Big Ten Weekly Preview: Nothing Like Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry

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Photo Courtesy: Stephen Frink/Florida Keys News Bureau

By Dan D’Addona.

Many rivalries are friendly rivalries, or sibling rivalries or masquerade as rivalries.

The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is different. It isn’t friendly or masquerading as anything it is not.

It is fierce. It is intense. It is prideful. It is as close to athletic hatred as you can get.

Many fans see this on the football field when Michigan and Ohio State play, but it is nearly as fierce in every sport. The two schools don’t like each other and there is nothing more the athletes love than beating the hated school in the rivalry.

The same is there for swimming.

On Friday, the Michigan men and women host Ohio State at Canham Natatorium.

The Michigan women are ranked No. 7, while Ohio State is No. 21. For the men, Michigan is No. 9 and Ohio State is No. 17.

But the rankings don’t matter in this rivalry. Even in a meet with tired swims before the Big Ten Championships, everyone will be on their game and looking to touch out the person in the next lane.

Rose Bi and Siobhan Haughey lead the Wolverine women in the freestyle events, though Haughey can swim just about everything at an All-American level. She could go up against Ohio State’s Lindsey Clary in one of the IM events (or any event for that matter), and that alone would be worth the price of admission.

Paul Powers leads the Michigan men in the sprints and will look to hold off Mossimo Chavez in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

It could come down to that final relay, which would only add to an incredible rivalry meet.

Indiana vs. Louisville

The Indiana Hoosiers will take a break from Big Ten competition this week, but it isn’t really a break at all, facing nationally ranked Louisville.

The No. 4 Indiana men will face No. 7 Louisville, while the Indiana women are No. 14 and face the No. 10 Cardinals.

Both teams will be fighting to earn a top-10 spot at the NCAA championships for the men and women, and this will be a good way to get a little outside-the-conference flavor before the Big Ten Championships. The relays will be particularly interesting, because that is what is going to be the way either team reaches the top 10 at the end of the season.

Big Ten roundup

A handful of Big Ten teams will be competing in Friday-Saturday meets this week. Minnesota will face Purdue and Northwestern, while Wisconsin will compete at the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational.

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