I have heard/read no less than about 10 people complain about DU winning the WCHA Final Five and then having to go to Wisconsin to play the BADgers on their home ice. While most of us agree Wisconsin getting in the tourney probably isn't right, it is a travesty actually, that being said the BADgers are not world beaters and couldn't even win a single playoff game and they are 15-16-7, however, listening to the pundants you would have thought that DU just suffered a huge socia injustice and was playing Michigan.
You have to hear Gorg's rant about Denver University having to play in Wisconsin after winning the WCHA playoff title. It is the 3/25 Kevin Gorg podcast.
It is a travesty is that Minnesota State Mankato is not in this tourney and Wisconsin is. The one thing that opened up the committee for some criticism by putting Wisconsin in is a three seed and hosting a regional. The team that really got the shaft other than Minnesota State is Denver; you are going to tell me that Denver wins the WCHA playoffs and they have to play a road game against Wisconsin and if they are fortunate to win they have to play a North Dakota team who is probably the best team in college hokey the last five weeks of the season. This is the same team that they eked out a win against in the conference tournament who is looking for payback the following week, the DU coach can’t be happy right now.
If there is a travesty at all its the fact that the NCAA stuck three WCHA teams in the same regional, that is kind of a thumb in the eye to our league. The bigger travesty is the fact that two of these teams have to play a conference opponent in their first round match up and if you win you more than likely get to play a conference opponent in the second round for the right to go to the frozen four. You know the NCAA doesn't want anymore all WCHA frozen fours.
Goon, you coming out to Madison?
ReplyDeleteComments like the one made by Gorg display the misunderstanding people have over the selection process.
ReplyDeleteConference tournament games carry no more weight than regular season games when it comes to seeding consideration (unless of course you're only path to the NCAA tournament is via winning a conference tournament, such as in Princeton's case).
Other than UND, who did Denver beat in the WCHA tournament? Duluth and Minnesota, that's who. Big deal. If not for a last second run, Minnesota wouldn't even be in the NCAA tournament and Duluth is not in the tournament.
One win against the Sioux, conference tournament or not, does not suddenly equate to an awesome seed in the NCAA tournament.
What if the Gophers had beat Denver? Would Gorg and the like expect Minnesota to get a top four or six seed in the playoffs, despite their poor performance throughout the regular season?
Clarkson is seeded higher than Princeton in the tournament even though Princeton won the ECAC title. That's the way it goes.
College hockey is not Professional hockey. You don't automatically get a top seed because you win your conference like you do for winning your division in the NHL.
Your seed in the NCAA hockey tournament is based on your overall performance throughout the entire season leading up to the national tournament. That being the case, I think Denver is right where they should be.
I'm sure the Pioneer players aren't complaining about their seed. As all good athletea would, they're simply preparing for their next game, a game I believe they will win hands down.
Dude, I like your post. That about sums it really well. UND got a higher seed by beating C.C. in the third place game. DU beat UND in one game tourney and that happens sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI am just happy that UND got a chance to beat the Tigers one more time and flip the comparisons in the PWR rankings.
It will be interesting to see if the NCAA keeps the tourney the way it is with the PWR or if they want to go back to the smoke filled rooms to make their picks. I think it its current form the PWR is a good way to select the teams, I do think that a team should have a .500 record or better though.
Packerbacker I have to work, I am short of cash. I have been off 9 days when I go back to work and I need to make some Night differential again. I get ESPNU on the Direct TV at work so I am happy.
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