The Big Ten Conference released its annual coaches’ poll Wednesday, which predicted IU to finish fourth after winning back-to-back Big Ten regular season and ?Tournament titles.
The three teams picked to finish ahead of IU were Maryland, Nebraska and Illinois, respectively.
The poll also identified three players from each team selected as players to watch this season. IU’s are senior outfielder Scott Donley, junior pitcher Scott Effross and senior pitcher Ryan Halstead.
Donley was a first team All-Big Ten selection last season after batting .383 last season, hitting 16 doubles with a slugging percentage of .484.
Halstead is IU’s career leader in saves with 23 and the single season leader in saves with 11. He redshirted last season after tearing his ACL four games into the season.
Effross served as the team’s closer last season after Halstead’s injury, leading the Big Ten in appearances with 32. Effross will be a starter this season and is scheduled to start in IU’s first game Friday at Stanford.
Conference newcomer Maryland is predicted to win the conference after a season in which it reached the Super Regionals, its first appearance in program ?history.
It also returns All-American infielder Brandon Lowe and pitcher Mike Shawaryn.
Nebraska was picked to finish second this season after being runners-up in both the regular season and Big Ten Tournament to IU last season. Nebraska returns unanimous All-Big Ten first-team pitcher Chance Sinclair and All-Big Ten Freshman Team outfielder Ryan Boldt.
Picked to finish third in the Big Ten is Illinois, who returns 18 players from a team that went 32-21 last season and failed to qualify for the postseason. One of those returning players is junior pitcher Kevin Duchene. Duchene posted an ERA of 1.80, best in the Big Ten last season.
Picked to finish fifth and sixth in the Big Ten were Michigan and Ohio State.
All Big Ten teams are scheduled to begin their seasons Friday.
Michael Hughes
