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Softball opponents this weekend...
Posted on: February 23, 2017 at 08:34:02 CT
bluetiger_ MU
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Here is how the 5 teams we play this weekend out in Palm Springs have done so far this season:
Notre Dame: Is 4-5, started the season ranked in the top 25, and quickly fell out. They have played a tough schedule overall, but have struggled even against mediocre teams, losing to Long Beach State 4-3, and barely beating both Weber State and South Dakota 2-1. Last week they played #6 UCLA and lost 8-0, lost twice in respectable fashion to #12 Minnesota 4-1 and 3-2, and split with #14 Michigan, winning 6-4 and losing 9-2. Despite being 4-5 they are a tough team, likely in the 25-35 range in the nation, and are better than any team we have faced thus far except James Madison.
Texas: Is 7-3, lost their 3 toughest games and won 7 against mediocre competition. They lost to #12 Minnesota twice, 11-6 and 5-2, and lost to #28 South Carolina 9-4. Their 7 wins have come against Colorado State (2), Maryland, Indiana (2), and Louisiana Tech (2). They are getting a few votes in the polls, are probably also one of the top 25-35 teams in the nation.
#8 Washington: They are 7-1, beat #2 Auburn 2-1, beat #4 Oklahoma 1-0, lost to #23 BYU 4-2, and struggled to beat 0-8 Nebraska 7-5. They have a shot to get a top 8 national seed, will be battling UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona for the PAC 12 title. Will be the best team we have played all year.
Nebraska: They are 0-8 but have played the toughest schedule this year in the nation. Every loss is to team ranked in the top 25 this week. Lost to #1 Florida State twice, #2 Auburn, #4 Oklahoma, #8 Washington, #19 Pitt twice, and #23 BYU. They were beaten soundly in most of those games, but lost to Auburn only 3-2 and to Washington only 7-5. This will be a tough game for Mizzou. Based on how we looked the first 2 weekends, I think we would have been lucky to go 2-6 or 1-7 against Nebraskas opening schedule. So don't be fooled by their 0-8 record. They are probably one of the top 30-40 teams in the nation.
UC Santa Barbara: This is the only team on paper we have a clear advantage over, but we know how that worked out against Illinois State. They are 3-5, but have played no one of any significance. Their only wins are narrow ones against Wright State, Pacific, and Nebraska Omaha. If we struggle against this team, we are probably looking at the bubble for the NCAA tournament this year. Because all signs are that we are going to get chewed up by a brutal SEC schedule.
I would be ecstatic to come out of this weekend with a 3-2 record, beating UCSB and taking 2/3 against Texas, Notre Dame, and Nebraska. We will need the pitching to be solid for that to happen.
Edited by bluetiger_ at 08:37:28 on 02/23/17
Notre Dame: Is 4-5, started the season ranked in the top 25, and quickly fell out. They have played a tough schedule overall, but have struggled even against mediocre teams, losing to Long Beach State 4-3, and barely beating both Weber State and South Dakota 2-1. Last week they played #6 UCLA and lost 8-0, lost twice in respectable fashion to #12 Minnesota 4-1 and 3-2, and split with #14 Michigan, winning 6-4 and losing 9-2. Despite being 4-5 they are a tough team, likely in the 25-35 range in the nation, and are better than any team we have faced thus far except James Madison.
Texas: Is 7-3, lost their 3 toughest games and won 7 against mediocre competition. They lost to #12 Minnesota twice, 11-6 and 5-2, and lost to #28 South Carolina 9-4. Their 7 wins have come against Colorado State (2), Maryland, Indiana (2), and Louisiana Tech (2). They are getting a few votes in the polls, are probably also one of the top 25-35 teams in the nation.
#8 Washington: They are 7-1, beat #2 Auburn 2-1, beat #4 Oklahoma 1-0, lost to #23 BYU 4-2, and struggled to beat 0-8 Nebraska 7-5. They have a shot to get a top 8 national seed, will be battling UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona for the PAC 12 title. Will be the best team we have played all year.
Nebraska: They are 0-8 but have played the toughest schedule this year in the nation. Every loss is to team ranked in the top 25 this week. Lost to #1 Florida State twice, #2 Auburn, #4 Oklahoma, #8 Washington, #19 Pitt twice, and #23 BYU. They were beaten soundly in most of those games, but lost to Auburn only 3-2 and to Washington only 7-5. This will be a tough game for Mizzou. Based on how we looked the first 2 weekends, I think we would have been lucky to go 2-6 or 1-7 against Nebraskas opening schedule. So don't be fooled by their 0-8 record. They are probably one of the top 30-40 teams in the nation.
UC Santa Barbara: This is the only team on paper we have a clear advantage over, but we know how that worked out against Illinois State. They are 3-5, but have played no one of any significance. Their only wins are narrow ones against Wright State, Pacific, and Nebraska Omaha. If we struggle against this team, we are probably looking at the bubble for the NCAA tournament this year. Because all signs are that we are going to get chewed up by a brutal SEC schedule.
I would be ecstatic to come out of this weekend with a 3-2 record, beating UCSB and taking 2/3 against Texas, Notre Dame, and Nebraska. We will need the pitching to be solid for that to happen.
Edited by bluetiger_ at 08:37:28 on 02/23/17
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Softball opponents this weekend... - bluetiger_ MU - 2/23 08:34:02