The Terps sit in seventh place in the conference standings.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Maryland baseball’s postseason hopes are still very much in question.
Only the top eight teams in the Big Ten standings will make the conference tournament, and the Terps currently sit in seventh. Despite Maryland’s current RPI (No. 33) making it a contender for the NCAA Tournament, missing the Big Ten Tournament would effectively kill those hopes.
With the Terps slotted at seventh place in the conference standings and five programs still in contention for the conference tournament, there’s a lot to look out for this weekend.
Big Ten Standings
Maryland, Ohio State and Michigan State are all tied for seventh place, but Minnesota and Penn State are sitting just a game behind in 10th place. All five teams are fighting for the final two spots in the conference tournament.
1. Illinois Fighting Illini (15-6 Big Ten, 30-17 overall) – x
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-7 Big Ten, 32-18 overall) – x
T-3. Purdue Boilermakers (13-8 Big Ten, 33-19 overall) – x
T-3. Indiana Hoosiers (13-8 Big Ten, 28-21 overall) – x
T-3. Michigan Wolverines (13-8 Big Ten, 29-24 overall) – x
5. Iowa Hawkeyes (14-10 Big Ten, 29-20 overall) – x
T-7. Maryland Terrapins (10-11 Big Ten, 34-19 overall)
T-7. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-11 Big Ten, 26-23 overall)
T-7. Michigan State Spartans (10-11 Big Ten, 23-25 overall)
T-10. Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-12 Big Ten, 23-22 overall)
T-10. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-12 Big Ten, 23-23 overall)
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-16 Big Ten, 27-23 overall) – e
13. Northwestern Wildcats (3-18 Big Ten, 17-32 overall) – e
x = Clinched a spot in the Big Ten tournament
e = Eliminated from Big Ten tournament contention
Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa have all punched their ticket into the Big Ten Tournament. Maryland dropped two of three games to Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska, but took two of three games from Illinois.
Only Northwestern and Rutgers have been eliminated from tournament contention. Maryland lost two out of three games to Northwestern and won two out of three games against Rutgers.
Games to watch this weekend
Note: All games are adjusted to Eastern Time.
Penn State at Maryland:
Game one: Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game two: Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game three: Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Ohio State at Rutgers:
Game one: Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game two: Friday, May 17 at 3 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game three: Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. on Big Ten Plus
Nebraska at Michigan State:
Game one: Thursday, May 16 at 6:05 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game two: Friday, May 17 at 6:05 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game three: Saturday, May 18 at 1:05 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Minnesota at Northwestern:
Game one: Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. on Big Ten Plus
Game two: Friday, May 17 at 4 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Game three: Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m. on Big Ten Network
Minnesota and Penn State are still in contention to make the Big Ten Tournament, but both programs would most likely need a sweep to do so.
Maryland’s Big Ten Tournament qualification scenarios
If Maryland Sweeps Penn State:
The Terps would qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
If Maryland wins two out of three games against Penn State:
The Terps would need two of the following to occur to make the Big Ten Tournament:
Michigan State to lose one or more game(s) against Nebraska.
Ohio State to lose one or more game(s) against Rutgers.
Minnesota to lose one or more game(s) to Northwestern.
If Maryland loses two out of three games to Penn State:
The Terps would need two of the following to occur to make the Big Ten Tournament:
Michigan State to lose two or more game(s) against Nebraska.
Ohio State to lose two or more game(s) against Rutgers.
Minnesota to lose two or more game(s) to Northwestern.
If Maryland losses all three games to Penn State:
The Terps would need all three of the following to occur to make the Big Ten Tournament:
Nebraska to sweep Michigan State.
Rutgers to sweep Ohio State.
Northwestern to sweep Minnesota.
If Penn State sweeps Maryland this weekend, the Nittany Lions would be in solid shape to qualify for the conference tournament and virtually eliminate the Terps.
Maryland holds the tiebreaker over Michigan State, as it won two of three games against the Spartans in late March, courtesy of two Brayden Martin walk-off hits.
Maryland holds the tiebreaker over Ohio State, as it is 9-9 against shared opponents while Ohio State is 6-9 with three impending results against Rutgers. Maryland would also hold the tiebreaker if all three teams sweep its upcoming opponents because Ohio State would be eliminated due to its series loss to Michigan State.
Maryland also has a higher RPI than Ohio State and Michigan State, giving it another tiebreaker over both teams.
Minnesota would hold a tiebreaker over Maryland if it outperforms the Terps this weekend, as both programs are 8-10 against shared opponents. A Minnesota sweep over Northwestern would position it for a tournament spot unless two of Maryland, Michigan State or Ohio State sweep its weekend series.