It's Game Time?

Ohio State will close out the home portion of its 2008 schedule vs. Buffalo today at noon. If you don't mind 2,600 sixth-graders from Columbus City Schools, you should head out to the game. It is a great way to spend an afternoon and the weather should be perfect. Besides, it is your last chance to see the Baseball Buckeyes this season at Bill Davis Stadium.

The team also will honor its four seniors - Dan DeLucia, Tony Kennedy, Chris Macke and Rory Meister. The ceremony had been scheduled for Sunday, but was rained out.

The Bucks are headed to Iowa City, Iowa later this week to close out Big Ten play at Iowa. That series begins Thursday and concludes Saturday, giving teams an extra day off before the conference tournament, which begins next Wednesday in Ann Arbor.

Big Ten Standings
Michigan 23-4
Purdue 18-9
Illinois 15-12
Penn State 15-13
Ohio State 13-13
Northwestern 13-15
Michigan State 12-14
Indiana 11-17
Minnesota 8-19
Iowa 8-20

Other Big Ten Games this Week
Northwestern at Michigan, Indiana at Michigan State, Penn State at Minnesota, Purdue at Illinois.

About Buffalo
The Bulls are 13-35 and 6-17 in the Mid-American Conference and are riding a nine-game losing streak after losses to St. Bonaventure, Canisius, Kent State and Bowling Green. Their last win came April 26 vs. Akron, a series they won two out of three. Buffalo closes out MAC play this weekend by hosting Ohio University.

Eight League Games Remain

After losing three of four to league-leading Michigan this weekend in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes find themselves tied for fourth with eight games remaining in Big Ten play. Ohio State plays host to Illinois next weekend after a Wednesday date vs. Marshall. The following week, the Buckeyes head to Iowa (Thursday through Sunday) after the final regular-season home game against Buffalo on Tuesday (CPS Day at 12:05 p.m.).

Illinois is 13-10 and is in third place in the standings while Iowa is 8-16, which is tied with Minnesota for ninth.

Big Ten Standings (through Sunday)
1. Michigan 20-4
2. Purdue 17-6
3. Illinois 13-10
T4. Ohio State 11-12
T4. Northwestern 11-12
6. Penn State 11-13
7. Michigan State 10-13
8. Indiana 8-15
T9. Iowa 8-16
T9. Minnesota 8-16

The Buckeyes have a losing record in Big Ten play and are just three games over .500 with 10 games remaining. Todd's Ohio State teams have never had a losing overall record and have won at least 30 games every season.

Let's Go Bucks!

Not Mathematically eliminated, BUT

they might as well be. At this point, I think it is a given the Buckeyes will not win the Big Ten regular season championship. Ohio State has not claimed a conference regular season championship since 2001. Thankfully, Bob Todd's recent teams have been able to find success during a four-game stretch in mid-May to punch a ticket to the NCAA tournament. I'm not sure this young team is capable of that, but stranger things have happened. There is still a lot of baseball to be played.

Big Ten Standings (through Sunday)
1. Michigan 15-1
2. Purdue 12-4
3. Illinois 9-7
4. Ohio State 8-7
T5. Penn State 8-8
T5. Northwestern 8-8
T7. Minnesota 6-10
T7. Iowa 6-10
9. Michigan State 4-11
10. Indiana 4-12