Johns Hopkins sealed a berth in the Big Ten Conference tournament with a 16-9 victory over Michigan on Saturday and alleviated some of the pressure associated with Saturday's game at No. 2 Maryland at 8 p.m.
Had the Blue Jays (6-6, 3-1 Big Ten) lost to the Wolverines (5-7, 1-3), they would have had to upset the Terps (12-1, 4-0) to qualify for the league tournament. Instead, Johns Hopkins can grab a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship with a win at Byrd Stadium in College Park.
"That was a very big game because if you don't win that game, now you're traveling down to Maryland in a must-win situation on the road against a top-three team in the country that's playing very effectively and efficiently," Blue Jays coach Dave Pietramala said Wednesday morning. "So for us to solidify that berth in the tournament, I think it takes some pressure off. I think had we not done that, this game all of a sudden becomes very pressure-filled.
"Not only is it a rivalry in a big game in the sport, but the implications in terms of conference play are huge. It also keeps us around in the conversation that if we win, we can share the Big Ten title. That would mean a three-way tie. Obviously, if Maryland is successful, then they own sole ownership of that title. So it does take some pressure off of our kids in a game that's probably already got a lot of pressure in it already."
Johns Hopkins is assured of being no worse than the No. 3 seed in the league tournament, which will unfold Thursday and Saturday in College Park. The team could face the Terps, No. 11 Ohio State (10-4, 3-1) or either Michigan or Penn State (4-8, 1-3) in a tournament quarterfinal, and Pietramala knows any opponent will pose a stiff challenge.
"I think either way, we're going to play a very good team in the Big Ten tournament in the first round," he said. "There's no ifs, ands or buts about that. We're going to play someone we've already played before. So it's one of those things where I think right now, the pressure doesn't rest on our shoulders. Our pressure is to go out and practice hard and prepare for what we think is an outstanding team."