The Michigan Wolverines, after a 36-21 (13-10 Big Ten) season, were left out of the NCAA baseball tournament as the Maize and Blue did not receive an at-large bid to the 64-team showdown.
"We really have no excuses," Michigan coach Erik Bakich told Tony Paul of The Detroit News. "We haven't played to our potential."
The Wolverines had zero Top 25 RPI wins and lost nine of their last 11 games, which obviously hurt their chances to make the tournament. Higher than the final three at-large teams to make the tournament, Michigan finished with a No. 38 RPI. The final three teams were Southeast Louisiana (40), Nebraska (48) and South Alabama (50). A No. 51 RPI rank for Minnesota was much worse than Michigan, but the Golden Gophers were rewarding for winning the Big Ten regular-season championship.
Ohio State, Minnesota and Nebraska were the three Big Ten Conference teams to make the NCAA tournament. Ohio State locked up an automatic bid for winning the Big Ten tournament over Iowa on Sunday.
Michigan and Michigan State did not make the cut, but Western Michigan won the Mid-American Conference tournament to become the only team from Michigan to make the 64-team field. Western Michigan will battle against Louisville on Friday.
"It's not like we're heading off to some barbecue; we're not a coaching staff that's looking at a vacation," Bakich said regarding the motivation needed going forward for Michigan. "We're not looking forward to a summer of relaxation.
"This is a coaching staff that has zero hobbies, not a single one. This is all we do."
Michigan made the NCAA tournament last season, but that was the only appearance since the 2008 season.