Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

[FreshFish]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I must admit that I don't recall exactly how many dogs I have in this fight, but I continue to read along and have been pleased to see a modest uptick in "upsets."

fine by me as long as the first major upset in the Northeast Regional doesn't occur until the Regional Finals.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

#39 – 1994-1995 Maine Black Bears vs. #90 – 1998-1999 Michigan State Spartans
East Regional – First Round
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
February 7, 2014

Shawn Walsh’s ’94-95 Maine Black Bears took the ice this afternoon in the top 100 First Round in the East Regional, and they squared off against Ron Mason’s ’98-99 Michigan State Spartans. Maine got on the board early, thanks to Tim Lovell’s blistering wrister from the slot that beat Joe Blackburn high to the glove side and gave Maine a 1-0 lead. It would be short-lived however, as the Spartans answered quickly when Adam Hall notched a goal from the near circle to square the score at 1. Despite both teams efforts to take the lead, the goalies stole the show the rest of the way in the first, and after twenty minutes the squads were all knotted up at 1. The second period belonged to the Black Bears though, as Maine scored three times in the middle frame on goals by Jacque Rodrigue, Jeff Tory, and Chris Imes. Coach Mason tried to stem the onslaught by calling his timeout after Imes’ goal gave Maine a 4-1 advantage, but it would prove ineffective. Maine continued to dominate into the third period, but were unable to notch another goal on the board. Michigan State attempted a comeback, and with just over five minutes left in the game Shawn Horcoff scored to put State back within two. It would be the closest that they would get as Maine netminder Blair Allison stopped the Spartans attack, and when the clock struck zero, it was Maine that would advance to the Round of 64 with a 4-2 win. The ’94-95 Black Bears will take on the ’94-95 BU Terriers in the Round of 64.

#55 – 2002-2003 Cornell Big Red vs. #74 – 2009-2010 Miami RedHawks
East Regional – First Round
Verizon Center – Washington, D.C.
February 7, 2014

The Verizon Center was rocking for this top 100 first round matchup in the East Regional, as Mike Schafer’s ’02-03 Cornell Big Red took on Enrico Blasi’s ’09-10 Miami RedHawks. The Miami faithful were rewarded early when Andy Miele scored just 19 seconds in on a wrister from above the near circle that deflected off Big Red defenseman Douglas Murray and past David LeNeveu to put Miami up 1-0. LeNeveu would play tremendous for the rest of the period, but so would Miami goalie Cody Reichard, and Miami maintained a 1-0 lead through twenty minutes. The second period would feature much of the same, as both teams played defensively, and both goalies bailed their teams out when needed. Despite some very good looks by both sides, the score remained 1-0 after the second period. The Big Red finally got their offense fired up in the third, and midway through the period Cornell tied the game at 1 on a Mike Knoepfli goal. The game remained deadlocked, and when the buzzer sounded, overtime was ahead. In the extra period, both teams continued to play defensive hockey, but it was Tommy Wingels who finally broke the tie on a beautiful tip of a Joe Hartman shot from the point. As the puck fluttered past the outstretched glove of LeNeveu, the Miami fans went crazy. The 2-1 overtime victory sends the ’09-10 Miami Redhawks into the Round of 64 where they will take on the ’97-98 Michigan State Spartans.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

fine by me as long as the first major upset in the Northeast Regional doesn't occur until the Regional Finals.

QFT

a

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

QFT

a

Assuming those squads get that far, that would be a tremendous matchup. Of course, assuming no upsets, you'd have the following Regional Finals

Northeast: 1992-1993 Maine vs. 1984-1985 RPI
Midwest: 1986-1987 North Dakota vs. 1990-1991 Northern Michigan
West: 1960-1961 Denver vs. 2008-2009 Boston University
East: 1969-1970 Cornell vs. 1976-1977 Wisconsin

Each of these would be tremendous matchups.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

#46 – 1996-1997 Michigan Wolverines vs. #83 – 1978-1979 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
West Regional – First Round
Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
February 7, 2014

The Mile High City was the setting for this afternoon’s Top 100 matchup from the West Regional. Red Berenson’s ’96-97 Michigan Wolverines took on Gino Gasparini’s ’78-79 North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The Wolverines struck first in the first period as Brendan Morrison muscled through a check to get to the slot and took a Bill Muckalt pass and roofed it over Sioux netminder Bob Iwabuchi. Michigan continued their dominance just moments later when Mike Legg scored from the blue line to give Michigan a 2-0 advantage. North Dakota came back strong though, and midway through the period Cary Eades notched a goal for the Sioux to bring the game back to 2-1. It would not take long however for the Wolverines to regain the two goal advantage as John Madden scored a shorthanded goal to give Michigan a 3-1 lead, and Gasparini replaced Iwabuchi with Bill Stankoven. That seemed to calm the tide for the Sioux, and with just 9 seconds left in the first period, Brad Cox whistled a slapper that Michigan goalie Marty Turco only managed to get a piece of, and Doug Smail slammed the rebound home, and North Dakota was back within a goal. The second period began with some defensive play between the sides, neither willing to risk giving up the momentum. That changed with 4 minutes left in the second when North Dakota capitalized on the man advantage, as Mark Taylor scored from the slot to tie the game at 3. The Sioux struck again in the waning seconds of the second, as Kevin Maxwell found Smail for an easy tap-in goal to put North Dakota up 4-3 heading into the third. Unfortunately for the Sioux faithful, Michigan dominated the third period. Morrison scored early in the stanza to tie the game at 4, then scored his hat trick at the 9:13 mark to put Michigan up 5-4. That would be all they would need, but Muckalt potted another goal just a minute later, and Morrison scored his fourth of the game into an empty net with just under a minute left to give Michigan a 7-4 victory. The Wolverines advance to the Round of 64 where they will take on the 1995-1996 Michigan Wolverines.

[FreshFish]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Assuming those squads get that far, that would be a tremendous matchup. Of course, assuming no upsets, you'd have the following Regional Finals

Northeast: 1992-1993 Maine vs. 1984-1985 RPI
Midwest: 1986-1987 North Dakota vs. 1990-1991 Northern Michigan
West: 1960-1961 Denver vs. 2008-2009 Boston University
East: 1969-1970 Cornell vs. 1976-1977 Wisconsin

Each of these would be tremendous matchups.

Based on my limited knowledge of the applicable statistics and a few inferences about how your game simulator might work, I'd wonder whether the '60-'61 DU team wouldn't be considered the favorite. IIRC that team is among all-time leaders for both offense (#6 gpg all-time) and defense (# 10 in gpga) (pages 15 - 16).

Since it's a one-and-done tournament and the program randomizes within set limits based on various parameters, one might think that all-time strength in both phases would have less of a "tail" effect in the math so to speak so that the probability of an upset would be more constrained (compared to a team that might be overwhelmingly dominant in one phase of the game and "merely" above average in another. The '54 RPI squad has highest recorded ppg / season and won an NCAA title yet they didn't even crack the top 100).

[Aerman]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

The Wolverines advance to the Round of 64 where they will take on the 1995-1996 Michigan Wolverines.

Now THIS should be fun. Good luck communicating to the masses which player is doing what for which team when roughly 75% will overlap!

Sounds exhausting for the players jumping on and off both benches, taking shifts in both directions, perhaps simultaneously, and figuring out which twin coach to listen intently to.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Now THIS should be fun. Good luck communicating to the masses which player is doing what for which team when roughly 75% will overlap!

Sounds exhausting for the players jumping on and off both benches, taking shifts in both directions, perhaps simultaneously, and figuring out which twin coach to listen intently to.

Yeah, I'll wind up having to refer to players by the year of the team (ex. "96 Morrison" and "97 Turco"). It should be a good matchup, especially considering that most consider the '96-97 squad to be better than the '95-96 championship squad.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Also, the remaining four matchups will not take place today. They will finish though by Thursday...perhaps as early as tomorrow.

[Siouxfaninseattle]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Now THIS should be fun. Good luck communicating to the masses which player is doing what for which team when roughly 75% will overlap!

Sounds exhausting for the players jumping on and off both benches, taking shifts in both directions, perhaps simultaneously, and figuring out which twin coach to listen intently to.

Not to mention changing jerseys!

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Just a quick update. It is looking quite likely that the remaining 4 First Round Games will take place Thursday morning. If that is the case, then the first Round of 64 game will take place later in the day on Thursday. If I can get the remaining first round games done before Thursday, then I may have two Round of 64 games on Thursday. Again, the goal will be to have the Round of 64 done by the Frozen Four, with at least one update each Thursday.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

#42 – 2005-2006 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #87 – 1989-1990 Michigan State Spartans
East Regional – First Round
Herb Brooks Arena – Lake Placid, NY
February 12, 2014

The Top 100 Tournaments First Round drew to closer to its end this afternoon when the ’05-06 Badgers, led by Coach Mike Eaves, took on the ’89-90 Michigan State Spartans squad led by Ron Mason. Wisconsin dominated play early, but were unable to solve Spartan goalie Jason Muzzatti. Despite outshooting Michigan State 13-4, the first period ended with zeroes on the board. That would change just under 3 minutes into the second period when Kip Miller found Pat Murray at the near circle, and Murray fired a wrister that beat Brian Elliott high to the blocker to give Michigan State a 1-0 lead. That lead would hold throughout the rest of the second, as Muzzatti stopped another 12 shots in the second to keep the Spartans up 1-0. The Badgers finally solved Muzzatti midway through the final period, when Adam Burish made a tremendous toe drag to move to the slot, and fired a shot that bounced through Muzzatti’s pads to knot the game at one. As the clock trickled down, Jack Skille put the Badgers up with a blistering slap shot from the slot that beat Muzzatti’s outstretched glove, and with just over 90 seconds left, Wisconsin led 2-1. The Spartans would pull Muzzatti, but their onslaught of pressure in the final minute would consistently be turned back by Elliott. When the buzzer sounded, Wisconsin had earned a 2-1 victory. The ’05-06 Badgers advance to the Round of 64 where they will take on the 1979-1980 North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

#51 – 1998-1999 North Dakota Fighting Sioux vs. #78 – 1991-1992 Michigan Wolverines
West Regional – First Round
Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
February 12, 2014

In West Region play, the 1998-1999 North Dakota Fighting Sioux, led by Dean Blais, squared off against Red Berenson’s 1991-1992 Michigan Wolverines in the First Round. Denny Felsner got the scoring off to a quick start just 19 seconds into the opening period when his wrist shot from below the dots beat Sioux goalie Karl Goehring high to the glove to give Michigan a 1-0 lead. It would not last long though, as Scorin’ Lee Goren got the Sioux back in the game just a minute later when he outmuscled Wolverine d-man Aaron Ward to a loose puck along the boards, skated behind the net, and completed a beautiful wraparound goal that snuck through Wolverine goalie Steve Shields’ five hold to tie the game at 1. Michigan would jump back ahead on goals by Chris Tamer and Doug Evans on back to back powerplays towards the end of the period, and after twenty minutes, Michigan led 3-1. North Dakota came out strong in the second period and scored three times in less than two minutes as Jason Blake scored twice, and Jeff Panzer notched the third to put the Sioux up 4-3. Following the Sioux barrage, both goalies proceeded to stand on their heads, stopping everything in sight throughout the middle frame, and after two periods, North Dakota led 4-3. The Sioux would add to the lead when David Hoogsteen launched a wrister from the slot that beat Shields high to the blocker, and gave North Dakota a 5-3 lead. Coach Berenson replaced Shields with Chris Gordon, but it would not give his team the emotional bump necessary to complete the comeback. When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard read North Dakota – 5, Michigan – 3. With the win the ’98-99 Sioux advance to the West Regional Round of 64 to take on the 1967-1968 Denver Pioneers.

#54 – 1984-1985 Michigan State Spartans vs. #75 – 1978-1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers
West Regional – First Round
Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN
February 12, 2014

Another tremendous matchup in the top 100 tournament took place in the State of Hockey as the 1984-1985 Michigan State Spartans took on Herb Brooks’ 1978-1979 Gophers at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Gophers would use their home crowd early to take a 2-0 lead on goals by Bill Baker and Tim Harrer. The Spartans struggled to come back early, but finally broke through when Steve Janaszak misplayed a puck behind his net and Tom Anastos easily dumped the puck into the empty net to put Michigan State within a goal. The fired up Spartans scored again with just seconds left on the clock when Craig Simpson launched a wrist shot from just below the near circle that beat Janaszak five hole to tie the game at 2. The second period started similar to the first, as Neal Broten scored a beautiful breakaway goal for Minnesota to give the Gophers a 3-2 advantage with 16 minutes left in the period. Michigan State would try to rally back, but Janaszak would make no mistakes in this period, stopping all 15 shots he saw, and Minnesota held a 3-2 lead after two periods. The final stanza began with Gord Flegel getting called for a double-minor boarding penalty just 9 seconds into the period. The Gophers scored on both minors, as Broten notched his second and Steve Christoff his first to put the Gophers up 5-2. That lead would remain the same until just 3:40 left in the game when Simpson scored again for the Spartans to pull Michigan State within 2 goals. It would be the closest they would come, and the game ended with the Gophers pulling the mild upset with a 5-3 victory. The ’78-79 Minnesota squad will advance to the Round of 64 where they will take on the 1977-1978 BU Terriers.

#43 – 1982-1983 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #86 – 1974-1975 Michigan Tech Huskies
West Regional – First Round
Honda Center – Anaheim, CA
February 12, 2014

The final matchup in the First Round of the Top 100 Tournament took place this afternoon in sunny California, as the ’82-83 Badgers squared off against the ’74-75 Huskies. The game got off to a slow start, as neither team was willing to give an inch. Only 9 shots found their way on net in total in the first twenty minutes, and both goalies were up to the task stopping each shot. The second period saw more of the same, until the midway point, when Michigan Tech struck first on a blistering one-timer from the dot from Mike Zuke. The Howitzer beat Wisconsin goalie Terry Kleisinger high to the glove side, and Michigan Tech took a 1-0 lead. That lead would hold as Husky netminder Jim Warden stopped everything the Badgers would throw at him through the remainder of the period, and after two, Tech held a slim 1-0 advantage. The Badgers came out strong in the third, but continually were shut down by Warden, who held Wisconsin off the board until just 4:14 showed on the clock. That was when Wisconsin blueliner Chris Chelios unleashed a bullet from the point. Warden did not appear to even see the puck, as it rocketed into the back of the net, tying the game at 1. While both teams tried for the regulation win, neither goalie would allow it, and the game went into overtime. It would not take long however, as just 26 ticks into the extra frame, George Lyle snuck a wrister through Kleisinger’s five hole to give Michigan Tech the victory. With the win, the Huskies advance to the round of 64 where they will square off against the 1955-1956 Michigan Wolverines.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

The First Game of the Round of 64 that will be played TODAY...

#1 1992-1993 Maine Black Bears vs. #65 1981-1982 North Dakota Fighting Sioux

Two national champions duking it out in the Northeast Regional. Who will win? Find out soon...

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

#1 - 1992-1993 Maine Black Bears vs. #65 - 1981-1982 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Northeast Regional - Round of 64
Boston Garden - Boston, MA
February 13, 2014

Game Update Post But feel free to chime in

The teams are skating around, and the crowd is full of green and blue, as the '92-93 Maine Black Bears make their first appearance in this tournament. Led by Coach Shawn Walsh, the Black Bears are the #1 seed. '81-82 North Dakota is coached by Gino Gasparini, and has his team hitting at full cylinder at the right time. This should be a tremendous showdown. Puck set to drop in a few moments...but before that, it looks like House of Pain will be singing the National Anthem! That was tremendous...the crowd is certainly jumping as the ECAC crew gets ready to get this game underway.

1st Period:
- The puck has been dropped, and here we go! Round of 64 is underway...
- Both teams are flying up and down the ice! Tremendous start here at the Garden.
- Dave Tippett with a nice chance for North Dakota. Cary Eades won a fight for a loose puck down in the far corner, and found Tippett in the slot, but Garth Snow was up to the task with the glove save. 18:00 left in the 1st.
- North Dakota gets caught with too many men on the ice. Maine will go to the powerplay. 17:05 left in the 1st.
- Paul Kariya scores!! Jim Montgomery launched a wrist shot from the near dot, but Darren Jensen was unable to control the rebound. The puck landed on Kariya's stick, and he slammed it home to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.
- Maine is really pouring it on right now. North Dakota back on their heels with 15:00 left in the 1st.
- Maine headed back to the powerplay. Martin Mercier was bringing the puck into the North Dakota zone, when he was tripped up by Rick Zombo. The ECAC ref immediately had his hand in the air, and the Black Bears will try to take a 2-0 lead with the man advantage. 14:04 left in the 1st.
- Beautiful penalty kill by North Dakota. Maine had two long chances from the point, but Jensen made both stops, and James Patrick and Craig Ludwig did a tremendous job clearing the puck out of the zone. Maine is still controlling play, but North Dakota appears to have gained a bit of momentum from the kill. 11:30 left in the 1st.
- What a save by Jensen!! Maine Forwards Peter Ferraro and Chris Ferraro came in 2 on 1. Chris sent a tremendous cross-ice feed to Peter who ripped a one-timer that destined for the back of the net...until Jensen got his leg out to make the kick save. Still 1-0 Maine midway through the first.
- North Dakota hits the crossbar! Troy Murray and Gord Sherven came in on a 2 on 2, and Sherven found Murray at the near circle. Murray's wrister beat Snow high to the glove, but rang off the crossbar. Maine still up 1-0 with 7:30 left in the 1st.
- Black Bears back on the attack following the near equalizer...really controlling play. 6:00 left in the 1st.
- Eric Fenton Scores!! Patrice Tardif won an offensive zone draw for Maine back to Chris Imes. Imes let a slap shot go from the point, and Fenton was able to tip the puck past Jensen. It's 2-0 Maine with 5:10 left in the 1st.
- North Dakota just trying to stay alive right now. It's all Maine. 4:00 left in the 1st.
- The Sioux start to regain their form, but unable to generate much. A lot of neutral zone play right now. 3:00 left in the 1st.
- Just 90 seconds left in the opening period...pretty even play. Maine seems content to hold their 2-0 lead right now.
- A few long chances for each side in the ending seconds, but nothing too challenging. After one period of play here in Boston, Maine leads North Dakota 2-0.
- Shots on goal in the first: Maine - 13, North Dakota - 9

2nd Period:
- Puck has been dropped...Second period is underway!
- Maine comes out strong to start the Second, but hasn't been able to generate much here early. 19:00 left in the 2nd.
- Dusty Carroll Scores!! Maine was pressuring North Dakota, but James Patrick won a battle behind his own net, passed the puck to Ludwig, who found Carroll streaking through the neutral zone. A perfect tape-to-tape pass later and Carroll was in on a clean breakaway. A beautiful backhand to forehand move led to Carroll roofing the puck over a sprawled Snow. North Dakota back within 1! 2-1 Maine with 18:36 left in the middle period.
- North Dakota buzzing right now. All Sioux as they look to even this game up. 17:00 left in the 2nd.
- Snow makes a great stop on Jim Archibald! Archibald won a battle for a loose puck in the near corner, skated out to below the circle, and tried to roof one over Snow, but the Maine goalie made a perfect glove save to keep his team up one. 15:00 left in the 2nd.
- Sioux still dominating possession and play right now, but unable to solve Maine at the moment. 13:30 left in the 2nd.
- Kariya with a tremendous backcheck breaks up what would have been a certain goal. Murray was all alone and had a pass labeled his way...until Kariya came back, lifted Murray's stick, and cleared the puck out of the zone. 11:30 left in the 2nd. Still 2-1 Black Bears.
- North Dakota will head to the powerplay after Matt Martin got called for interference when he hauled down Archibald coming out of the corner. 10:35 left in the 2nd.
- And Maine kills the penalty, as Garth Snow stopped 4 quality chances for North Dakota. Nothing found its way past the Maine netminder, and the game remains 2-1 Black Bears. 8:00 left in the 2nd period.
- Maine starting to re-assert themselves here in the later parts of the second. No great chances, but more possession in the offensive zone and a couple shots on net that Jensen easily dispatched. Still 2-1 Maine with 6:30 left in the 2nd.
- A lot of back and forth hockey right now. Fans are sitting on the edge of their seats with each side generating chances, but nothing great. 4:30 left in the 2nd.
- North Dakota starting to take back control. They are really pressing for the equalizer. 3:00 left in the 2nd.
- Cal Ingraham Scores!! North Dakota's James Patrick was trying to pinch in along the far boards, but the puck bounced over his stick and trickled past the blue liner. Paul Kariya jumped to the puck, passed it up the ice to Montgomery who skated in with Ingraham on a 2 on 0. Montgomery deked Jensen with a shot, passed the puck to Ingraham, who tapped the puck into the net. Heartbreaker for the North Dakota fans as Maine takes a 3-1 lead with just 1:21 to play in the 2nd period.
- Maine generated some strong chances at the end of the second as North Dakota tried to regain their composure following the Ingraham goal, but Jensen came up big to keep this game 3-1. Second period is over.
- Second Period Shots on Goal: North Dakota - 14, Maine - 10.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

In light of your streamlining efforts, let this post stand for my 3000 word treatise as to what is wrong with Wisco ever losing and why anything but an all Badger FF is a travesty.

Your eloquent response is also duly noted.

Moving on, I think you probably gave Adam Burish the offensive highlight of his career with that toe-drag vs. Sparty.