2011 Big 10 Cross Country

Just a question from a Big Ten outsider, what makes Purdue's men so consistently bad? They should be able to pull good recruits with a power conference and a good academic reputation, no?

Purdue is actually not as terrible as people make them out to be, they are just bad compared to other Big 10 opponents. If you look at other races outside of Big 10s (including regionals) they beat some solid teams, including a few which are nationally ranked. The problem for Purdue is A) the Big 10 is a deep conference in which there are no really horrendous teams ( the Big East has St. Johns and the SEC has Vanderbilt) (B) all schools in the Big 10 are very respectable academically so they have no real recruiting advantage in that regard and (C) Purdue has really ignored distance running in exchange for field events until very recently when they we're actually able to land some decent recruits.Thus they are still playing catch up today.

correction- meant Seton Hall for the horrendous teams comment. St.Johns mens cross country is non existent.

Big 10 insider wrote:

Purdue is actually not as terrible as people make them out to be, they are just bad compared to other Big 10 opponents. If you look at other races outside of Big 10s (including regionals) they beat some solid teams, including a few which are nationally ranked. The problem for Purdue is A) the Big 10 is a deep conference in which there are no really horrendous teams ( the Big East has St. Johns and the SEC has Vanderbilt) (B) all schools in the Big 10 are very respectable academically so they have no real recruiting advantage in that regard and (C) Purdue has really ignored distance running in exchange for field events until very recently when they we're actually able to land some decent recruits.Thus they are still playing catch up today.

I agree about the big ten's depth at cross country. Every team except purdue has made nationals in recent past (maybe not Illinois?) but even teams that are having down years recently like Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio State still have a history of good cross country teams. It also probably doesn't help that everyone associated with big ten distance running puts down Purdue, and says how bad they are. considering if they were in a mid major conference they would be competing for a conference championship .

Illinois head coach never ran at Iona he went to Depaul. He also wasn't at Iona when Mick was there he got there in 2008 the same year Mick started at Wisconsin.

Big ten tenor wrote:

It also probably doesn't help that everyone associated with big ten distance running puts down Purdue, and says how bad they are.

Their results speak for themselves.

I think it a good call with Illinois moving up to top half of conference. Wendell brought in plenty of talent (particularly in-state), but couldnt get those guys to run tough. Wendell was always stuck in that D3/North Central attitude and didn't really understand how tough the Big 10 was and his team at Illinois suffered as a result.I can assure you, the new coach is true cross country fire and will have these guys ready to defend their home course.

WISCONSIN - TOO STRONG

INDIANA - I THIK THEY WILL GO TOO MUCH THE OTHER WAY WITH REGARDS TO TRAINING/RACING/PEAKING AND START PLAYING GAMES AND OUT THINK THEMSELVES

MINNESOTA - MEAD WINS AND 5TH MAN IN AT 25TH OR SO

ILLINOIS - SEE ABOVE

MICHIGAN - FORYS TOP 5 AND 5TH MAN IN AT 45TH OR SO

OHIO STATE - TRACK PRS MUCH BETTER, BUT THEY'LL BE OK AT 8K

PENN STATE - DON'T KNOW MUCH EXCEPT THEY LOST #1 AND WERE LUCKY TO MAKE NATS LAST YEAR

MSU - THE "PACK" ARE ALL TOO SLOW

NEBRASKA - WILL DOMINATE TRACK, BUT BARELY PARTICIPATE IN XC

PURDUE - MANY OF THE REASONS STAED HERE ARE RIDICULOUS. JACK HAS BEEN AT PURDUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HAS MADE DUMB DECISIONS WHILE PLACING AS MUCH MONEY AS MANY OF THE BIG TEN SCHOOLS DO IN THE AREA. THEIR TRACK TEAM HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE TOP HALF OF THE CAMPUS ALL BUT 3 TIMES TOTAL AND XC HAS BEEN LAST MORE TIMES THAN NOT (BOTH GENDERS).

couplite wrote:

HAS MADE DUMB DECISIONS

This part is true.

WHILE PLACING AS MUCH MONEY AS MANY OF THE BIG TEN SCHOOLS DO IN THE AREA.

This part isn't true.

I guess Iowa wont travel a team then.

McRaven is/was not stuck in a D3/North Central mentality. Last I checked North Central was pretty DAMN good, and Coach Carius is arguably the best coach in the country! I also think the Illini have a shot of breaking into the top four this year and there success is a direct result of McRaven's hard work! Kennedy just has to keep them healthy and rolling along, especially since he has only been on the job for two months.

Indiana will win, they're built for the course at Illinois. FAST!

Wisco - will be the top Big Ten team at NCAA, maybe the top team period.

Minnesota

Illinois

Penn State

Michigan

Ohio State

Michigan State

Purdue

Iowa

Nebraska

Isnt iona old head coach gone to Illinois, heard there trying to get some big runners!

Wisconsin - Something in the water has these guys ready to go when it counts. They have been so good for so long and I always feel that success breeds success

Indiana - Every year people say that Wisconsin won't be able to defend and they always do. They didn't even come close last year so I just can't pick them. A lot could depend on how fit Bayer is after his injury

Penn State - 4th last year and return everyone but Foster who has been easily replaced by some true xc guys. Will be relying on some inconsistent runners though and it has gone wrong in the past. Dawson appears to have stepped up a level and will challenge for top 5.

Illinois - No real standouts, but a talented pack. A lot will depend on the progression that they have made over the Summer. Being at home gives them the edge over OU

Ohio State - Haven't been able to return to the form of the '09 team despite a very similar group of guys. Jake Edwards had a great track year though and could lead them to a better performance than this.

Michigan - Forys will be good but they are still a year away

Purdue - Return some good guys and are slowly gathering momentum. Screwed the pooch last year when they really should have made it out of the basement. Will double up this year and beat three teams

MSU - Unimpressive is a good description.

Nebraska - Just not a good xc team, but they'll beat somebody this year.

Iowa - Truly awful outside of Thode, and even he wasn't that impressive in his only race this year. If he goes out at the front like he tends, he'll fade, and without a low stick the team is no good.

*** team race for 1-2 is tight, for 3-6 is tight, and then the rest will "fight it out". Because of the similarity in level between teams, a lot will be decided by coaching. Who can get their guys to execute a good race plan on the day. I wouldn't be surprised if one or more teams try to formulate some kind of team tactic, either packing up and forcing the pace, or slowing it down. Mick Byrne is the pick of the coaches in my opinion and gives Wisc. the edge

Last years course was fast as well and Wisconsin still dominated IU at Big 10s.

They're not running on the ultra flat golf course; they're at the arb. I remember it being pretty hilly with lots of sharp turns no?

Well, there is only one hill at the arb. It's pretty steep, but not very long. I think the men run up it 3 times?

As far as the turns, I don't think there were many extremely sharp ones...

Hey Bray....stop coming on here defending your boy!

They're not running on the ultra flat golf course; they're at the arb. I remember it being pretty hilly with lots of sharp turns no?

There is two pretty steep hills but the rest is flat.

Red Right 88 wrote:

McRaven is/was not stuck in a D3/North Central mentality. Last I checked North Central was pretty DAMN good, and Coach Carius is arguably the best coach in the country! I also think the Illini have a shot of breaking into the top four this year and there success is a direct result of McRaven's hard work! Kennedy just has to keep them healthy and rolling along, especially since he has only been on the job for two months.

Indiana will win, they're built for the course at Illinois. FAST!

Wisco - will be the top Big Ten team at NCAA, maybe the top team period.

Minnesota

Illinois

Penn State

Michigan

Ohio State

Michigan State

Purdue

Iowa

Nebraska

Wisconsin only loses the Big 10 when something disasterous happens or they have a rare depleted year of youngsters. I think we're talking 3 times in the last 27 years.

The boys at 4 5 6 and 7 know this and will make sure even if Indiana puts 3 in the top 6 in won't matter. The Indiana boys will be counting how many weeks are left before they can get on an oversized banked indoor 3000 where it doesn't hurt as much as the 4 mile mark at Big 10 Cross.