Recent history showed 2014-15 to be a banner year for the B1G re. earning auto-qualifiers slots, with 86. Last year it nose-dived to 71, which was fewer than we had in 2013-14 with only 12 teams. Maryland hasn't added much, but Rutgers has, so 15 fewer in one year was precipitous. My guess tomorrow (February 23), when allocations are announced, is a number somewhere between 2 years ago and last year, or mid-to-high 70's. We can also expect, of the 40 or so at-large selections, for the B1G to earn in the 8-10 range.
2013-14
12 Big Ten Teams
74 Auto-qualifier Spots
82 National Qualifiers (so 8 at-large selections)
2014-15
14 Big Ten Teams
86 Auto-qualifier Spots
96 National Qualifiers (so 10 at-large selections)
2015-16
14 Big Ten Teams
71 Auto-qualifier Spots
79 National Qualifiers (so 8 at-large selections)
2016-17
14 Big Ten Teams
?? Auto-qualifier Spots (My guess is 73-79)
?? National Qualifiers (so ?? at-large selections)
Disclaimer: May be an error of 1 or so in the numbers above, if a wrestler can't go and the conference loses an auto-spot. I know it happened at least once.
2013-14
12 Big Ten Teams
74 Auto-qualifier Spots
82 National Qualifiers (so 8 at-large selections)
2014-15
14 Big Ten Teams
86 Auto-qualifier Spots
96 National Qualifiers (so 10 at-large selections)
2015-16
14 Big Ten Teams
71 Auto-qualifier Spots
79 National Qualifiers (so 8 at-large selections)
2016-17
14 Big Ten Teams
?? Auto-qualifier Spots (My guess is 73-79)
?? National Qualifiers (so ?? at-large selections)
Disclaimer: May be an error of 1 or so in the numbers above, if a wrestler can't go and the conference loses an auto-spot. I know it happened at least once.
