With one more week left in the Big Ten regular season, Rutgers baseball certainly has some work cut out for their NCAA Tournament ambitions, But as compared to a month ago, Rutgers has now put themselves in a fighting position in order to return to the postseason.
Following Sunday’s win over Illinois, the Scarlet Knights have taken their last two Big Ten series. They are now 31-19 and own a 13-8 Big Ten regular season record.
Rutgers closes out the regular season with a weekend series at Minnesota before heading to the Big Ten Tournament.
The current RPI situation has Rutgers at No. 50. The defending Big Ten regular season champions, Maryland (35-18, 15-6 Big Ten), are at No. 49.
Big Ten Network analyst Michael Huff thinks Rutgers has to make a deep run in the looming Big Ten Tournament – it nor win outright – if they want to make the NCAA Tournament,
“With Big Ten being down on the national front, and I agree, Rutgers has put itself in a bad place. Sitting in the high 40s RPI and too many lost opportunities against teams outside the Big Ten will make their NCAA chances tough,” Huff told Rutgers Wire.
“Winning the Big Ten Tourney solves everything and they are playing much better and more consistent baseball. Before the Big Ten tourney, they have to sweep a very bad Minnesota team (RPI 225) because even if they sweep Minnesota (who has been playing really good ball over the last three weeks – (they) beat Maryland 10-7, beat Michigan 4-0 and 4-2, and beat Nebraska 9-7) their RPI will drop. Very tough position to be in, having to sweep, but…”
Huff is a former Northwestern star who spent seven years in Major League Baseball as an outfielder.
Last season, Rutgers baseball was second in the Big Ten in the regular season and at the Big Ten Tournament and was still, somehow snubbed from the NCAA Tournament.
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