Can three Big Ten baseball teams make the NCAA Tournament? BTN’s Michael Huff thinks so
The Big Ten is having a down season but there should still be three teams from the conference that make the Big Ten Tournament. So says Big Ten Network baseball insider Michael Huff, who thinks the Big Ten should up their representation in the postseason.
Last season, the Big Ten was represented by two teams in the NCAA Tournament, Maryland (the regular season winner) and Michigan (winner of the Big Ten Tournament). Rutgers, who showed consistency in placing second in the regular season and the conference tournament, did not get an invite to the NCAA Tournament.
A former standout at Northwestern who played seven years in MLB, now works with the Chicago White Sox organization. He also works as an insider and analyst for the Big Ten Network.
“Big Ten is weak this year but right now I feel like three teams have earned their tickets to the tourney,” Huff told Rutgers Wire over the weekend. Maryland (who had a ) pre-season ranking and are currently ranked in some polls, Indiana – ranked at one point this year and a couple good wins.
“And Iowa – great non-conference win this year against No. 1 LSU. All three were in the 30s RPI heading into this weekend. If they do what they should and win a game or two in the Big Ten tourney, I think they will all make it.”
Here is a look at the current standings for these three teams following Friday night’s games. Maryland, Indiana and Iowa are the top three teams in the standings this season in the Big Ten:
Maryland (32-16, 12-5 Big Ten)
Indiana (33-14, 11-4 Big Ten)
Iowa (33-11, 9-6 Big Ten)
As for Rutgers baseball, they have taken the first two games of their weekend series against Penn State.
