Hard not to be excited about some of the up and coming programs in the B1G and the dedication that some schools are showing to their programs, but it seems like I've gotten a few reminders lately about where we are as a conference.
On the good side we had 2 super regional teams (counting Maryland, who pushed a very good Virginia team) and a solid 2 seed come out of the conference (very good by B1G measures).
Then I see the B12 has 3 teams...in the freaking CWS...and another that lost in the Supers.
/sigh...
When it was announced/rumored/etc that NU was going to join the Big Ten, I was happy for the AD as a whole. Better basketball, tradition rich football, good volleyball, etc. But I and many others on here knew this was not good for baseball, which is my primary Husker passion. Yes, we underestimated how deflated the team was leaving the B12 and thought we'd fare better in the B1G right away, but the reality is we had it really good in the B12 for baseball. Great conference with great facilities and fanbases all around the league. The winner of the conference was all but guaranteed a national seed and the runner up just about was too. Third and maybe fourth were hosting. Finish in the top half of your conference and you're in the dance.
Unfortunately our conference often gets in its own way. Not NEARLY enough games on TV (should be double) and the money is definitely there from a conference standpoint. And scheduling? Ugh.
It's just another reminder of how far we have to go.
On the good side we had 2 super regional teams (counting Maryland, who pushed a very good Virginia team) and a solid 2 seed come out of the conference (very good by B1G measures).
Then I see the B12 has 3 teams...in the freaking CWS...and another that lost in the Supers.
/sigh...
When it was announced/rumored/etc that NU was going to join the Big Ten, I was happy for the AD as a whole. Better basketball, tradition rich football, good volleyball, etc. But I and many others on here knew this was not good for baseball, which is my primary Husker passion. Yes, we underestimated how deflated the team was leaving the B12 and thought we'd fare better in the B1G right away, but the reality is we had it really good in the B12 for baseball. Great conference with great facilities and fanbases all around the league. The winner of the conference was all but guaranteed a national seed and the runner up just about was too. Third and maybe fourth were hosting. Finish in the top half of your conference and you're in the dance.
Unfortunately our conference often gets in its own way. Not NEARLY enough games on TV (should be double) and the money is definitely there from a conference standpoint. And scheduling? Ugh.
It's just another reminder of how far we have to go.