Source: BigTenNetwork.com
Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:47:00 PM EST
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:53:54 PM EST
Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:47:00 PM EST
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:53:54 PM EST
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Record: 42-12, 26-5
Scouting report: The Wolverines, who won a Big Ten record 26 conference games this season, are playing in their sixth consecutive and 22nd overall Big Ten Tournament … Michigan earned the right to host the event for the third consecutive year after winning its Big Ten-best 35th conference title … The Wolverines led the Big Ten with a 3.46 ERA in conference games, fronted by the trio of Michael Powers (1.93), Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Zach Putnam (2.20) and Chris Fetter (2.42) who ranked first through third, respectively, in the category … At the plate, Big Ten Player of the Year Nate Recknagel broke Michigan's single-season home runs record, currently with 23, and finished the conference slate tied for the category lead with 10.
Tidbit: Michigan's 70 home runs were nearly twice as many as the next closest competitor, Purdue, with 38. To no surprise, the Wolverines also led the Big Ten in runs (434), RBI (402), total bases (912) and slugging percentage (.497).
Players to watch: Nate Recknagel .381 AVG, 23 HR, 68 RBI; Kevin Cislo .359 AVG, 26 RBI, 17 SB; Jason Christian .325 AVG, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 13 SB; Zach Putnam .320 AVG, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 7-0, 2.64 ERA; Derek VanBuskirk .293 AVG, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 11 SB; Chris Fetter 9 W 2.49 ERA.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Record: 30-24, 21-10
Scouting report: Purdue returns to the tournament for its 12th overall appearance and fourth in the last five years … The Boilermakers are seeking their first tournament title and are doing so with their highest seeding since 2005, when they also came in at No. 2 … Brandon Haveman finished the Big Ten slate ranked first in average, hitting at a .444 clip and making him the second Boilermaker in as many years to take home the conference's batting title … On the mound, Josh Lindblom finished the conference season with a Big Ten-best nine saves.
Tidbit: Dan Black and Ryne White have combined for 25 of Purdue's 38 home runs.
Players to watch: Ben Walgamot .409 AVG, 27 RBI, 7 SB; Brandon Haveman .374 AVG, 20 RBI, 10 SB; Ryne White .332 AVG, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 8 SB; Dan Black .306 AVG, 13 HR, 59 RBI; Jon Moore .310 AVG, 26 RBI, 11 SB; Matt Bischoff 5 W, 3.79 ERA; Josh Lindblom 3.49 ERA, 15 SV.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Record: 26-29, 17-15
Scouting report: The Nittany Lions enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed for the second consecutive year after having advanced to the semifinals of last year's event … Penn State is making its ninth tournament appearance and is in search of its first tournament championship … One of the top relievers in the nation, first-team All-Big Ten honoree Drew O'Neil recorded 11 saves this season, including seven in conference play, shattering the Penn State career saves record in the process.
Tidbit: The Nittany Lions are the tournament's No. 3 seed for the second consecutive season. This year's third-place finish combined with last year's tie for second marks the first time the Nittany Lions have finished in the top three of the Big Ten standings in back-to-back seasons.
Players to watch: Brian Ernst .356 AVG, 25 RBI, 9 SB; Joe Blackburn .341 AVG, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 10 SB; Rob Yodice .291 AVG, 8 HR, 49 RBI, Cory Wine .279, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 9 SB; Mike Wanamaker 5 W, 3.69 ERA; Drew O'Neil 0.71 ERA, 11 SV.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Record: 30-23, 16-15
Scouting report: The Fighting Illini are making their fourth consecutive and 16th overall tournament appearance … Illinois has three tournament titles, earning trophies in 1989, 1990 and 2000 … The Illini own their highest seed since 2005 when the team earned the bracket's top billing … Illinois led the conference in batting average during Big Ten play, led by unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection Kyle Hudson.
Tidbit: The Illini feature two the tournament's top three base stealers in Kyle Hudson (39) and Joe Bonadonna (26), who have combined for 23 more steals than Illinois' opponents.
Players to watch: Kyle Hudson .411 AVG, 24 RBI, 39 SB; Daniel Webb .387 AVG, 6 HR, 45 RBI; Brandon Wikoff .381 AVG, 59 RBI, 11 SB; Joe Bonadonna .375, 33 RBI, 26 SB; Ryan Hastings .333 AVG, 5 HR, 37 RBI; Ben Reeser 3 W, 4.24 ERA, 5 SV.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Record: 30-24, 15-15
Scouting report: The Buckeyes are making their 12th consecutive trip to the Big Ten Tournament, marking the longest such streak in conference history … Ohio State finished the Big Ten season ranked in the top three in ERA, opponents' batting average and strikeouts … Two-way player J.B. Shuck was named to the All-Big Ten third team as a pitcher and as an outfielder, owning a .366 average while holding opponents to a .219 clip in conference play.
Tidbit: The Buckeyes became the first sixth seed to win the tournament last year.
Players to watch: Justin Miller .408 AVG, 4 HR, 61 RBI; J.B. Shuck .371 AVG, 22 RBI, 22 SB, 4 W, 4.29 ERA; Cory Rupert .331 AVG, 38 RBI; Cory Kovanda .320 AVG; Eric Best 4 W, 4.24 ERA, 8 SV; Dean Wolosiansky 7 W, 4.28 ERA.
INDIANA HOOSIERS
Record: 28-28, 15-17
Scouting report: Indiana, which is making its sixth tournament appearance, is led by unanimous All-Big Ten selection Josh Phegley, who finished the conference season ranked first in slugging percentage (.776), RBI (45), total bases (90) and tied for the lead in home runs (10) … The catcher also finished second in average (.431) and fifth in on-base percentage (.500) … On the mound, first-team All-Big Ten selection Matt Bashore held conference opponents to a .254 average and struck out 42 while combining for a 5-1 Big Ten record and a 4.27 ERA.
Tidbit: The Hoosiers, who clinched a postseason berth with Saturday's win over Michigan State, are making their first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2003.
Players to watch: Josh Phegley .436 AVG, 13 HR, 71 RBI; Jerrud Sabourin .386 AVG, 5 HR, 48 RBI; Andrew Means .365 AVG, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 30 SB; Chris Hervey .343 AVG, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 12 SB; Evan Crawford .337 AVG, 29 RBI, 18 SB; Kipp Schutz .320 AVG, 6 HR, 44 RBI; Matt Bashore 7 W, 3.16 ERA, 83 K.
Information for this report was provided by bigten.org.
Record: 42-12, 26-5
Scouting report: The Wolverines, who won a Big Ten record 26 conference games this season, are playing in their sixth consecutive and 22nd overall Big Ten Tournament … Michigan earned the right to host the event for the third consecutive year after winning its Big Ten-best 35th conference title … The Wolverines led the Big Ten with a 3.46 ERA in conference games, fronted by the trio of Michael Powers (1.93), Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Zach Putnam (2.20) and Chris Fetter (2.42) who ranked first through third, respectively, in the category … At the plate, Big Ten Player of the Year Nate Recknagel broke Michigan's single-season home runs record, currently with 23, and finished the conference slate tied for the category lead with 10.
Tidbit: Michigan's 70 home runs were nearly twice as many as the next closest competitor, Purdue, with 38. To no surprise, the Wolverines also led the Big Ten in runs (434), RBI (402), total bases (912) and slugging percentage (.497).
Players to watch: Nate Recknagel .381 AVG, 23 HR, 68 RBI; Kevin Cislo .359 AVG, 26 RBI, 17 SB; Jason Christian .325 AVG, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 13 SB; Zach Putnam .320 AVG, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 7-0, 2.64 ERA; Derek VanBuskirk .293 AVG, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 11 SB; Chris Fetter 9 W 2.49 ERA.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Record: 30-24, 21-10
Scouting report: Purdue returns to the tournament for its 12th overall appearance and fourth in the last five years … The Boilermakers are seeking their first tournament title and are doing so with their highest seeding since 2005, when they also came in at No. 2 … Brandon Haveman finished the Big Ten slate ranked first in average, hitting at a .444 clip and making him the second Boilermaker in as many years to take home the conference's batting title … On the mound, Josh Lindblom finished the conference season with a Big Ten-best nine saves.
Tidbit: Dan Black and Ryne White have combined for 25 of Purdue's 38 home runs.
Players to watch: Ben Walgamot .409 AVG, 27 RBI, 7 SB; Brandon Haveman .374 AVG, 20 RBI, 10 SB; Ryne White .332 AVG, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 8 SB; Dan Black .306 AVG, 13 HR, 59 RBI; Jon Moore .310 AVG, 26 RBI, 11 SB; Matt Bischoff 5 W, 3.79 ERA; Josh Lindblom 3.49 ERA, 15 SV.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Record: 26-29, 17-15
Scouting report: The Nittany Lions enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed for the second consecutive year after having advanced to the semifinals of last year's event … Penn State is making its ninth tournament appearance and is in search of its first tournament championship … One of the top relievers in the nation, first-team All-Big Ten honoree Drew O'Neil recorded 11 saves this season, including seven in conference play, shattering the Penn State career saves record in the process.
Tidbit: The Nittany Lions are the tournament's No. 3 seed for the second consecutive season. This year's third-place finish combined with last year's tie for second marks the first time the Nittany Lions have finished in the top three of the Big Ten standings in back-to-back seasons.
Players to watch: Brian Ernst .356 AVG, 25 RBI, 9 SB; Joe Blackburn .341 AVG, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 10 SB; Rob Yodice .291 AVG, 8 HR, 49 RBI, Cory Wine .279, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 9 SB; Mike Wanamaker 5 W, 3.69 ERA; Drew O'Neil 0.71 ERA, 11 SV.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Record: 30-23, 16-15
Scouting report: The Fighting Illini are making their fourth consecutive and 16th overall tournament appearance … Illinois has three tournament titles, earning trophies in 1989, 1990 and 2000 … The Illini own their highest seed since 2005 when the team earned the bracket's top billing … Illinois led the conference in batting average during Big Ten play, led by unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection Kyle Hudson.
Tidbit: The Illini feature two the tournament's top three base stealers in Kyle Hudson (39) and Joe Bonadonna (26), who have combined for 23 more steals than Illinois' opponents.
Players to watch: Kyle Hudson .411 AVG, 24 RBI, 39 SB; Daniel Webb .387 AVG, 6 HR, 45 RBI; Brandon Wikoff .381 AVG, 59 RBI, 11 SB; Joe Bonadonna .375, 33 RBI, 26 SB; Ryan Hastings .333 AVG, 5 HR, 37 RBI; Ben Reeser 3 W, 4.24 ERA, 5 SV.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Record: 30-24, 15-15
Scouting report: The Buckeyes are making their 12th consecutive trip to the Big Ten Tournament, marking the longest such streak in conference history … Ohio State finished the Big Ten season ranked in the top three in ERA, opponents' batting average and strikeouts … Two-way player J.B. Shuck was named to the All-Big Ten third team as a pitcher and as an outfielder, owning a .366 average while holding opponents to a .219 clip in conference play.
Tidbit: The Buckeyes became the first sixth seed to win the tournament last year.
Players to watch: Justin Miller .408 AVG, 4 HR, 61 RBI; J.B. Shuck .371 AVG, 22 RBI, 22 SB, 4 W, 4.29 ERA; Cory Rupert .331 AVG, 38 RBI; Cory Kovanda .320 AVG; Eric Best 4 W, 4.24 ERA, 8 SV; Dean Wolosiansky 7 W, 4.28 ERA.
INDIANA HOOSIERS
Record: 28-28, 15-17
Scouting report: Indiana, which is making its sixth tournament appearance, is led by unanimous All-Big Ten selection Josh Phegley, who finished the conference season ranked first in slugging percentage (.776), RBI (45), total bases (90) and tied for the lead in home runs (10) … The catcher also finished second in average (.431) and fifth in on-base percentage (.500) … On the mound, first-team All-Big Ten selection Matt Bashore held conference opponents to a .254 average and struck out 42 while combining for a 5-1 Big Ten record and a 4.27 ERA.
Tidbit: The Hoosiers, who clinched a postseason berth with Saturday's win over Michigan State, are making their first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2003.
Players to watch: Josh Phegley .436 AVG, 13 HR, 71 RBI; Jerrud Sabourin .386 AVG, 5 HR, 48 RBI; Andrew Means .365 AVG, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 30 SB; Chris Hervey .343 AVG, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 12 SB; Evan Crawford .337 AVG, 29 RBI, 18 SB; Kipp Schutz .320 AVG, 6 HR, 44 RBI; Matt Bashore 7 W, 3.16 ERA, 83 K.
Information for this report was provided by bigten.org.
