UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

C-H-C, if you don't mind, I'll stop by your seat on Saturday between 2nd and 3rd periods to say hello.

Only if UNH has won Friday night and are winning 8-1.

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Ok, I will leave the reminiscing to the UNH-UVM thread, and say that I would like to see two more games with BC this season (i.e., meet in the HE final, and then again in Manchvegas, rather than risking a 4th seed to send BC to the St. Louis regional). That is a lot of games against just two teams, but whatever it takes.

Ah, don't let me stop you. It's fun to read.

As for UNH meeting BC in the Manchester...well, I've never seen UNH lose to BC in the NCAA's. That negativity aside, I don't like that scenario for a couple of reasons: 1) if UNH loses the HE Final to BC, and BC is then placed in Manch (not sure the PWR works out, but I suppose there's always the possibility), we could see a situation like the 2007 tourney (UNH overlooking the 1st round opponent). 2) If UNH beats BC in the final, they could be overconfident facing them again, and BC could be hungrier to beat them (think 2002 with Maine).

I'm not going to get hung up on hoping for a given matchup, just on hoping UNH can win 8 more games.

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

1) if UNH loses the HE Final to BC, and BC is then placed in Manch (not sure the PWR works out, but I suppose there's always the possibility), we could see a situation like the 2007 tourney (UNH overlooking the 1st round opponent). 2) If UNH beats BC in the final, they could be overconfident facing them again, and BC could be hungrier to beat them (think 2002 with Maine).

Or maybe BC would win because they are the more talented/better coached team and hunger/overlooking BC/overconfidence would not really be reasons for that result but excuses?

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Ah, don't let me stop you. It's fun to read.

As for UNH meeting BC in the Manchester...well, I've never seen UNH lose to BC in the NCAA's. That negativity aside, I don't like that scenario for a couple of reasons: 1) if UNH loses the HE Final to BC, and BC is then placed in Manch (not sure the PWR works out, but I suppose there's always the possibility), we could see a situation like the 2007 tourney (UNH overlooking the 1st round opponent). 2) If UNH beats BC in the final, they could be overconfident facing them again, and BC could be hungrier to beat them (think 2002 with Maine).

I'm not going to get hung up on hoping for a given matchup, just on hoping UNH can win 8 more games.

UNH was not looking past anybody in 2007, they just stunk. One of the more disappointing regionals ever. Before last weekend, good friend predicted that we would play BC four more times - last weekend, HE final, Regional final - with just one win possible. I can see that. BC is very good, in a best of five, best of seven, whatever, they beat UNH every time. But I am thinking of the year that BU beat BC four times, then lost to them when it counted. It could happen because the teams are not that far apart.

But, as I am sure that that others will caution, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Be on a mission this weekend, take care of business, then one game at a time. Enough cliches for now, but I hope you get my drift.

[GoUNH]

Or maybe BC would win because they are the more talented/better coached team and hunger/overlooking BC/overconfidence would not really be reasons for that result but excuses?

Or maybe its a matter of UNH not necessarily winning, but BC losing because they are so uber everything across the board

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

he's been saying this all year long that he likes the 'cats this year, honestly, he has.

Not that part... which he has been saying all year. The other part... "Losing the RS title was the best thing to happen for this team."

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Or maybe BC would win because they are the more talented/better coached team and hunger/overlooking BC/overconfidence would not really be reasons for that result but excuses?

So, if UNH plays BC in this postseason, and loses, it's not a choke? Then I say bring on BC!

UNH was not looking past anybody in 2007, they just stunk. One of the more disappointing regionals ever.

Perhaps you're forgetting the comments from the team about how they were looking forward to having another shot at BC, before the game against Miami. If that's not looking past an opponent, I don't know what is (perhaps us formulating HE finals and NCAA regionals scenarios? ).

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Perhaps you're forgetting the comments from the team about how they were looking forward to having another shot at BC, before the game against Miami. If that's not looking past an opponent, I don't know what is (perhaps us formulating HE finals and NCAA regionals scenarios? ).

Maybe so, but I think of that stretch from 2005-2009 when I don't think the team was ever ready to play in the NCAA's. Miami was a bad game, but so was Michigan State in Albany, and Michigan at the Verizon. When I think of UNH's performance last Friday at Conte, those games come to mind. I believe that a different mindset did come, triggered by the North Dakota game two years ago. Let's hope it didn't end with the RIT debacle last year.

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Perhaps you're forgetting the comments from the team about how they were looking forward to having another shot at BC, before the game against Miami. If that's not looking past an opponent, I don't know what is (perhaps us formulating HE finals and NCAA regionals scenarios? ).

Yep, good old Josh Ciocco guaranteeing a victory over BC in the regional final. Boy was that dumb. Of course, I'm not necessarily sold that it affected their play when it came time to play Miami but it had to affect their preparation to some (likely small) degree.

[Chris_NH]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Is it mathematically possible for UNH to drop out of the field of 16 altogether? There are four teams that would have to leapfrog them, right? I recall a time in Worcester when BU was host and they weren't even in the NCAAs that year. That was a rather satisfying memory.

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Is it mathematically possible for UNH to drop out of the field of 16 altogether? There are four teams that would have to leapfrog them, right? I recall a time in Worcester when BU was host and they weren't even in the NCAAs that year. That was a rather satisfying memory.

I'm sure it's possible; however, the team needs to not think about math (PWR) and just freaking win.

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I'm sure it's possible; however, the team needs to not think about math (PWR) and just freaking win.

Just winning always makes sense, but the team should be aware of the PWR and it should scare them. jcarter7669 posted on the game thread why VT could win these games. Biggest reason: Madore. He shut out Bobby Butler in two games last year so it is foolish to think he can't do it against Sislo, PT, etc. Unless VT and Madore lay a couple of eggs, we better be in gritty, fire lots of shots (((on goal)) and crash the net mode.

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I'm sure it's possible; however, the team needs to not think about math (PWR) and just freaking win.

......and to quote Charlie Sheen, "Duh winning!!!!!!!!"

[jcarter7669]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Nick -- you know, it's too bad that there isn't a "tongue-in-cheek" icon -- it would certainly help in parsing your posts for their intent from time to time.

*****http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_skMcJLpZLjY/S-aSP1-10NI/AAAAAAAAAGY/OkelVhcWXl4/s320/goofyemoticon.jpg******

[goblue]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

*****http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_skMcJLpZLjY/S-aSP1-10NI/AAAAAAAAAGY/OkelVhcWXl4/s320/goofyemoticon.jpg******

Um, that's a tongue sticking out of cheek.