Expand The Brackets?

[kdaddy]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

I didn't read through the entire thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned already. But instead of expanding it to 20 or whatever, I think a good compromise would be a play-in game between the lowest non-AQ and the first team out (AKA #17). I'm not positive who that'd be this year (Maine? Ferris? Union?), but I'm not really sure Vermont deserves to be in the tournament, so I think it'd be fair if they played the first team out to see which SHOULD be in the tournament.

Is anyone REALLY going to argue against more hockey being played?!

And exactly which team should be in instead of UVM?

[UML]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

No problem with 16. The way everything is every game is very important and I wouldn't want to lose that by adding teams. Also just wondering why we keep comparing percentages with baskets?

[richl49]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

I really don't think they should expand the brackets. They are about the right width apart. You can read all the teams and it fits well on a sheet of paper. I guess if you wanted wider brackets you could draw them up yourself, but I don't think they are needed for everyone. Well maybe some of the older hockey followers would appreciate an expanded bracket so the team names can be written in larger type.

And for goodness sake, certainly don't add any more teams.

[LynahFan]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

Honestly what bubble school this year in hockey can really say it deserves to be in the tournament? If you can't get up to whatever is required for the year as an at-large (14 this year) then you shouldn't be in the tournament. If you didn't make the tournament, you didn't take care of business.

Exactly. It's not like there are 14 undefeated teams every year - not even close. Every team has ample opportunity to get in by simply taking care of their own business - good lesson for life, there.

[quiddlet]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

Tournament expansion is dumb... even in BB.

Both the NCAA hockey tournament and NCAA basketball tournament work fine the way they are. Honestly what bubble school this year in hockey can really say it deserves to be in the tournament? If you can't get up to whatever is required for the year as an at-large (14 this year) then you shouldn't be in the tournament. If you didn't make the tournament, you didn't take care of business. We on the BU forum know with two regular season victories @ UVM we would have made it high enough to get into the tournament, but we didn't so we stay home, no *****ing.

58 teams... 16 in the tournament = 27.6
347 teams... 65 in the tournament = 18.7

If college basketball does expand to 96 teams (which is a stupid idea) the percentage will be 27.66 or pretty much the same as the current hockey system. Why would bubble teams even want the tournament expanded? It's supposed to be something you EARN! As a Northwestern basketball fan (go ahead, joke away) I'll be ****ed if the tournament expands to 96 teams next year and it becomes the first year the Cats make the big dance (I know, I know, I'm sure we'll find a way to screw it up). It's supposed to be difficult.

Keep the tournament where it is. It's sad for USCHO that threads like this exist.

[4four4]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

College hockey should expand the tourney to 36 heck lets have everybody make the tourney.

[LynahFan]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

No going back - 12 teams meaning a team could possibly need only 3 wins for a national championship...no way. I like the 16, if college hockey expands expand the tournament.

So you're saying that no national title won before 2003 was worth all that much? Interesting...

[FRICKER]

Expand The Brackets?

I just threw this out to see the reactions. Interesting, especially the sour grapes post. No matter how many teams are in the draw, the next one not
selected is going to be upset. I agree that we don't want to water down the field by overloading it, but there is more parity in D1 hockey, and I think it
could handle a modest expansion. I guess the bottom line summary is, "if
it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[badgerhawk]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

Even as a fan of the second team out this season, I still say no. For a 58-team division, our tournament's the perfect size. Absolutely no changes are needed or necessary.

Which is exactly why the NCAA would do it.

[toehimp]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

Hockey should beat basketball to the punch and have a 96 team tournament. Include 38 DIII teams.

Cant believe it, but Im with Dirty. and if the D!!! schools cant free up the schedules, then extend it to HS teams.

stev

[The Freds]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

I edited your post.

Ahh, all good Freds think alike.

[Freddie]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

Forget the tournament all together.
All 58 teams should just get a "Thank You For Participating" plaque.

[The Rube]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

How about a round-robin tourney, with each each team visiting each others' barns?

It is really the fairest way to do it.

[Freddie]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

I say eight teams selected in a smoke filled room play two-game total goals series on campus sites with FREE beer for all. Old time hockey.

I edited your post.

[The Freds]

Re: Expand The Brackets?

I say eight teams selected in a smoke filled room play two-game total goals series on campus sites with beer for all. Old time hockey.