Bring on the Big Ten

OXFORD, Miss. — As I write this there is no update on the severity of the injury to Hunter Elliott. All we know is that he is experiencing some forearm issues and won’t pitch against Maryland. That certainly changes the complexion of the weekend series, and very possibly beyond.

If this happened any other year it would be devastating news for Ole Miss baseball, but we’re defending national champions and still playing with house money for a long time to come as far as I’m concerned. There will be no weeping and gnashing of teeth as we’ve all been wont to do in the past. Plenty of baseball remains to be played in 2023 and it is next man up. I take comfort in the fact that the next man just happens to be the guy that delivered one of the biggest starts in Rebel history in game one of the 2022 CWS finals. 

We now begin an interesting stretch where nine of the next twelve games are against Big Ten competition. In fact, when the calendar hits April, Ole Miss will still have played more games against Big Ten opponents than SEC ones—Maryland four times, Purdue three, Nebraska and Minnesota once each. 

Now the Big Ten isn’t exactly a hotbed for college baseball. Yes, Michigan advanced to the College World Series finals just four seasons ago, but Big 10 teams have made three appearances in the CWS in the past thirty-nine years—all three by Michigan. As you likely recall, the SEC West alone had four teams in the field just last year. 

It is still difficult to get used to the fact that Maryland is in the Big Ten, though they’ve been a member for almost ten years now. Nebraska is another head-scratcher. I’m well aware that each did so for financial reasons and that it was a good move in that regard, but neither has come close to experiencing the overall athletic success that they did in the ACC or Big 12 (previously Big 8) respectively. But I suppose Sewanee would have accepted 10 football wins over the past 82 years to be currently cashing SEC television payout checks. So, hey Maryland and Nebraska—you do you. 

The Terrapins had an outstanding baseball season in 2022 when they won 48 games and hosted a regional, falling in the finals to Connecticut. The 2023 version comes to Oxford ranked 13^th in the D1 Baseball poll, but also having just lost a midweek game to West Virginia that dropped their record to 2-2. Supposedly they hit a lot of homers. They will likely need to continue that if they’re going to keep pace. I’m sure they’ll come in confident though and I won’t be surprised if they test the Rebels. Hopefully they’ll be somewhat in awe of the crowd at Swayze, because I expect it to be raucous. I intend to do my part. 

As for the other Big 10 teams the Rebels will face over the next few weeks—Purdue is 3-1 with all of their games thus far against Holy Cross. In 2022 they went 29-21 overall and 9-12 in conference play. Nebraska currently stands at 0-3-1 with all of their games against San Diego. In 2022 they recorded an overall record of 23-30 and 10-14 in conference play. Minnesota now sits at 0-4 with losses to Oregon State, UC-Santa Barbara (twice), and New Mexico. The Golden Gophers went 16-36 in 2022, including 6-18 in conference play. The matchup with Minnesota will be a revenge one for Ole Miss (Why so you ask? From the 1956 College World Series of course.)

As you have likely surmised from the records, after Maryland, we’re not exactly going to be seeing the cream of the crop from the Big 10. Even with the hit to the pitching staff, anything less than 7-2 in these games would be disappointing. But it’s still difficult for me to be that disappointed about anything Ole Miss baseball related as I wear my national championship polo, drink from my national championship cup and stare at my national championship poster. I’m going to be fine.

See you at Swayze on Friday. I’m going to go light a candle for Hunter Elliott. 

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)