With the six teams from the WCHA in the field, and most of them seeded either second or third, avoiding a first-round match up became impossible. It was fortunate that this occurred only once (Denver vs. Wisconsin).
As for the locations of where each team ended up, I liked the committee’s rationale. With two host schools in the tournament, the committees hands were locked with Colorado College and Wisconsin. Thus, it seems the committee chose to take the top two seeds - Michigan and Miami - and send both teams east to avoid ever having to play a team on home ice. I don’t think that this necessarily gives Michigan and Miami an advantage (though Michigan may possibly have the easiest path to the Frozen Four) but at least they’re not “rewarded” with having to play a “road” game as the top seed in the regional final.
This year’s region of death appears to the Colorado Springs. Defending national champion Michigan State will have a tough time repeating having to face host Colorado College in the opening round. And New Hampshire doesn’t have a cake walk in its first game against Notre Dame. Whichever team can survive this region, though, may just win the national title.
I thought if any one team kind of got screwed it was Denver. The Pioneers won their conference tournament on Saturday but now must beat Wisconsin at Bucky’s home. If they do survive this game, I like their chances of playing for the national title in their own backyards. What an atmosphere that would make.
All in all, I like the job the committee did in placing these teams. Now the question lies which teams will survive to make it to Denver. I’ll be back with those thoughts later this week.
OUCH Region of Death
Colorado Springs (West)
No. 1 New Hampshire vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
No. 2 Colorado College vs. No. 3 Michigan State
"The Pioneers won their conference tournament on Saturday but now must beat Wisconsin at Bucky’s home. If they do survive this game..."
ReplyDeleteWow, there's some faulty logic in that one. If the Badgers are not supposed to be in here, then why would it be such a problem to beat them? Because they're hosting? DU beat the Gophers "at home" in the Xcel, for crying out loud. Why would they be afraid to play the Badgers at home?
I'm just baffled by why people think Denver is deserving of "much better" - whatever that much better would be in their minds is a whole other question anyway. They are not expecting a free ride to the FF, are they?
... and "if they don't survive this game" they are out like anybody else would be!
Denver stats against North Dakota and Colorado College (the two teams from the WCHA who are seeded higher than Denver in the national tournament):
ReplyDeleteUND: 13 goals, 3 wins
DU: 10 goals, 2 wins
CC: 15 goals, 3 wins
DU: 7 goals, 1 win
Clearly North Dakota and Colorado College deserve higher seeds in the national tournament than Denver deserves.
Given this information, exactly where do these individuals who are complaining about Denver's seeding think they should be?
Shouldn't Denver be grateful that if they don't blow it they get to play in the Frozen Four IN DENVER?
ReplyDeleteDenver will have to do a little better than "don't blow it" to advance out of the region. Michigan is a team that will advance if they "don't blow it." One could also put North Dakota in that same sentence, but I don't think Denver is in that tier of teams.
ReplyDeletegood post Jeff, the BADgers are going to put up a good fight and the fact that they were cost a chance at a win or a tie in Denver should be more than enough to motivate Wisconsin. I can see why some DU fan might be upset.
ReplyDeleteThat being said the Madison regional looks tough on paper and we will see how it shakes out...
If Denver fans are upset about being placed in Madison, then their team should have done better and made it to #1 in the nation, then they'd be 'guaranteed' a spot in the FF. Bear in mind this is the Michigan team that almost lost the CCHA championship to Northern Michigan. The 'bottom feeders' rarely roll over immediately, especially when a win is expected, and both Clarkson and St. Cloud are fully capable of contending with Michigan. I don't see any teams listed that aren't capable of winning their games, at least the first, and 13 of them I could see going on much farther (with the other three in three separate regions). There are no absolutes in post-season play, so complaining about where one is seeded is a worthless cause in a field as tight as this year's
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who would rather play CC than Denver? I mean Denver has had our number in the post season the last few years, and have proven they can win in the NCAA tourney, not to mention they are hot coming off last weekend. CC on the other hand is gearing up for there annual post season fizzel out. I'd like to see their ratio of McNaughtin cups to Broadmor trophies or NCAA titles
ReplyDelete