As of earlier this week, Baseball America's bracket projection had the Illini among the Next Four Out. Purdue was one of their last 4 in.
Illini Baseball 2024
As of earlier this week, Baseball America's bracket projection had the Illini among the Next Four Out. Purdue was one of their last 4 in.
The process isn't that dissimilar from basketball, and for the Illini the issue is that the quality wins just aren't there. They actually played a really strong non-conference schedule for a Big 10 team...they just didn't win any of them. Winning the BTT and getting the auto-bid is definitely in play though.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Beautiful day for baseball at Illinois Field and another big win for the Illini. Nice crowd on hand, too.
Illini in the field in this week's projection from D1 baseball.
d1baseball.com
2024 D1Baseball Field of 64 Projections: May 8 • D1Baseball
The latest D1Baseball Field of 64 Projections are out, and while there's no change in the top eight, there are two new hosts in this week's projections.
d1baseball.com
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Illinois leads Iowa 5-3 going to the eighth inning. Game is on BTN right now.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Final score is 6-3. Illini with a 1 game lead going to the final weekend.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Agree about the uniforms. The whites with pinstripes are much classier.
Bring back the sleeveless pinstripes! (Haven't seen them this season)
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I have alluded to this before, but MAN it is my dream to see the Illini in the College World Series one day ... we had a shot in 2015, but we ran into defending champion Vanderbilt and lost in the Regionals at home, IIRC. The CWS just seems like such a fun event, and my two friends who live in Omaha absolutely swear by it. I get that weather holds back the Northern schools, but man ... sucks that it is always warm-weather schools there.
FWIW, this is the last CWS appearance for each Big Ten team...
Michigan: 2019
Indiana: 2013
Minnesota: 1977
Iowa: 1972
Ohio State: 1967
Michigan State: 1954
Wisconsin: 1950 (no longer has a baseball team)
Illinois: Never
Maryland: Never
Northwestern: Never
Purdue: Never
Nebraska last made it in 2005 (bet that was crazy in Omaha!), but they were obviously not in the Big Ten at the time. Similarly, Rutgers made it in 1950, and PSU made it in 1973. The future Big Ten schools from out west have fared better:
Washington: 2018
UCLA: 2013
USC: 2001
Oregon: 1954
FWIW, this is the last CWS appearance for each Big Ten team...
Michigan: 2019
Indiana: 2013
Minnesota: 1977
Iowa: 1972
Ohio State: 1967
Michigan State: 1954
Wisconsin: 1950 (no longer has a baseball team)
Illinois: Never
Maryland: Never
Northwestern: Never
Purdue: Never
Nebraska last made it in 2005 (bet that was crazy in Omaha!), but they were obviously not in the Big Ten at the time. Similarly, Rutgers made it in 1950, and PSU made it in 1973. The future Big Ten schools from out west have fared better:
Washington: 2018
UCLA: 2013
USC: 2001
Oregon: 1954
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I thought Oregon State won in 2018? Too bad we didn’t add the Beavers to the B1G. They’d be very competitive in baseball.I have alluded to this before, but MAN it is my dream to see the Illini in the College World Series one day ... we had a shot in 2015, but we ran into defending champion Vanderbilt and lost in the Regionals at home, IIRC. The CWS just seems like such a fun event, and my two friends who live in Omaha absolutely swear by it. I get that weather holds back the Northern schools, but man ... sucks that it is always warm-weather schools there.
FWIW, this is the last CWS appearance for each Big Ten team...
Michigan: 2019
Indiana: 2013
Minnesota: 1977
Iowa: 1972
Ohio State: 1967
Michigan State: 1954
Wisconsin: 1950 (no longer has a baseball team)
Illinois: Never
Maryland: Never
Northwestern: Never
Purdue: Never
Nebraska last made it in 2005 (bet that was crazy in Omaha!), but they were obviously not in the Big Ten at the time. Similarly, Rutgers made it in 1950, and PSU made it in 1973. The future Big Ten schools from out west have fared better:
Washington: 2018
UCLA: 2013
USC: 2001
Oregon: 1954
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
Even stranger when you thrown in that there are schools like Eastern Michigan that had back to back CWS appearances in the 70s and a finals appearance.I have alluded to this before, but MAN it is my dream to see the Illini in the College World Series one day ... we had a shot in 2015, but we ran into defending champion Vanderbilt and lost in the Regionals at home, IIRC. The CWS just seems like such a fun event, and my two friends who live in Omaha absolutely swear by it. I get that weather holds back the Northern schools, but man ... sucks that it is always warm-weather schools there.
FWIW, this is the last CWS appearance for each Big Ten team...
Michigan: 2019
Indiana: 2013
Minnesota: 1977
Iowa: 1972
Ohio State: 1967
Michigan State: 1954
Wisconsin: 1950 (no longer has a baseball team)
Illinois: Never
Maryland: Never
Northwestern: Never
Purdue: Never
Nebraska last made it in 2005 (bet that was crazy in Omaha!), but they were obviously not in the Big Ten at the time. Similarly, Rutgers made it in 1950, and PSU made it in 1973. The future Big Ten schools from out west have fared better:
Washington: 2018
UCLA: 2013
USC: 2001
Oregon: 1954
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Has there ever been any talk of a renovation to the baseball stadium, Illinois Field? It has its charms, but my perception is that it is probably bottom third in the Big Ten, at least the stands? Not 100% sure about that. I imagine we would have to get a lot better at baseball for a sustained period of time, but this recent streak got me dreamin'!!
For reference to a couple of other legacy Big Ten fields:
ILLINOIS
IOWA
INDIANA
PURDUE
I am not expecting anything like Mississippi State has in my lifetime (if you have not seen their stadium ... check it out!), but it seems we are still punching way below our weight. We have as much or more athletic revenue and donor money as the three schools I listed and have had comparable success to Iowa and Purdue historically (as far as I am aware). It would be really cool to see a revamp of Illinois Field!
For reference to a couple of other legacy Big Ten fields:
ILLINOIS
IOWA
INDIANA
PURDUE
I am not expecting anything like Mississippi State has in my lifetime (if you have not seen their stadium ... check it out!), but it seems we are still punching way below our weight. We have as much or more athletic revenue and donor money as the three schools I listed and have had comparable success to Iowa and Purdue historically (as far as I am aware). It would be really cool to see a revamp of Illinois Field!