NCAA Softball tournament bracket announced - 5 Big Ten teams
They just announced the brackets for the 2018 NCAA softball tournament.
None of the 5 Big Ten teams are seeded and hosting a regional. Looks like Michigan fading down the stretch really hurt our ladies there. So this is how it stacks up for the conference.
https://www.landof10.com/big-ten/2018-ncaa-softball-tournament-bracket-…
First, Michigan is in the Lexington regional hosted by #16 Kentucky. They play notre dame in the first round on Friday at 12pm ET on ESPN2. The winner of that series takes on the winner of Kentucky-UIC (Illinois Chicago).
The winner of that series would take on the winner coming out of the Eugene bracket hosted by overall #1 Oregon.
Other Big Ten teams:
- ohio state is in the Gainesville regional hosted by #2 Florida.
- Minnesota takes on Texas in teh Seattle regional hosted by #5 Washington.
- Northwestern plays Cal in the Athens regional hosted by #7 Georgia.
- Wisconsin plays Oregon State in the Tuscaloosa regional hosted by #12 Alabama.
- Other than the Eugene regional games, looks like they all play on Friday.
GO BLUE!
Wisconsin was in the last 4 in, and Nebraska was in the last 4 out. Would you rather have Michigan's spot or Minnesota's ?
Depends what you think your ceiling is. Right now, I have a hard time seeing Michigan get past the supers unless something weird happens, so I'm happy with a draw that gives us a legit chance of getting that far - easier regional = harder super-regional, and this year, that trade-off is worth it. If you think your team has legit WCWS potential, Minnesota has a better draw for going farther, but each step along the way will be tougher.
However, making it through this regional means a Super-Regional at #1 Oregon, which will be... challenging.
Might've traded a slightly tougher regional draw (Tennessee? Bama?) for a less foreboding potential matchup in the Round of 16.
Bats will have to come alive, or it doesn't really matter where and who they play.
ND and UK have to be tired of seeing M in their regional every year