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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Going for Record Ninth Tourney Win

The Buckeyes celebrate after winning the Big Ten Tournament Championship last year in Ann Arbor. Photo by Chris Webb.

Ohio State begins its quest for a ninth Big Ten title Wednesday in Ann Arbor. The fifth-seeded Buckeyes will play fourth-seeded Illinois in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament. First pitch will be at 12:05 p.m., ET. Michigan is the top seed followed by Purdue as the No. 2. Penn State moved into the No. 3 slot for the second consecutive season and will face No. 6 seed Indiana in Wednesday's second game at 3:35 p.m.

A complete tournament bracket is available at BigTen.com.

If the Buckeyes can win the Big Ten tournament next week it would be a record ninth title for the program. Ohio State and Minnesota each have eight tournament wins though Ohio State owns the best winning percentage in its previous 21 appearances. The Buckeyes have won 48 and lost 29 for a .623 winning percentage in conference postseason play.

The tournament winner gets the league's automatic berth into the NCAA touranment. This is a one-bid league if Michigan wins. Ohio State became the first No. 6 seed to win the tournament last year and has won four of the last six tournaments. I'm not ruling out the Buckeyes chances in 2008, but I think they have their work cut out for them.
Ohio State vs. Big Ten Field
No. 1 Seed Michigan
In 2008: Michigan won 3-1
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 10-7
No. 2 Purdue
In 2008: Purdue won 3-1
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 6-1
No. 3 Penn State
In 2008: Series split 2-2
In Big Ten Tourney: Series tied 2-2
No. 4 Illinois
In 2008: OSU won 2-1
In Big Ten Tourney: Illinois leads 4-2
No. 6 Indiana
In 2008: DNP
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 3-0

3 comments:

rockybuckeye said...

As much as I have hated this season, we will get it done.

Would think the rotation goes Jake Wednesday, JB Thursday, Wolo Friday, Danny Saturday, with Jake being available if needed, as well as Armstrong.

Unfortunately my brother has the district track meet this week, starting Thursday. I might have to pull an 05 tourney and travel to AA from Columbus and back twice, before staying up Friday onward.

Figure if you can't back the team now, when can/will you? I know I might come off as negative, venting frustration at time. However, in the end I am proud of the guys and to be a Buckeye.

BaseballBucks33 said...

I think i am going up on Thursday.We are going to stay for the weekend.

Tough match up for the Bucks.The Fighting Illini will by all means give us a game. I think we will see RHP Kevin Manson on the hill.He went 6 innings against us in Columbus and we only scored 2 runs against him.Have to score more runs than that on Wednesday obivously.

If we win we play the host school. Too darn early in the Tournament to play Michigan! If we lose we play the IU/PSU loser. Don't really want to go to the losers bracket after day # 1.

I am proud of how the guys played their way to 30 wins and into the tourny field. The last couple of years have been tough,but we are going to Ann Arbor.

Go Bucks!

rockybuckeye said...

We'll play Michigan if PSU beats Indiana. If IU pulls the upset, we play Purdue.

2 things,
1 We did beat Michigan last year on Thursday.
2 I'm more comfortable playing Michigan than Purdue right now. We held their bats in check, minus 1 inning of JB losing his control. Purdue put a solid beating on us 3/4.