Congratulations 🎊🎉🍾🎈 on a an amazing run! Go Cats!
Northwestern Softball- Big Tournament Champions!
- Thread starter TerraCat
- Start date
won it in the bottom of the 7th,,,they are the equivalant of the Cardiac Cats
They probably wont be better than a 10. Although their Non-con schedule was tough, they lost 8 out of their 11 losses in non-conference play, and in my opinion the big 10 wasn't as strong a conference as in most years. Both Michigan and Minnesota were MIA this year.
Having said that, I think Drohan is smart to schedule as many nationally ranked teams in the early non con. Same thing as Izzo does, so that as the season gets to crunch time, they've beeen battle tested multiple times. This is an excellent way to build championship teams provided that you can hold your own when you start out playing all these nationally ranked teams. Very savy scheduling!
Given CWS trip to Omaha last year supposedly not considered and a tough schedule, ranking has been low but they deserve a Top 8 seed. NU Lax jus survived a tough one against Michigan to avance to Quarterfinals as Lady Cat sports had a great year.
Last year has no bearing where they will be ranked this year. Plus there's just so many good teams they'd have to leap frog. The big 10 did them no favor by being weak this year.
Y'all may be right, but I don't see it.
Y'all may be right, but I don't see it.
We’ll find out in a few hours but even with a “weak” B1G it sounds like they’ll get 5 teams in. I’d be shocked if they fell below an 8 seed.
Be shocked. 12 seed, and yes, the Big 10 was weak this year, and if you're comparing conference strength, the SEC placed 13 teams, and the PAC (whatever) placed 6. There was NU and Indiana, and then every one else. Usually Michigan and Minnesota are very strong. They weren't this year.
Looking at the brackets, Indiana got screwed with a 3 seed in the Knoxville regional, and for some reason only known to the seeding committee, Nebraska ends up with a 2 seed in the Stillwater regional.
After their Big 10 Tournament championship NU jumped Clemson, Utah, Georgia, and Texas. My opinion is that they're right where they belong, since to be an 8 seed, they would have had to jump Arkansas, LSU, Stanford, and Duke in addition to 4 they already jumped. From what I've seen this year, they're a good solid team, but not a top 8 team. Good situational hitting. better than average defense, strong 1st string battery, but no appreciable depth on the mound. They will ride Williams as far as they can, but if she runs out of gas, . . .
Looking at the brackets, Indiana got screwed with a 3 seed in the Knoxville regional, and for some reason only known to the seeding committee, Nebraska ends up with a 2 seed in the Stillwater regional.
After their Big 10 Tournament championship NU jumped Clemson, Utah, Georgia, and Texas. My opinion is that they're right where they belong, since to be an 8 seed, they would have had to jump Arkansas, LSU, Stanford, and Duke in addition to 4 they already jumped. From what I've seen this year, they're a good solid team, but not a top 8 team. Good situational hitting. better than average defense, strong 1st string battery, but no appreciable depth on the mound. They will ride Williams as far as they can, but if she runs out of gas, . . .
Danielle has pitched a LOT less this year (131 innings) than she did last season (251). Boyd has a 2.00 ERA in 94 innings so she should be able to step in and help if needed.
I'm pleased to hear that Williams has worked less this year. In softball, the legs wear out faster than the arm - way different stresses than in baseball. At my age though, everything is worn out. I have a metal shoulder compliments of baseball, and I suppose, racketball.
Can't say I share your confidence in Boyd. When the field is narrowed to 16, the worst thing you can do is fall behind the hitters. From what I've seen, Boyd has a tendency to do that. On the other hand, Williams is much more consistent at throwing strikes early in the count. In fact, the Indiana coach told her hitters to "Hunt hard, early" when they faced Williams - very good advice. If I were advising my hitters re: Boyd, I'd tell them to stay patient, and make her come to you.
Can't say I share your confidence in Boyd. When the field is narrowed to 16, the worst thing you can do is fall behind the hitters. From what I've seen, Boyd has a tendency to do that. On the other hand, Williams is much more consistent at throwing strikes early in the count. In fact, the Indiana coach told her hitters to "Hunt hard, early" when they faced Williams - very good advice. If I were advising my hitters re: Boyd, I'd tell them to stay patient, and make her come to you.
I
t was on yesterday and I did. (along with the BIG WLAX Championship game) Chicks with sticks.
