Wisconsin & Nebraska are now the pivotal teams for those hoping to make it to the tournament. Both play two other teams also hoping to make it. The results of those four games will probably decide it.
Nebraska's defense is rugged, so why Walker needs his goalie off the line will continue to be questioned. It isn't easy to see that wide open box that any midfielder could take advantage of when it isn't being covered by a defender. Indiana's rebound is interesting to watch, but their showdown with Wisconsin may be one of the more important games of the conference season on Sunday. Wisconsin is getting something out of their offense, but turnovers plagued them. Really two original underdogs matched on Sunday. Iowa looks like they have just been caught with short end of stick with so many close/tied/OT games. Interesting season end this year. Michigan might be resting on their success, but who doesn't like their serious navy uniforms except that new Addidas fabric in between legs for all those teams who have them this year. Who agreed to this in the design lab? OSU grey unis? But they beat Michigan, .....
I didn't get to watch a second of soccer this weekend, but sounds like it was interesting. Looks like Minnesota outshot Indiana on Friday night but couldn't put anything away. Their first multiple goal loss of the year, but the Hoosiers have been playing well lately. Gophers rebounded today by throttling Purdue 5-1. Uhl had a hat trick and Katie Thyken scored the other 2.
From what I can see, the results are in: (Even if Iowa wins over Wisconsin, and is in tie break with points vs. Indiana, isn't "games won" the typical tie breaker...if so, then my list is right...someone pipe in.) But looks like Indiana has their spot? Right? Points Team Record Left to Play IN TOURNAMENT 28 - Penn State 9-0-1 Purdue 23 - Michigan 7-1-2 Illinois 22 - Ohio State 7-2-1 Indiana 16 - Minnesota 5-4-1 Nebraska 16 - Wisconsin 5-4-1 Iowa 16 - Illinois 5-4-1 Michigan 12 - Nebraska 4-6-0 Minnesota 12 - Indiana 4-6-0 OSU OUT OF TOURNAMENT 9 - Iowa 2-5-3 Wisconsin 7 - Michigan State 2-7-1 Northwestern 7 - Purdue 2-7-1 Penn State 6 - Northwestern 2-8-0 MSU
For those of us interested at the bottom half of the table two out of Nebraska, Indiana and Iowa will get the last two spots. They host Minn, OSU & Wisc respectively; what are the odds on that (3 home games for the last qualifiers) as a scheduling coincidence? Wow. Iowa is in a must win situation because they are 3 points behind the other two. But the two "Big Red" schools can control their own fate by earning just a point. I am sure drama will ensue; what a great sport this is.
SoccerRover...I think the tie break will go to Indiana and Nebraska, so Iowa can't qualify. Yes, they could be tied for points, but then the tie break will be games won...but someone confirm this..
Northwestern pulled out a nice win and Illinois got back on the charts. Indiana held a 1-0 lead all the way thru, until Wisconsin scored two goals in the final one or two minutes.
Maybe bmoline or GopherBob would have knowledge of the big ten tie breaker. I would have thought it would be head to head results which would determine standings position. In that case, Iowa could still sneak in with a victory and no result from IU or Nebraska.
Tournament information (but not yet including details of qualification for the #8 spot) are at http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/2012-bigten-championships.html Based on the table above with one game to go here's the matchups: #1 PSU v #8 (NB, IU or Iowa) #2 Mich or OSU v #7 (NB, IU or Iowa) #3 Mich or OSU v #6 (MN, Wisc or IL) #4 v 5 (two out of MN, Wisc or IL) SCHEDULE Wednesday, October 31 Game 1, 10:30 a.m. #1 seed vs. #8 seed Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Game 2, 1:30 p.m. #4 seed vs. #5 seed Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Game 3, 4:30 p.m. #2 seed vs. #7 seed Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Game 4, 7:30 p.m. #3 seed vs. #6 seed Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Friday, November 2 Game 5, 10:00 a.m. 1/8 Winner vs. 4/5 winner Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Game 6, 12:30 p.m. 2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner Gametracker| Watch| Box Score| Box Score Sunday, November 4 Game 7, 12:00 p.m. Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
I remember last season having all sorts of questions about tiebreakers for the last spot. We never found any information online, but I found out answers to the specific issues via the Purdue folks. There was a possibility of a three-way tie for the 7th spot last season (with Northwestern getting the 8th spot as host) among Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan. It ended up not mattering, as Ohio State won its final game to claim the #7 seed. That was a slightly different scenario though, as all three teams would have had the exact same record, not just the same point totals. In last year's case, if three teams would have been tied, the team with the worst B1G goal differential would have been eliminated, with head-to-head play determining the winner between the final two teams. In many cases, the number of wins is the first tiebreaker in a tie for points, but I'm not sure if that is what happens with the Big Ten tournament. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but information on this is very hard to find from the conference. I'll try to find out more from the Illinois folks this week.
Exciting game to watch. Hayes missed 2 by inches. Ryan packed the box in the final 30 and let PSU have a field day shooting. UM defense held tough. The PK should have been a non call in the scrum. Should be an exciting tournament. We will be ring side.
From what I'm gathering by reading various student newspapers, head to head is the #1 tiebreaker if points are tied. The Daily Iowan says that if Iowa wins and IU loses, the Hawkeyes are in. The Minnesota Daily says that if Minnesota beats Nebraska, they're a lock for the 4 seed.
Head to head is the first tiebreaker. It's great that the coaches were able to convince the conference to eliminate the automatic bid for the host. It was a humbling experience last year for NU but there was no choice. The coaches have always wanted NO automatic bid, FYI. Also, NU was the only school that had never hosted a BTT until last year.
Here's this week's blog entry. Last week was a tough one for my picks...just 6-5-1. A light slate of games to round out the regular season this weekend: http://www.illinihq.com/blogs/molines-musings/2012-10/which-road-illinois-soccer.html
Minnesota beat Nebraska 4-2. The Gophers took an early 2-0 lead before Nebraska came storming back late behind two goals from Mayme Conroy. After Nebraska tied the match in the 85th minute, Minnesota put it into another gear with 4 great scoring chances in the final 5 minutes, finishing on two of them. Minnesota goals by Strahota, Thyken, Bauer and Phillips. It was nice to see goals off of set pieces and players other than Uhl finishing their chances. Nebraska focused on taking her out of the offense, so it was great to see others utilize the extra space.
Ohio State up 2-0 in the first 4 minutes on IU. Ohio score two more within 30 seconds of eachother at the 38 min. mark. Up 4-0 at halftime.
Yep. Ohio wins 5-0 against IU and with Nebraska loosing leaves the door open for Iowa tomorrow. And Purdue blew an engine late in the seaon and got beaten 5-1 tonight, and still have to face Penn State. Probably loosing 6 in a row to close out the season. hmmmm.
Yeah, Purdue looked pretty competitive when Illinois played them in September. I remember someone mentioning that they were dealing with injuries, to Stuart and Frick, I believe. But they're both attacking players, so that doesn't explain the defensive meltdown they've had down the stretch. Iowa has Wisconsin at home tomorrow. Hawkeyes are winless in their last five, and Badgers playing well as of late, winning four straight.
Points Team Record Left to Play 28 - Penn State 10-0-1 done 22 - Ohio State 8-2-1 done 23 - Michigan 7-1-2 Illinois 16 - Minnesota 6-4-1 done 16 - Wisconsin 5-4-1 Iowa 16 - Illinois 5-4-1 Michigan 12 - Nebraska 4-7-0 done 12 - Indiana 4-7-0 done 9 - Iowa 2-5-3 Wisconsin Out of Tournament: 7 - Michigan State 2-7-1 Northwestern 7 - Purdue 2-8-1 done 6 - Northwestern 2-8-0 MSU
Corrected version with points adjusted....Thru Friday 10/27: Points Team Record Left to Play 31 - Penn State 10-0-1 done 25 - Ohio State 8-2-1 done 23 - Michigan 7-1-2 Illinois 19 - Minnesota 6-4-1 done 16 - Wisconsin 5-4-1 Iowa 16 - Illinois 5-4-1 Michigan 12 - Nebraska 4-7-0 done 12 - Indiana 4-7-0 done 9 - Iowa 2-5-3 Wisconsin Out of Tournament: 7 - Michigan State 2-7-1 Northwestern 7 - Purdue 2-8-1 done 6 - Northwestern 2-8-0 MSU