Softball Spring Slate Announced
Michigan softball released their schedule for the 2018 season today, and it looks like a favorable one in some ways, although perhaps a bit disappointing for the home fans in terms of big match-ups.
The non-conference schedule will be highlighted by an opening-weekend match-up with recent nemesis & perennial powerhouse Florida, followed by a trip to Tallahassee for 2 games apiece against Notre Dame & Florida State. After that, Michigan will take on some middle of the road teams in Virginia Tech & Texas before heading West for their annual trip to the Judi Garman Classic, where they'll see Baylor & UL Lafayette. As an aside, ULL just fired their highly-successful coach a couple weeks ago for intimidation, vulgarity, and verbal & physical assault directed at players. After that, Michigan should cruise through the back end of non-conference play, with no more marquee opponents slated.
The Big Ten schedule, meanwhile, shapes up either very favorably or very poorly, depending on your priorities. If it's another Big Ten crown you want, Michigan is in a good spot. They'll play the bottom 6 teams from last year's conference standings, and 7 of the bottom 8. If you were hoping for some big-time opponents at Alumni Field, though, you'll have to hope that Michigan hosts a regional/super-regional this year. A 3 game home-stand against Ohio State to close out the conference season is the only look Michigan will get at a Big Ten team that made the NCAA tournament.
Overall, I'm fairly pleased with this schedule. The non-conference isn't the total murderer's row it sometimes is, which might be good as Michigan looks to get some younger players to step up & become regular contributors. There are still enough marquee games in the non-conference, though, that this team won't be totally un-tested come tournament time. And while I never like sailing through the Big Ten unchallenged, as it doesn't prepare the team well for NCAAs, I am very eager to start a new Big Ten title streak, so hopefully the softer conference slate will set us up well for that.
Full schedule: http://mgoblue.com/schedule.aspx?path=softball&schedule=479
November 13th, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^
Nebraska hasn't played in Ann Arbor since they've been in the B1G. Bad schedule for RPI which is a big factor in NCAA seeding.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:15 PM ^
Geez, I hadn't thought about that re: Nebraska, but yeah... woof. Fair point about RPI - hopefully some of the mid-majors we play end up winning their conferences to help us out.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:15 PM ^
Seems like a well thought out schedule for the freshman pitcher and young lineup. Although not as tough as normal (probably the toughest non-conference schedule most years in the country in the past by wide margins over most teams), it is still strong enough to control our own fate.
Recall, last year Minnesota's schedule was so weak in non-conference that they were ranked #1 in the polls heading into post season, and were not given a top #16 seed, lol.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^
Hadn't heard that about Lotief. Know that Hutch admired him and seemed to be on collegial terms. The charges seem somewhat on the "thin" side. Looks like this may be more of a case of him pissing off persons above him in the athletic department.
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2017/11/02/lotief-accusations-v…
November 13th, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^
Ridiculous.
November 13th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
AGAIN..for what 3 years or 4 in a row the top 2 teams WONT meet...wth?
November 13th, 2017 at 10:28 PM ^
I'm pretty sure softball uses east/west scheduling. Meaning that Michigan will always play Rutgers, Maryland, PSU, OSU, MSU, and IU every single year. Then rotate through the western teams in the remaining conference series.
Unfortunately or not for Michigan the western teams have been better than the rest of the eastern teams lately. Could that be a result of not playing Michigan though? Possibly.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^