Penn State Increases Radio Broadcasts

The Nittany Lions baseball team is going to get more airtime in 2005. Radio airtime, anyway. WMAJ1450AM, the local ESPN affiliate, is going to broadcast 44 Penn State baseball games this season. Here is the official press release.

Purdue Preview

The Purdue Boilermakers join the growing list of programs that preview their upcoming season on their website. Here is the link.

Big Ten Players Of The Week

Northwestern pitcher Evan Blesoff and outfielder Max Mann were named Big Ten Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively. Congrats to both on their first time honors.

Spartans Preview Season

Michigan State's website has released a 2005 season preview. Click here for the link.

On-Deck: N.U. vs. UTA

Northwestern will continue it's campaign with a Friday contest against the University of Texas-Arlington. The bad news for the Wildcats is that UTA just upset #8 Baylor yesterday. Here is a link to UTA's baseball page.

Update: Here is a preview courtesy of Northwestern's website.

Hoosier Preview

Indiana University previews it's upcoming baseball season on its website. Click here to see how I.U. will lineup in 2005.

No Valentine For Big Ten

The Big Ten got no respect from any of this week's polls. The Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Top 25, Collegiate Baseball Magazine's Top 30 and Baseball America's Top 25 are all devoid of Big Ten schools. Big Ten baseball can't even get a little bit of love on Valentine's Day.

Around the Nation

Will Kimmey provides us with his Weekend Preview at Baseball America.com. This weekend's action is highlighted by the Minute Maid College Classic in Houston, Texas. Oklahoma State, Rice, Baylor, Houston, Texas A&M and Tennessee comprise this year's field.

Phoenix Tournament Rained Out

According to a report at the University of Missouri website, the remainder of the Oakland A's Phoenix tournament has been cancelled due to rain. Northwestern was scheduled to play Mizzou this morning, Portland later today and Oregon State tomorrow.

If the entire tournament is washed away, the 'Cats next game will be on February 18 versus Texas-Arlington.

NU Drops K-State, 4-2

Northwestern opened the 2005 season by beating Kansas State, 4-2. N.U. senior Evan Blesoff picked up the victory going five innings. Wildcat freshman Max Mann led to offensive charge with a three run triple. Here is the coverage from the respective websites.

Northwestern coverage

Kansas State coverage

Northwestern continues it's trip to Phoenix with a Saturday doubleheader. N.U. starts the day with a game versus Missouri and finishes with a contest against Portland.

Battle 'Cats

The first Big Ten team to see action this season is Northwestern. N.U. is in Phoenix, Arizona and will open the year Thursday versus Kansas State. The battle of Wildcats is scheduled to begin at 7pm EST/8pm CT.

KSU's offense is led by a pair of outfielders. Steve Murphy is coming of a .338/3/40 season. His average and rbi total were the best on the club in '04. Murphy also had the highest OPS on the Wildcats with an .882 mark. Terry Blunt had Kansas State's second highest average last year at .305. Blunt was also second in homers with four.

Another player to watch for in KSU's lineup is ex-Illinois standout Eric Eymann. The former Freshman All-America selection will be playing shortstop for the 'Cats.

KSU lost it's top three winners from its pitching staff, so Coach Brad Hill will hand the ball of to a new group of weekend starters this year.

From a Northwestern perspective, 1B Mark Ori paces the attack. Last year, Ori hit .382/0/23 and had a .938 OPS. DH/OF Anthony Wycklendt, SS Jon Mikrut and 2B Caleb Fields are all returning starters. Wycklendt and Mikrut tied for the team lead in round-trippers with six. Wycklendt led the Wildcats in stolen bases with 5, while Mikrut's 41 rbi were also good for first on the ballclub. Fields is entering his sophomore campaign after hitting .271 as a freshman.

Dan Brauer will lead Coach Paul Stevens' staff. Brauer won six games in 2004. He held opponents to a .233 average while striking out 96 and walking 26 in 89.1 innings of work. George Kontos will also be a party of the N.U. rotation. The sophomore started nine games a year ago.

There is no sign of an audio feed from either school as of yet. I will try to provide an update, if possible Thursday night.

PSU To Hold Media Luncheon

New Penn State skipper Robbie Wine and his staff will be at a media luncheon on February 10. Gopsusports.com provides the details of this event here.

Buckeyes Preview Their 2005 Campaign

The Ohio State University's website has produced an outlook for their upcoming baseball season. Here is the link. I would expect, as do the Buckeyes, for OSU to contend for the conference crown again in '05.

Gophers Alumni Game On Tap For Saturday

The University of Minnesota will play its annual Pro-Alumni Game this Saturday. The game will feature a number of current MLB players. Click here for the link at Gophersports.com.

Meet The Wolverines

The University of Michigan has schedule a "Meet The Team Night" for February 17. For details click on this link at mgoblue.com. It's free, snacks are being served and you get to talk baseball. What more can you ask for?

No Love For Big Ten

The USA Today Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Poll is out. Texas claimed the top spot with 953 points. Cal State Fullerton, Miami (FL), LSU and Tulane round out the top five. Forty Division I coaches participate in the poll.

No Big Ten program made the top 25, but two did receive points. Michigan garnered six points. Not factoring in ties, Michigan would be ranked 53rd in the nation. Minnesota managed two points and was the only other conference school to merit attention.

Heiss Grodin Receives Award

USA Today Sports Weekly's Dana Heiss Grodin won the Wilbur Snypp Award for contributions to college baseball. Heiss Grodin is Sports Weekly's college baseball beat writer. I've talked college baseball with Dana in the past and was excited to see her work get some recognition. Congratulations, Dana!

Closers Get Noticed

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association is going to a Stopper Of The Year Award in 2005. Here is the press release from the NCBWA.

Nittany Lions 2005 Schedule

Penn State's 2005 schedule isnt' quite complete. The Nittany Lions will face schools like James Madison, UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Wilmington, but have a three game tournament in Fresno, California against TBA opposition. If the forty-fourth ranked Fresno State Bulldogs appear, they would be the highlight of PSU's non-conference slate.

Boilermakers 2005 Schedule

Purdue's 2005 schedule is filled with impressive opponents. The Boilers get to take on (#4) Texas, (#16) Mississippi, (#18) Rice, (#20) Notre Dame and (#33) Florida Atlantic. In what may be the toughest opening schedule I've seen a Big Ten school face, Purdue begins the year with consecutive three game road sets versus F.A.U., Ole Miss and the Longhorns.

The Boilers will then play their tenth straight game against ranked opposition as they head to Houston to face the Rice Owls. Later in the season, Purdue will travel to take on Notre Dame. That's eleven non-conference games against teams ranked in Baseball America's top 40 pre-season poll. All eleven tilts are on the road.

No one will complain if about the Boilermakers' strength of schedule, unless to say it's just too difficult. I give Purdue credit for taking on some of the nation's best.