2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

[brookyone]

What the heck, the men have a thread for speculating which includes the College Hockey Weekly published forecast and bracketology updated as the season progresses. Nothing similar available for the women that I'm aware of so, as the season continues perhaps fans would care to comment on their ideal tournament pairings relative to rankings and selection criteria. Obviously conference tournament outcomes can potentially through a monkey in the wrench of any speculation. Adjustments to preferred brackets can be made if / when conference tournament results alter the picture.

 

[brookyone]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

As it stands right now I'd send Dartmouth to Madison to play Wisconsin. North Dakota to Cornell, Harvard to Minnesota, Mercyhurst to BC? I think I'd have to consider giving Hurst the game at home though. All under ideal circumstances to avoid q'final conference rehashing. My fantasy brackets...almost certainly there will be changes warranted.

Alternative per Rutter rankings, the rankings I think are most accurate:

Harvard to Wisconsin. BC to Minnesota, Mercyhurst to North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth to Cornell.

 

[pakidnyc]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

As it stands right now I'd send Dartmouth to Madison to play Wisconsin. North Dakota to Cornell, Harvard to Minnesota, Mercyhurst to BC? I think I'd have to consider giving Hurst the game at home though. All under ideal circumstances to avoid q'final conference rehashing. My fantasy brackets...almost certainly there will be changes warranted.

Alternative per Rutter rankings, the rankings I think are most accurate:

Harvard to Wisconsin. BC to Minnesota, Mercyhurst to North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth to Cornell.

So, if that would stand (per the Rutter rankings), that would be the maximum travel for every team traveling. Do you think the "Hockey Gods" would do that for quarter-final match-ups. And then the girls from the East (assuming at least a couple win), would have to turn around and fly back to Minnesota just days later? I have a feeling NOT -- you have 4 teams from the East and 4 from the West making for their "perfect" quarters minimizing travel. Just wondering what will happen.

 

[brookyone]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

So, if that would stand (per the Rutter rankings), that would be the maximum travel for every team traveling. Do you think the "Hockey Gods" would do that for quarter-final match-ups. And then the girls from the East (assuming at least a couple win), would have to turn around and fly back to Minnesota just days later? I have a feeling NOT -- you have 4 teams from the East and 4 from the West making for their "perfect" quarters minimizing travel. Just wondering what will happen.

The entire post was intentionally void of consideration of what the NCAA is actually likely to do. That's what I meant by "ideal tournament pairings" just in the view of fans. Yes, it's pretty much understood the NCAA will plug the travel factor, or restrictions into the tournament pairings, among other tournament participant objectives they may have. The answer to your question is no, I don't think brackets will be prioritized as I have them. I'm almost 100% sure of that. Hence the term "fantasy brackets" and "ideal circumstances" which would mean unrestricted by travel expense limitations. Discussion of what the NCAA is actually likely to do with brackets as the picture becomes more clear is welcome of course.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

The entire post was intentionally void of consideration of what the NCAA is actually likely to do. That's what I meant by "ideal tournament pairings" just in the view of fans.

My "ideal tournament pairings" of the teams currently ranked 1-8 in the USCHO mock Pairwise Ranking would be

Dartmouth to Wisconsin
Harvard to Minnesota
North Dakota to Cornell
Mercyhurst to Boston College

Discussion of what the NCAA is actually likely to do with brackets as the picture becomes more clear is welcome of course.

I think much more likely would be the less travel alternative (and more true to the actual ratings) of
North Dakota to Minnesota
Harvard to Cornell

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

OK, I have thought about it a little more.

Here's one:

Let's assume that UMD improves enough in RPI to advance to 8 in PWR, displacing Dartmouth.

Let's assume committee decides to avoid inter conference matchups in the quarterfinals.

UMD at Cornell
North Dakota at Boston College
Harvard at Wisconsin
Mercyhurst at Minnesota

Setting up the possibility that the Frozen Four could be a replay of the WCHA Final Four.

 

[brookyone]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

Yes, it's pretty much understood the NCAA will plug the travel factor, or restrictions into the tournament pairings, among other tournament participant objectives they may have.

UMD at Cornell
North Dakota at Boston College
Harvard at Wisconsin
Mercyhurst at Minnesota

Setting up the possibility that the Frozen Four could be a replay of the WCHA Final Four..

...and that's all I'm going to say about that, except that I'd be fine with your scenario.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

...and that's all I'm going to say about that, except that I'd be fine with your scenario.

I just have one word that has been conspicuously missing so far in this thread.


NORTHEASTERN

 

[ARM]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

UMD at Cornell
North Dakota at Boston College
Harvard at Wisconsin
Mercyhurst at Minnesota

Setting up the possibility that the Frozen Four could be a replay of the WCHA Final Four.

Although this season, it isn't a given that those four teams will advance to the WCHA semis as they did last year.

I just have one word that has been conspicuously missing so far in this thread.


NORTHEASTERN

It's a bit surprising that they aren't ranked higher than they are, but tenth in RPI and 1-3 against Teams Under Consideration leaves the Huskies with work to do.

 

[ARM]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

And DC good call in Bracketology. I'm just staying out of it for now because they will call me biased (for some good reason).

We're all biased. The forum can always use more NU input.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

leaves the Huskies with work to do.

I will be watching them work from Conte Forum tomorrow night in what is going to be a big game for the Hounds.

 

[NUWH DogHouse]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

We're all biased. The forum can always use more NU input.

I think everyone here has written bc in, and for good reason. They have beaten NU twice but look at their other losses. Maine, bu and Quinny, teams NU beat. St Lawrence, a hot team that beat both of us that weekend and then UMD a quality loss.

NU losses: Princeton a hard tough road loss that the Tigers were gunning for. Dartmouth an OT loss against a solid team. Then the St Lawrence loss that they were hot for and we still almost had that game. Then throw in our two losses to bc which is a top team.

I am not saying we are better than bc. But those games were a little closer than the scores showed, I was at both games. We win Tuesday we control Hockey East, we lose and we are only a bc loss and tie from the top seed. Either way I think we go into out tourney as a top 2 seed and as every tournament ever has proven anyone can win.

As for our TUC record yea it stinks but we have 3 wins total against Q and bu which keep popping in and out (and both of them hurt bc). Plus the Beanpot where we should go against bc and Harvard to boost that.

If this is a rant I apologize but NU has always been a bit ignored in my mind, and for good reason until Flint got on board we were bad but that isn't us anymore. And although everything over here is seen through rose colored glasses I know there is a good chance we don't make the cut but people seem so certain we don't have a chance.

 

[pakidnyc]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

I just have one word that has been conspicuously missing so far in this thread.


NORTHEASTERN

Well, if you really want that to happen they are going to have to find a way to beat the Eagles (Sorry Tony!) I think they have the talent to pull it off....no time like the near present!

 

[NUWH DogHouse]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

Well, if you really want that to happen they are going to have to find a way to beat the Eagles (Sorry Tony!) I think they have the talent to pull it off....no time like the near present!

You don't think there can be 2 HE teams?

 

[ARM]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

And although everything over here is seen through rose colored glasses I know there is a good chance we don't make the cut but people seem so certain we don't have a chance.

I don't think that the Huskies don't have a chance; they only have five and a half losses, and losses are the things that are hard to get back. I was surprised when it was Dartmouth and not Northeastern that popped into the PWR picture, but much of that must be the H2H win that the Big Green have over the Huskies. Had that gone the other way in OT, who knows. So NU's at-large fate still rests in its hands, and even if it winds up on the wrong side of the PWR bubble, winning the Hockey East tournament should be a real possibility. The games against BC will be huge, and at some point, NU needs a win or two in those.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

OK, here's another one:

Most of these teams have some work to do to qualify for the tournament but here's a bracket based on their current standing in the Rutter

Lindenwood to UMD
Vermont to Northeastern
UNH to Boston U
Princeton to Saint Cloud State

*pause*

Cats visiting dogs.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

OK, here's another one:

Most of these teams have some work to do to qualify for the tournament but here's a bracket based on their current standing in the Rutter

Lindenwood to UMD
Vermont to Northeastern
UNH to Boston U
Princeton to Saint Cloud State

*pause*

Cats visiting dogs.

Well, the dogs are headed for the Litter Box first - Thursday. Hopefully we send them home with tails hanging

 

[ARM]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

Cats visiting dogs.

Should really expand your bracket to get Quinnipiac at UConn somehow, and that still leaves out Yale.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

Should really expand your bracket to get Quinnipiac at UConn somehow, and that still leaves out Yale.

Good catch. I had those other two dogs on my list but I admit to totally missing the Bobcats. Quinnipiac would be a much better choice than Lindenwood which I believe is not even actually eligible.

 

[ARM]

Re: 2012 NCAA Tournament: Division I Bracketology

Quinnipiac would be a much better choice than Lindenwood which I believe is not even actually eligible.

And the Lions have a bit more work to do than the rest on your list, and in some cases, that is saying something.