Nexus Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Nebraska outfielder Michael Pritchard, who grew up in Omaha rooting for the Cornhuskers, said this weekend's series against No. 17 Purdue is his school's biggest set of games since it last made an NCAA regional in 2008. "I think we'll get 20,000 fans combined for the three games," said Pritchard of the series, which will be played in Lincoln. "It's going to be out of control. It's going to be fun to play in a series that matters this much." Third-place Nebraska (25-13, 7-5) would tie Big Ten leader Purdue (29-5, 10-2) if they are able to sweep the series. Then again, Purdue has won nine games in a row and hasn't lost a series all year. The most interesting matchup will be Purdue's pitching -- best in the conference on the basis of its 2.91 ERA -- against Nebraska's offense, which ranks No. 1 in the league (7.7 runs). Continue Reading Quote Link to comment
VectorVictor Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Good find. Going down further, Walter Villa has this to say: 6. No. 17 Purdue (29-5, 10-2 Big Ten, No. 10 RPI) at Nebraska (25-13, 7-5 Big Ten, No. 71 RPI) Haymarket Park, Lincoln, Neb. When the Cornhuskers went to Ohio State and won two of three, the stakes got raised for this series. Although the Big Red don't have a great RPI, this is their chance to make a huge impression on the selection committee. Two great offenses face off as Purdue hits .324 (No. 6 nationally) and the Huskers hit .317 (No. 10). The pressure falls on Purdue, since mid-major teams aren't given much rope for weekend losses in games they are favored to win. The part in bold should hold serve to two things this writer believes--that Purdue is going to win the Big 10, and that Nebraska is still fair game for the selection committee. The later point seems to be a foreign concept for some of the chicken littles around these parts, so I just wanted to highlight that. Quote Link to comment
Lyons in the Sea of Red. Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Is he calling the B1G schools "mid-majors" or am I interpreting that wrong? Quote Link to comment
husker B-rent Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Is he calling the B1G schools "mid-majors" or am I interpreting that wrong? thats what i noticed too. Quote Link to comment
KC Cowboy Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Is he calling the B1G schools "mid-majors" or am I interpreting that wrong? thats what i noticed too. What else would you call a league that has historically sent only one team to the tourney each year? Quote Link to comment
Blackshirt316 Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 The Big Ten is a mid-major conference in regards to baseball. Something we need to work hard to change. Quote Link to comment
RedRedJarvisRedwine Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Anyone else in favor of a B1G/SEC or B1G/PAC12 challenge in the non-con Like we do in basketball with the ACC. Could help the conference RPI as well as recruiting. Quote Link to comment
Omaha-Husker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Anyone else in favor of a B1G/SEC or B1G/PAC12 challenge in the non-con Like we do in basketball with the ACC. Could help the conference RPI as well as recruiting. B1G/Pac starts next season in all sports. Quote Link to comment
HuskerHacker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 that's not completely true O-H. Yes the two conferences can begin to schedule the competitive events but its not fully installed until the 2017 season. (per this link) Big Ten - PAC12 extend their partnership Quote Link to comment
Omaha-Husker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 that's not completely true O-H. Yes the two conferences can begin to schedule the competitive events but its not fully installed until the 2017 season. (per this link) Big Ten - PAC12 extend their partnership Your right football is scheduled way further out. I suspect the rest of the sports will start ASAP. Quote Link to comment
Comish Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Anyone else in favor of a B1G/SEC or B1G/PAC12 challenge in the non-con Like we do in basketball with the ACC. Could help the conference RPI as well as recruiting. Capital suggestion. If the B!g/Pac12 doesn't officially start next year, no reason it couldn't get jump- started in baseball. Quote Link to comment
Omaha-Husker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Anyone else in favor of a B1G/SEC or B1G/PAC12 challenge in the non-con Like we do in basketball with the ACC. Could help the conference RPI as well as recruiting. Capital suggestion. If the B!g/Pac12 doesn't officially start next year, no reason it couldn't get jump- started in baseball. Aren't we making our return trip to Cal anyways next season? Quote Link to comment
Eric the Red Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Plain and simple: Huskers need to prove themselves. Quote Link to comment
HuskerHacker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Aren't we making our return trip to Cal anyways next season? The contract wasn't a home and home... Cal had terminated the baseball program effective after last season but late last year (early this year) the boosters stepped up and donated a large sum of $$$$$$$$ to keep the program. Therefore Cal scrambled to find games and Erstad and Co. jumped on it. Now, we may have discussed a return visit but the 2013 schedule hasn't been posted. I'm hoping we can play Cal, Oregon St and Fullerton all three next year. Link to SBNation Article quoted below California Golden Bears 2011 Record: 38-23, 13-13 Pac-12 2011 ISR: 15 2012 Projected ISR: 6 Coach: David Esquer, 13 years, 354-313-2 Cal comes to Lincoln after being a 2011 College World Series qualifier; this after the program was nearly axed due to budget cuts. Needless to say, this is the biggest non-conference series of the year for the Huskers. It will be a great early-season challenge for Nebraska. Why are the Golden Bears coming to Nebraska? Probably because Esquer, who was picked as the 2011 National Coach of the Year, has the same attitude as Nebraska - get as tough a schedule as you can and you'll be rewarded post-season. You have to like the attitude. Cal lost a lot in the pitching department, returning only one weekend starter in LHP Justin Jones. LHP Kyle Porter should assume a starting weekend role. Their problem will be depth, as they basically missed out a year of recruiting since everyone thought the program would be cut. Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda returns after hitting .332 last season, along with seven starters. Baseball America projects them to finish sixth in the tough Pac-12. Want more? Take a look at the 2012 season preview at SB Nation site California Golden Blogs. They'll be previewing the entire team this week. Quote Link to comment
Blackshirts007 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Plain and simple: Huskers need to prove themselves. this, im pumped up for this series, but i will not be surprised if we lose the series Quote Link to comment
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