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Huskers Look to Carry Late Season Momentum into Big 10 Tournament

A good showing in Omaha for the Big 10 Tournament this week could bolster Nebraska’s hopes of making the NCAA Tournament, however the Huskers have likely already secured a bid, at least according to the latest projections from D1baseball.com.

Nebraska is projected as a No. 2 seed according to the site, in a Stillwater regional with Oklahoma State, Missouri and Wright State. For NU head coach Darin Erstad’s part though, he isn’t concerned with where national writers believe Nebraska will end up. “The only thing I’m projecting is that I’m going to find a way to go home and get to practice,” Erstad told reporters at TD Ameritrade Park on Tuesday.

Erstad does worry, though, about what his players are seeing and hearing about their NCAA hopes. “My biggest concern is what they’re reading and people saying ‘oh you’re in or you’re not in,’” Erstad said. “That’s where the focus can’t be. You lose your edge for one second with the task at hand, it doesn’t matter. I just have to get them back and laser focused in on what we’re trying to do and what we’re all about. All that stuff will take care of itself.”

The “task at hand” for the Big Red right now is Minnesota, Nebraska’s first round opponent in the Big 10 Tournament. Luckily for NU, the Gophers will be without All-American starting pitcher Max Meyer, who will likely miss the entirety of the Tournament with a foot injury, Minnesota head coach John Anderson revealed on Tuesday. However, Nebraska will still need to face the reigning Big 10 freshman and pitcher of the year, Patrick Frederickson, Wednesday night.

The Gophers will prove to be stiff competition. Last time out against Minnestota, Nebraska lost on two walk-offs to drop the series. The Gophers are also the reigning Big Ten Tournament Champions and made an appearance in an NCAA Super Regional last year as well.

Although Nebraska does appear to have some momentum with them after strong showings against Arizona State and Michigan these past two weekends, Erstad said that won’t amount to much if anything this week.

“It’s a completely different animal,” Erstad said. “Who knows what the heck is going to happen… It’s tournament time. It’s playoff time.”

 

 

 

 

 

Nebraska will take on Minnesota at 9 p.m. Wednesday night. Coverage will begin at 8 o’clock on KLIN.

(Photo – Kenny Larabee)

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