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Post by Big D on Apr 12, 2014 22:24:07 GMT -6
We have some ridiculous number of consecutive conference titles in women's tennis...like 17 or 18 or something. Over the past couple years, I've noticed that it hasn't been as easy for us....other HL teams have been gaining, and our talent seems to be declining just a bit.
Well this year we lost to Milwaukee...one of only two conference losses in the last 130 matches or so. Milwaukee is 6-0 and we're 5-1, each with 2 matches left. We have to win out and hope that CSU takes down Milwaukee to have a chance, or we can kiss another sport goodbye...just like softball and baseball.
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Post by UICJohn on Apr 13, 2014 11:36:30 GMT -6
And barely beat Detroit 4-3.
Definitely not how it used to be. It used to be news if we dropped a game or two.
And I can't even get started on baseball and softball and how far there dropped off. With the resources they have, whether it be facilities or just money put into the program, it's pathetic.
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Post by Chuck A on Apr 15, 2014 8:35:12 GMT -6
Come on fellas, women's tennis is still what it is. In my eyes, what they're doing now is no different than what they've done in the past. What has winning all those conference championships done for the program? In reality...nothing! It has not elevated them to elite status. Why? Because they lose in the first round every single year and usually to DePaul or some other local/regional University. That, to me, has been my biggest gripe about women's tennis. They can sell to recruits that they are the 16-time defending champions of the Horizon League, but the recruits probably don't think to ask them what happens beyond that?
Granted softball has fallen off ever since Coach Mike McGovern retired and Illinois hired away Coach Sullivan (forget her first name) to START their softball program. We were a bigger, older and more traditional program than Illinois, but because they are in the B1G, the better recruits obviously have another choice now and go there.
Baseball has finished either first or second for the last 12 out of 14 years, so I really don't have much of a problem with them. We all know how difficult it is for midwestern teams to compete, not just with southern/western teams, but to compete in general! This season looks like a season with some promise, if they can just find some good relief pitching. The offense is there, ranking 10th in the country.
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Post by circle70 on Apr 15, 2014 15:21:24 GMT -6
Baseball has finished either first or second for the last 12 out of 14 years, so I really don't have much of a problem with them. We all know how difficult it is for midwestern teams to compete, not just with southern/western teams, but to compete in general! This season looks like a season with some promise, if they can just find some good relief pitching. The offense is there, ranking 10th in the country. Sorry Chuck, but I agree with the guys regarding Baseball. Baseball HAS finished 1st or 2nd in 12 of the last 14 years. The problem is the current trend. Between 2000 and 2011, we had a cumulative HL record of 191-80. For the last 2 1/2 years, that record is only 34-34. Furthermore, we are basically no better than Wright State (actually worse), Milwaukee, and Valparaiso. Our superior facilities, budget, location, and all of the other factors make UIC head-and-shoulders the best choice for a quality mid-major baseball player. Why are they going to Milwaukee, which has no facilities of any kind? Curtis Granderson Stadium will be the jewel of the Midwest. If that additional attraction doesn't result in improved recruiting, then nothing will. |
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Post by Chuck A on Apr 15, 2014 15:48:24 GMT -6
I'll give you the qualifier about Granderson Stadium. If that doesn't lure some quality recruits, then not much else will.
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Post by UICJohn on Apr 15, 2014 20:30:27 GMT -6
Perhaps my comparison to women's tennis and softball/baseball was a little premature.
Women's tennis, while dominating the Horizon League, has done nothing in post-season play. I don't know this off of the top of my head but I don't think they've ever even won a game in any post-season tournament.
I guess my biggest gripe about baseball and softball is just an overall feeling of under-performing. As has been pointed out in this thread and several others, our facilities easily trump any others in the Horizon League. The amount of money we spend on baseball (at least last I saw the comparison) is easily the highest in the league. However, not that much to show for it. Even not too long ago we would have at least a player drafted a year or so.
I don't believe that softball's budget trumps the rest of the league but their facilities are still pretty nice and, maybe I'm naive or a bit a homer, but I'd much rather be playing in Chicago with the Sears Tower in the backdrop than some other Horizon League stadiums.
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Post by Big D on Apr 19, 2014 9:14:27 GMT -6
...and another streak ends....UIC lost to CSU (at home) so that's the end of that. Looks like we may take 3rd....maybe. We'll see if we can keep our conference championship streak going. Doubtful.
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Post by UICJohn on Apr 19, 2014 10:07:03 GMT -6
So, correct me if I'm wrong, but we have 1 regular season championship and no conference tournament championships this year out of all of our sports?
I've seen high school athletics run better than this. What the hell is Jim Schmidt's job actually? Does winning ever come into the equation? Apparently not.
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Post by circle70 on Apr 19, 2014 17:48:21 GMT -6
So, correct me if I'm wrong, but we have 1 regular season championship and no conference tournament championships this year out of all of our sports? I've seen high school athletics run better than this. What the hell is Jim Schmidt's job actually? Does winning ever come into the equation? Apparently not. That is why it is critical that the new chancellor be a friend of Athletics. He/she needs to realize the importance of a successful athletic program (especially Men's Basketball). It's been proven time and again that success in sports leads to increases in enrollment applications and alumni giving, to name just two. Paula Allen-Meares doesn't give a rat's ass about Athletics. She didn't even know about Schmidt's very public lobbying for a lateral position with a direct competitor. Putting an emphasis on a successful athletic program needs to come from the top. |
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Post by UICJohn on Apr 25, 2014 15:35:07 GMT -6
Women's tennis loses 4-1 in the first round of the tournament. Wow. Talk about a quick fall from grace.
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