2022 NCAA Tournament

[Tom Coughlin]

I tried tuning into the St Norb-Olaf game. Had to turn it off after my 3rd seizure. One would think the perrenial national contenders could afford a camera stand. Worst stream I have ever witnessed

How dare you insult the great Greg Bins.

 

[GB Puck Fan]

SNC at Augsburg

For the fifth time in recent years, the Knights and Auggies will meet in the playoffs. SNC has won the others but some differences this time, most notably that the game is in Minnesota.

Augsburg swept the opening series. Not to take anything away from that, but one difference will be the SNC goalie. Entz didn’t play in either game.

The SNC goalie in the 4-1 loss was pulled after allowing three goals in 9:41, and hasn’t played the rest of the season.

As Adrian (and even Olaf last night) proved, however, Entz can be scored on. But will be enough of a difference from what happened on the second weekend of the season? We’ll see. I don’t think SNC can fall behind two like last night, however.

 

[Tom Coughlin]

Augsburg swept the opening series. Not to take anything away from that, but one difference will be the SNC goalie. Entz didn’t play in either game.
/QUOTE]

They were also missing their second best forward in Peyton Frantti.

 

[Fishman'81]

It took double OT. PSU is no slouch. It could have gone either way so implying that they didn't belong is b.s.

Plymouth was #21. Olaf was #57. Give me a f****** break. Neither team deserved a berth.

 

[Fishman'81]

Let's take any regional nonsense out of it and just look at the bracket at hand. If you straight seeded the teams 1-12 at the start of this tournament, and look at the QF matchups, we have

#8 Hobart @ #1 Adrian
#7 UNE @ #2 Utica
#6 Babson @ #3 Geneseo
#5 St. Norbert @ #4 Augsburg

This bracket is actually perfect so I don't see what the issue is here?

Because the original 12 would have been composed of better teams.

 

[Pioneer247]

Because the original 12 would have been composed of better teams.

Those were literally #1-8 in the PWR when the bracket came out...this was the best possible combination of the 8 teams in the country, so what point are you trying to make?

 

[MELIN27]

Plymouth was #21. Olaf was #57. Give me a ******* break. Neither team deserved a berth.

Yes they do deserve a berth and the process of building programs is important to the strength of D3 hockey overall.

 

[GB Puck Fan]

Because the original 12 would have been composed of better teams.

I've said it before and I will say it again - I think there's a misunderstanding about the NCAA: NONE of its tournaments are designed to be best "x" number of teams in that sport. They are national tournaments designed to have as many teams as possible have a chance to win the title. Why? Because the schools want it that way.

Let's take the NCAA D1 basketball tournament. No one would argue, I think I can safely say, that anyone would include Wright State (21-13 overall, 15-7 in the Horizon League) as one of the best 68 teams in the country this year. But in order to hold a national tournament, the schools have decided that every (eligible) conference has an automatic bid to the tournament. And, it's up to that league to decide how to dole that out. The Horizon could have given the bid to Cleveland State (the regular season winner), or not even hold a conference tournament (how the Ivy League was until a few years ago). But it offers the spot to the tournament winner - and so Raiders go dancing.

And, isn't that part of what makes the 'madness' of March Madness. No one puts UMBC in the field, but then it goes and beats #1 seed Virginia, and we have March Madness. Florida Gulf Coast makes noise. Loyola Marymount in 1990. UW-Milwaukee to Sweet 16 in 2005. And so on.

We have conference winners, and then 'best of the rest' teams to fill out the field, making a national tournament.

Which brings us to NCAA D3 hockey. St. Olaf doesn't get labelled as one of the 12 top teams in the country - not with a losing record. But every team entering an eligible conference tourney - uh, sorry WIAC - knows it can win the national title. So, St. Olaf goes ahead and wins its conference tourney - something all of the MIAC schools knew was a possibility - and they get in. And then - trust me, I was there - almost beats a perennial powerhouse on its home rink. Welcome to the madness of March.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I've said it before and I will say it again - I think there's a misunderstanding about the NCAA: NONE of its tournaments are designed to be best "x" number of teams in that sport. They are national tournaments designed to have as many teams as possible have a chance to win the title. Why? Because the schools want it that way.

Let's take the NCAA D1 basketball tournament. No one would argue, I think I can safely say, that anyone would include Wright State (21-13 overall, 15-7 in the Horizon League) as one of the best 68 teams in the country this year. But in order to hold a national tournament, the schools have decided that every (eligible) conference has an automatic bid to the tournament. And, it's up to that league to decide how to dole that out. The Horizon could have given the bid to Cleveland State (the regular season winner), or not even hold a conference tournament (how the Ivy League was until a few years ago). But it offers the spot to the tournament winner - and so Raiders go dancing.

And, isn't that part of what makes the 'madness' of March Madness. No one puts UMBC in the field, but then it goes and beats #1 seed Virginia, and we have March Madness. Florida Gulf Coast makes noise. Loyola Marymount in 1990. UW-Milwaukee to Sweet 16 in 2005. And so on.

We have conference winners, and then 'best of the rest' teams to fill out the field, making a national tournament.

Which brings us to NCAA D3 hockey. St. Olaf doesn't get labelled as one of the 12 top teams in the country - not with a losing record. But every team entering an eligible conference tourney - uh, sorry WIAC - knows it can win the national title. So, St. Olaf goes ahead and wins its conference tourney - something all of the MIAC schools knew was a possibility - and they get in. And then - trust me, I was there - almost beats a perennial powerhouse on its home rink. Welcome to the madness of March.

WIAC will be eligible for an auto-bid, potentially as soon as 2022-23 with the lowering of the minimum number of teams needed to 6 instead of 7.

Also, anyone questioning Plymouth and St. Olaf's inclusion into the NCAA Tournament when they won their conferences and then took two strong programs to OT on their home ice needs to go fly a kite and find something new to complain about. Those teams earned their bid and competed admirably on the national stage.

 

[spwood]

Also, anyone questioning Plymouth and St. Olaf's inclusion into the NCAA Tournament when they won their conferences and then took two strong programs to OT on their home ice needs to go fly a kite and find something new to complain about. Those teams earned their bid and competed admirably on the national stage.

I've been waiting for years for him to have another take on anything. I've given up hope...

 

[sacole13]

Originally posted by lakont55 View Post

We do not like the fact that a team from the East, either Hobert or Elmira has to travel out west for a quarterfinal game. Ever since the NCAA allowed Adrian to have this geographic location then Adrian should be playing a western team. I know all to well about the 500 mile rule. It is not fair to these teams in the East.
The winner of St Olaf and St Norbert travel to Augsburg. That winner goes to Placid. Those are all western teams. All these teams deserve to be in the playoffs but this is an unfair advantage. I believe the committees and the NCAA need to correct this. I would appreciate any follow up

There are two East teams and two Western teams that got byes so someone was going to have to travel West no matter what. And the top four seeds are the right teams.

 

[Fishman'81]

WIAC will be eligible for an auto-bid, potentially as soon as 2022-23 with the lowering of the minimum number of teams needed to 6 instead of 7.

Also, anyone questioning Plymouth and St. Olaf's inclusion into the NCAA Tournament when they won their conferences and then took two strong programs to OT on their home ice needs to go fly a kite and find something new to complain about. Those teams earned their bid and competed admirably on the national stage.

So, you're saying that a #44 PW team deserves a bid?

Please.

At least Plymouth was within a win of a possible berth (with some serious help) but no one in his/her right mind would state that Olaf had any business playing for an NC, after finishing the RS 11-14.

Olaf shouldn't have been in the field. That's completely obvious. And, yet again, the cannon-fodder turned out to be just that.

 

[Fishman'81]

Those were literally #1-8 in the PWR when the bracket came out...this was the best possible combination of the 8 teams in the country, so what point are you trying to make?

Wasn't talking about 1-8. They all belonged.

Was essentially referring to the silly AQ's from bad conferences.

 

[Tom Coughlin]

So, you're saying that a #44 PW team deserves a bid?

Please.

At least Plymouth was within a win of a possible berth (with some serious help) but no one in his/her right mind would state that Olaf had any business playing for an NC, after finishing the RS 11-14.

Olaf shouldn't have been in the field. That's completely obvious. And, yet again, the cannon-fodder turned out to be just that.

St Olaf actually went 8-14-3 in the regular season, but got hot at the right time and knocked off the top 3 teams in the MIAC in an 8-day stretch, and nearly knocked off perennial national contender SNC. That's why they play the games instead of just declaring Adrian the pairwise national champs.

 

[GB Puck Fan]

So, you're saying that a #44 PW team deserves a bid?

Please.

At least Plymouth was within a win of a possible berth (with some serious help) but no one in his/her right mind would state that Olaf had any business playing for an NC, after finishing the RS 11-14.

Olaf shouldn't have been in the field. That's completely obvious. And, yet again, the cannon-fodder turned out to be just that.

OK, so let’s hear it. Who do you think gets in?

Only regular season conference champs? From which conferences? Are there any automatic qualifiers? Media poll of the top 12? All analytics and stats, or any human element?

The NCAA uses the same system in all sports (except D1 football; different topic) so how will D1 hoops tourney be better without mid major and lower conferences or conference tourney busters getting in?

At some level I understand the objection to the Oles. But I don’t have a problem with the system. I’m curious to know what the better alternative is.

 

[Sir Nubs]

So, you're saying that a #44 PW team deserves a bid?

Please.

At least Plymouth was within a win of a possible berth (with some serious help) but no one in his/her right mind would state that Olaf had any business playing for an NC, after finishing the RS 11-14.

Olaf shouldn't have been in the field. That's completely obvious. And, yet again, the cannon-fodder turned out to be just that.

The irony is that without the AQ system we would still have the same 8-10 teams in the tournament every year and not have the growth Division III hockey has seen under the AQ system. Why the growth? Because of access to the NCAA Tournament. The conference tournaments are an extension of the NCAA Tournament. Any buffoon can figure that out, except one.

In all honesty, Steve, nobody cares what you think anymore. Everyone on this board lately has gotten on to your shtick and finds your act (sadly I don't think it's an act) tiresome. I was on it a long time ago, much to your consternation. Nobody is amused anymore. You sit here and call everyone who disagrees with you names which are so juvenile for someone of your supposed erudition it's truly pathetic. What's the common denominator here? You. So either we are all idiots or you are. Your hubris is so rampant the light hasn't gone on, and it never will. Stick to selling hardware and leave the hockey to the true fans.

 

[dinocoach]

So, you're saying that a #44 PW team deserves a bid?

Please.

At least Plymouth was within a win of a possible berth (with some serious help) but no one in his/her right mind would state that Olaf had any business playing for an NC, after finishing the RS 11-14.

Olaf shouldn't have been in the field. That's completely obvious. And, yet again, the cannon-fodder turned out to be just that.

I don’t disagree with Fish about the best teams, if that’s what the NCAA is aiming at, but I don’t think that’s what they are aiming at! Teams from different Conferences “tap” their post season champion to represent them in the NCAA. Sometimes, it’s a hot team that has found themselves later in the season and go on a run. Sometimes, there’s a team that plays well for three quarters of the season, but loses their star player and fail to win the conference championship.

The NCAA does allow for teams to qualify, even if they don’t win the CC. Bottom line is 12 teams make it and play for the NCAA Championship. Maybe it’s the best team, or maybe it’s the hottest team, or maybe even the luckiest team.

A long time ago, I heard a coach proclaim the “he’d rather be lucky than good”. I’ve also heard of coaches who will drill into their kids that “the harder you work, the luckier you get”.

For entertainment value, this is a great deal. Watching kids play a game with heart and determination, what could be better! Some bounces will make some games different, some teams will perform way above expectations, and at the end, we have one team left.

The next couple of weeks are going to fun, regardless! Enjoy!

 

[Fishman'81]

OK, so let’s hear it. Who do you think gets in?

Only regular season conference champs? From which conferences? Are there any automatic qualifiers? Media poll of the top 12? All analytics and stats, or any human element?

The NCAA uses the same system in all sports (except D1 football; different topic) so how will D1 hoops tourney be better without mid major and lower conferences or conference tourney busters getting in?

At some level I understand the objection to the Oles. But I don’t have a problem with the system. I’m curious to know what the better alternative is.

The better alternative IMO is to let the field self-select on the basis of the PW.

To wit:

1. Adrian
2. Utica
3. Geneseo
4. SNC
5. Babson
6. Augsburgh
7. UNE
8. Hobart
9. Elmira
10. Wilkes
11. Endicott
12. Oswego

That's as fair as it gets.

And, respectfully, citing the March Madness process doesn't lend any credence to the AQ thing in either case. In a cynical sense, one could point out that D-1 hoops make millions, so why not have a Middle Tennessee State in the huge field?

But D-3 hockey loses money hand over fist, and there is zero National attention paid to it.

Why not be a beacon of equity for the few of us who care?

 

[Sir Nubs]

The better alternative IMO is to let the field self-select on the basis of the PW.

To wit:

1. Adrian
2. Utica
3. Geneseo
4. SNC
5. Babson
6. Augsburgh
7. UNE
8. Hobart
9. Elmira
10. Wilkes
11. Endicott
12. Oswego

That's as fair as it gets.

And, respectfully, citing the March Madness process doesn't lend any credence to the AQ thing in either case. In a cynical sense, one could point out that D-1 hoops make millions, so why not have a Middle Tennessee State in the huge field?

But D-3 hockey loses money hand over fist, and there is zero National attention paid to it.

Why not be a beacon of equity for the few of us who care?

The tournament is a beacon of equity when every eligible conference gets an AQ you halfwit. You don't even realize what you are saying.

 

[joecct]

iTV for the weekend?