By Dan D’Addona.
Plenty of the top Big Ten teams and swimmers will be in action this week with several intriguing matchups.
Here is what to look for:
Michigan, Penn State vs. Virginia
This two-day meet features some of the top teams in the nation. On the women’s side, Michigan is the top-ranked team in the nation after an extremely strong start to its season. The Wolverines have several returning All-Americans and are one of the deepest teams in the Big Ten, led by the DeLoof sisters, Gabby and Catie and Siobhan Haughey. Meanwhile, Olympian Leah Smith leads No. 6 Virginia into this meet. The Cavaliers have been a top-5 team in the country the past two seasons and will look to continue to build the program under coach Augie Busch. Penn State is the third team at this meet, and while the Nittany Lions can’t compete with either of these teams as far as team points, there will be plenty of individual races that should prove to be exciting.
On the men’s side, Michigan is ranked No. 6 and Virginia is No. 25. The Wolverines are packed with depth and should use that to hold off the Cavaliers and Nittany Lions.
Michigan State at Indiana
On Friday, Michigan State will get a tune-up against Cincinnati before the Spartans face Indiana on Saturday. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the men’s poll and No. 12 in the women’s. Lilly King and the Hoosiers should roll to a big victory in the Big Ten. The Spartans can only hope a strong tune-up meet will lead to some strong races against one of the top teams in the Big Ten.
Iowa vs. Purdue
Iowa will face South Dakota for a tune-up meet on Thursday before facing Purdue on Friday. The Hawkeyes and Boilermakers have had a few strong swims in the early season but a lot of disappointing finishes, too. Purdue was defeated by Notre Dame for the first time in more than five years in both the men’s and women’s competition and will look to bounce back against a Big Ten opponent.
In other meets, Ohio State faces NCAA DIII school Denison, while Rutgers faces Villanova and Georgetown and Minnesota faces North Dakota. All three meets are on Friday.
On Saturday, Nebraska faces Kansas and Illinois faces Indiana State.
GO HOOS!