to the tournament. RPI as of 4/6/17

Illinois 10-16 (0-3) RPI: 187

03/31/17 INDIANA ST. W 6-4
04/01/17 INDIANA ST. W 2-1
04/02/17 INDIANA ST. W 5-2
04/04/17 vs. Missouri W 5-3

What helps you forget a four game losing streak? Why a four game win streak of course. Illinois took a break from B1G play and decided to rack up some wins against the Sycamores. They also got a nice mid-week win over formerly ranked Mizzou which brought their RPI up 40 spots. Things might be tougher this weekend though in the trip to Ann Arbor vs. a currently ranked Michigan squad.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @Michigan
4/11 @Illinois St.

Indiana 15-11-2 (3-2-1) RPI: 41

03/31/17 NEBRASKA L 3-7
04/01/17 NEBRASKA L 1-3
04/02/17 NEBRASKA T 1-1
04/04/17 BALL STATE W 3-2

Lost the series against Nebraska but technically didn't get swept in a glass half full kind of a way. Also, the Hoosiers must think ties are worth something since this is their second on the year (the other was a Sunday non-con game against Florida Atlantic). Indiana's RPI is still in decent shape but it did fall 20 spots after the series loss. Upcoming will be some Hoosier state bouts with rival Purdue and Indiana St.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @Purdue
4/11 @Indiana St.

Iowa 18-9 (2-1) RPI: 80

03/31/17 UNLV W 3-0
04/01/17 UNLV W 6-5
04/01/17 UNLV W 7-6
04/04/17 SOUTH DAKOTA ST. W 4-3

The Hawkeyes also took a break from B1G play and got the sweep over UNLV extending their current win streak to 7. They'll look to add to that and improve their B1G standings in a trip to Rocky Miller Park this weekend.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @Northwestern
4/11 Western Illinois

#24 Maryland 19-8 (5-1) RPI: 47

04/01/17 at Rutgers W 5-1
04/02/17 at Rutgers W 6-1
04/02/17 at Rutgers W 9-1
04/04/17 RICHMOND W 12-11

Seems as if win streaks were on sale at the discount store as Maryland also went undefeated on the week. In the series sweep over Rutgers they held the Knights to only 3 runs in 3 days. With the wins the Terps jumped 30 spots in RPI as well as get back into the top 25. Tough test on the road this weekend though in the trip to Lincoln as well as the mid-week showdown with West Virginia.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @Nebraska
4/11 West Virginia
4/12 @George Mason

#18 Michigan 23-6 (4-2) RPI: 39

03/31/17 PENN STATE W 10-6
04/01/17 PENN STATE W 15-2
04/02/17 PENN STATE W 14-1
04/04/17 NOTRE DAME W 4-3

The streaks keep on coming with Michigan having won 7 in a row. They did this by putting up double digit runs in each of the weekend games against PSU and narrowly getting by the hated Irish. They'll look to keeping the wins coming and their ranking in tact when Illinois comes to town.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Illinois
4/11 Eastern Michigan

Michigan State 15-10 (3-3) RPI: 63

04/01/17 MINNESOTA L 2-3
04/01/17 MINNESOTA L 3-4
04/02/17 MINNESOTA L 4-9
04/04/17 at Eastern Mich. L 3-4

On the opposite end of the streak spectrum the Spartans currently have a 5 game losing streak active. Had some close games against the Gophers but ended up getting swept and followed that up with a loss to the Eagles which dropped the RPI 20 spots. The Spartans will try to rebound hosting the Bulldogs this weekend.

Up next:
4/8 & 4/9 Fresno St.
4/11 @Notre Dame

Minnesota 19-8 (6-0) RPI: 49

04/01/17 at Michigan State W 3-2
04/01/17 at Michigan State W 4-3
04/02/17 at Michigan State W 9-4
04/04/17 NORTH DAKOTA ST. W 7-1

A 4 game win streak? 7? Pfft. Gophers got that and then some since they are currently riding a B1G best 10 game win streak. Also, with the sweep of MSU it puts them in a commanding lead in the B1G standings. With Rutgers coming to town the Gophers hope to keep themselves at the top.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Rutgers
4/11 @North Dakota St.

Nebraska 17-10-1 (2-0-1) RPI: 54

03/31/17 at Indiana W 7-3
04/01/17 at Indiana W 3-1
04/02/17 at Indiana T 1-1
04/04/17 CREIGHTON W 14-6
04/05/17 at Omaha W 3-1

While the Huskers win streak is only at 2 they are technically undefeated in the past 8 games so that's gotta count for something. With the series win over the Hoosiers Nebraska jumped 40 RPI spots and put themselves in a good position in the B1G standings. Another tough test is coming up though in hosting the Terps.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Maryland
4/11 @Kansas St.

Northwestern 8-19 (0-3) RPI: 277

03/31/17 AIR FORCE L 3-11
04/01/17 AIR FORCE W 7-6
04/02/17 AIR FORCE W 3-2
04/04/17 at Ill.-Chicago L 0-3

Would ya look at that. Northwestern picked up a series win! Although it was against the Falcons who are only about 20 RPI spots better but still beggars can't be choosers. The Wildcats will try to build on this momentum when the Hawkeyes come to Evanston.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Iowa
4/11 Western Michigan

Ohio State 12-16 (1-5) RPI: 102

03/31/17 PURDUE W 13-2
04/01/17 PURDUE L 1-6
04/02/17 PURDUE L 1-2
04/05/17 KENT ST. W 9-8

The Buckeyes juuuuust fell out of the top 100 RPI club but with a losing record that shouldn't come as a shock. Things looked good early in the series with Purdue but aOSU couldn't finish the job and now only boast one conference win so far. If they want to turn things around they have a pivotal matchup in Happy Valley this weekend.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @PSU
4/11 Cincinnati
4/12 Eastern Michigan

Penn State 10-17 (0-3) RPI: 166

03/31/17 at Michigan L 6-10
04/01/17 at Michigan L 2-15
04/02/17 at Michigan L 1-14
04/04/17 at Pittsburgh L 2-3

PSU was on the road this past week and got all Ls to show for it. The Michigan series was especially gruesome considering the Wolverines scored at will in the matchups. Thankfully for the Nits they get to be in the safe confines of home field this week where they will do battle with the also struggling Buckeyes.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Ohio State
4/11 Bucknell

Purdue 15-13 (3-3) RPI: 103

03/31/17 at Ohio State L 2-13
04/01/17 at Ohio State W 6-1
04/02/17 at Ohio State W 2-1
04/04/17 INDIANA ST. L 2-5

Purdue dropped 30 RPI spots this past week and joins aOSU in the 'close but no cigar' club regarding RPI. However, the Boilers did one up the Buckeyes in getting a road series win in Columbus this weekend after getting smoked in the Friday night game. The competition steps up considerably this week with an interesting battle against the Hoosiers as well as the always tough Cardinals.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 Indiana
4/11 @Louisville

Rutgers 10-18 (0-3) RPI: 100

04/01/17 MARYLAND L 1-5
04/02/17 MARYLAND L 1-6
04/02/17 MARYLAND L 1-9
04/05/17 at Villanova L 2-3

The record finally caught up to the RPI for the Knights in falling 50 spots. Getting the broom treatment against Maryland and dropping one to Villanova will do that to you. Things don't get any easier with a trip to Minneapolis on the horizon.

Up next:
4/7 - 4/9 @Minnesota
4/11 @Lafayette

Wisconsin -
O

Players of the Week

April 3rd 2017

Player of the Week - Drew Lugbauer Jr. MICH

Had an amazing .632 AVG on the week with 12 hits, 13 RBIs, 3 HRs, and scoring 9 runs. Two of those HRs happened in the 15-2 win over PSU which helped in the sweep of the Nittany Lions. This is his first player of the week award.

Pitcher & Freshman of the Week - Ty Weber Fr. ILL

Weber is pulling double duty in picking up both awards. Had a complete game in the 2-1 win over Indiana St. recording a career high 7 strikeouts and allowing only one run plus one walk. He also retired 15 straight batters from the 4th to the top of the 9th. Both awards are his first.

I Want My BTN

All times EST

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Baseball Schedule

Saturday, April 08, 2017

Maryland - Nebraska 3pm

Sunday, April 09, 2017

Ohio State - Penn. St. 3pm

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Softball Schedule

Friday, April 07, 2017

PSU - MSU 4pm

Michigan - OSU 6pm