Dunno, Huskerswrkhavoc--what's funny about the NCAA is that they like to make money (or break even) hosting these events, and Nebraska is one of the few schools who has either been revenue generating or revenue neutral with their baseball team. That extends to hosting regionals as well, as Lincoln turns out *very* well for any and all regional action.
If Nebraska is anywhere north of 40 and comes in first or second in the Big 10 (either season, Tourney, or both), I'd say we're a lock for a regional.
And people may give Illinois a bit more credit after the damage they did last year, and some of that credit may extend to the conference as a whole. Granted, we're not going to see six teams make the tourney, but it is feasible and realistic to see three make it out of the Big 10 (from Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, Illinois).
No Purdue? Purdue is one of the favorites to win the entire conference... Now, tell me when the last time that the Big Ten was a host for baseball, who it was, and what seed they were. Sorry, with our schedule our way into the tournament is to win the Big 10 or nearly run the table out of conference. Realize, the Big Ten was the 16th best conference. SIXTEENTH. That is not the recipe for an at-large birth. Again, I hope I'm wrong on this, but I really don't think we will host this year. I do think the Big Ten gives us a better chance to host with a mediocre team, just not this year. I still think we can't lose 10 and host, just my opinion. I mean, it depends where those losses come, I just see some of them being "bad" losses, simply because a lot of our losses will be bad based solely on the bad schedule.