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The preseason Big Ten coaches poll was released on Wednesday and, to nobody’s surprise, Indiana has been tabbed as the favorite to win the league. The coaches selected Nebraska, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, and Iowa to finish second through sixth, respectively.
In addition to predicting the top six teams in the league, the coaches named three players from each club to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List. Closer/DH Matt Lloyd, third basemen Luke Miller and right fielder Logan Sowers were the Indiana selections.
.@IndianaBase infielders Matt Lloyd and Luke Miller and outfielder Logan Sowers named 2018 #B1GBaseball preseason honorees. pic.twitter.com/AGeNImzF9B
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) February 14, 2018
Indiana (34-24-2 in 2017) brings back a lot of key pieces from their 2017 squad. Last year’s Hoosiers went to their second NCAA tournament in three years as they were the second seed in the Lexington Regional. This season the Hoosiers will return 62 percent of their runs scored as well as 91 percent of their innings pitched.
Returning in 2018 pic.twitter.com/91hJxhVSyU
— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) January 24, 2018
This is only the latest honor the Hoosiers have received in the preseason. The club has been ranked nationally by a number of publications, including being ranked 17th by Perfect Game USA, 20th by Baseball America, and 23rd by D1 Baseball.
Indiana will begin the 2018 campaign on Friday, when they travel to Myrtle Beach to play Oklahoma at noon. For more on the season ahead, check out Crimson Quarry’s preview of the Indiana lineup, pitching, and schedule, as well as the Big Ten.