Big Ten Baseball Tournament 2015: Schedule, TV Info and Predictions
The Big Ten is no longer an afterthought on the diamond, and its top eight teams will look to prove it at the 2015 Big Ten baseball tournament.
Dreams of Omaha and College World Series glory start at the conference tournament at Target Field in Minneapolis, as the event’s winner earns an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament. D1Baseball.com projected six Big Ten squads in its 64-team NCAA field, but strong performances in Minneapolis would help solidify those spots and improve overall seeding.
Ryan Ginn of Scout.com added more evidence that the Big Ten is stronger than usual this season with so many teams projected for tournament spots:
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With that in mind, here is a look at the complete schedule and broadcast information (per Sporting News) for the 2015 Big Ten tournament. The event has a double-elimination format on the way to Sunday’s title game.
| Wednesday, May 20 | ||||
| Game 1 | No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 6 Indiana | 9 a.m. | BTN Plus | - |
| Game 2 | No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 7 Ohio State | 1 p.m. | BTN Plus | - |
| Game 3 | No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 8 Nebraska | 5 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 4 | No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 5 Michigan State | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Thursday, May 21 | ||||
| Game 5 | Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 9 a.m. | BTN Plus | - |
| Game 6 | Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 1 p.m. | BTN Plus | - |
| Game 7 | Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 5 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 8 | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Friday, May 22 | ||||
| Game 9 | Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 10 | Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, May 23 | ||||
| Game 11 | Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 8 | 9 a.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 12 | Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 13 (if necessary | Winner of Game 11 vs. Loser of Game 11 | 5 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Game 14 (if necessary) | Winner of Game 12 vs. Loser of Game 12 | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, May 24 | ||||
| Big Ten Championship Game | Two Remaining Teams | 1 p.m. | Big Ten Network | BTN2Go |
Predicted Big Ten Championship Game Matchup: Illinois vs. Indiana
It's not exactly going out on a limb to put Illinois in the conference title game.
The Fighting Illini enter the Big Ten tournament with a head-turning 26-game winning streak and the No. 1 seed. They are the regular-season conference champions thanks to a 21-1 Big Ten record and the clear favorite to take home the trophy.
As for Indiana, it may be the No. 6 seed, but the Hoosiers are also red-hot. They won nine of 10 to end the season after losing eight of 10 in mid-April and have plenty of momentum heading to Minneapolis.
Indiana is also the two-time defending champion, and that experience will pay off in the postseason. The Hoosiers are a battle-tested bunch, even without former star Kyle Schwarber, and should have the confidence that naturally comes with winning titles.
Indiana also boasts ace Kyle Hart, who has a sparkling 4-0 record with a 1.85 ERA. Don't be surprised if Hart makes a second appearance later in the tournament on short rest as the best pitcher on Indiana's staff.
Coach Chris Lemonis discussed his team's overall season, per Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star: "When the NCAA says at the beginning of the year, these are the things you have to do—go on the road, play good people, beat good people, finish strong—I think we've done a lot of those types of things."
Fortunately for Lemonis, his team won't necessarily have to beat Illinois to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. However, it would go a long way for seeding purposes because the Fighting Illini are the best team in the Big Ten.
Illinois' pitching staff is incredibly deep and boasts three starters with an ERA of 2.35 or better in Kevin Duchene (1.19), Drasen Johnson (2.34) and Rob McDonnell (2.35). If that group gives the Fighting Illini the lead through eight innings, closer Tyler Jay will certainly shut the door with his 0.67 ERA.
Opponents must beat Illinois in eight innings, which makes the task all the more difficult.
Throw in a lineup that led the Big Ten in batting average with David Kerian (.383, 13 homers and 45 RBI) as the anchor, and the Fighting Illini are a complete threat in this tournament and the NCAAs. Nobody in the Big Ten will stand in their way.
Predicted Champion: Illinois
While Indiana is playing its best baseball of the season, it will not beat Illinois.
Big Ten Network analyst Danan Hughes believes this season's Fighting Illini are more talented than the past two Hoosiers teams that won the Big Ten tournament, per Brent Yarina of BTN.com:
"True. Although Indiana had the ability to change the game with the power of the Bash Brothers (Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis), this Illinois team to me has some of that, too, plus deep pitching. To know that you have the luxury of having enough strength to just be ahead into the seventh inning of any game, then pass the ball to a closer like Tyler Jay is a benefit that puts them over the top for me.
"
The pitching and offensive combination from Illinois will simply be too much for Indiana and the rest of the conference. Yes, Indiana has Hart, but the Fighting Illini have a number of pitchers they can throw at the Hoosiers and everyone else in this league.
That is the formula for a championship.
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