The Big Ten Network has released its broadcast schedule for women's soccer, and the Illini are conspicuous by their relative absence.  Only one Illini game is currently on the BTN's broadcast schedule, their matchup at NCAA qualifier Indiana on Sunday 10/19.  There's a chance the game at home against Purdue could be the wildcard match selected by BTN for broadcast on Friday 10/31, but that likely won't be determined until the week of the game.  The other game that is likely to be considered is Ohio State at Penn State.  Both games could have conference title implications, and the BTN is likely to choose whichever game they think is most likely to end with one team receiving the regular season conference title.

Five schools are scheduled to appear twice on BTN this season: Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.  The Hoosiers, Buckeyes and Lady Lions were all NCAA qualifiers last season, so they should get multiple appearances on BTN.  They've earned it.  Iowa and Northwestern?  Not so much.  They were the last two teams to make the field of eight in last year's Big Ten tournament, and both were eliminated in the first round of the event.  Purdue and Illinois are the quality programs being snubbed for two schools that have been conference also rans in recent years.  That could be rectified if BTN chooses the Illinois-Purdue matchup on 10/31 as its wildcard.  Let's hope they do.

Oh...and don't get me started on the volleyball schedule, also listed on the page linked above.  That's a subject for another blog post.  Maybe tomorrow.