2025 Conference Tournament Mega-Thread

[Tom Coughlin]

The UCHC/E8 is going to 9 teams next year fwiw, so it wouldn't be an issue

At least one (probably both) would get a bid this year too.

 

[Bartman]

As far as the last NEHC tournament, the much maligned Cooler is ready to host Skidmore v. Norwich and NEC v. Hobart. I am hoping for an old fashioned Norwich v. Hobart final on Sunday. Hobart has been less productive on offense the last few weeks although their ability to generate shots on goal has not been the issue, they are just not getting the puck past the goaltenders. I'm hoping the Statesmen come out with their usual energy this weekend and we get some good bounces.

 

[Fishman'81]

Just trying to understand it, but are you saying it’s better just to do away with AQ entirely? Or should conferences give AQ to the best overall record/most points at the end of the season?

I'd prefer that entire that entire NCAA field be chosen on the basis of a decent metric such as the murky NPI (or, better still, the best statically available metric, the KRACH, regardless of conference affiliation) but people on here will object for illogical reasons.

But, yeah, if AQ's must exist, better to award them on the basis of the most data available, which would factor-in the entire season, not a 3-game, winner-take-all sideshow.

 

[jerrynu26]

I'd prefer that entire that entire NCAA field be chosen on the basis of a decent metric such as the murky NPI (or, better still, the best statically available metric, the KRACH, regardless of conference affiliation) but people on here will object for illogical reasons.

But, yeah, if AQ's must exist, better to award them on the basis of the most data available, which would factor-in the entire conference season, not a 3-game, winner-take-all sideshow.

Teams in conferences play to be at their best at the end of the season, not the beginning. If the AQ disappeared, teams would play to the best start, not finish, and adapt.
Each conference picks how to proceed, so worry about just getting the conference you support to change.

 

[Fishman'81]

Don't poke the bear. We've been putting up with his insanity for years (though, to be fair, he has been very consistent). We don't interact with him anymore.

Russ, I'm heartbroken that you and "we" -whomever "we" are- have forsaken me. i'll probably toss and turn all night as a result. Cry on my pillow. etc.

But, if you think that it's at all equitable that a #80 should even be within a country mile of the championship, you're certifiably insane, or just plain stupid.

I almost hope that MCLA, whoever TF that is, takes away a berth from a deserving team, because you might actually get it, after all these years.

But, most likely, you won't.

 

[Fishman'81]

Teams in conferences play to be at their best at the end of the season, not the beginning. If the AQ disappeared, teams would play to the best start, not finish, and adapt.
Each conference picks how to proceed, so worry about just getting the conference you support to change.

Huh?

So a team that could go 0-22 in the RS should be gifted a berth, just via winning 3 games ?

Sooooo dumb.

 

[Sir Nubs]

Huh?

So a team that could go 0-22 in the RS should be gifted a berth, just via winning 3 games ?

Sooooo dumb.

How is winning anything a "gift?" Wins are earned. Win the conference tournament you didn't get gifted anything.

Talk about sooooo dumb!

 

[jerrynu26]

Huh?

So a team that could go 0-22 in the RS should be gifted a berth, just via winning 3 games ?

Sooooo dumb.

No, not dumb.
It is playing to the rules in place. Instead of whining about it ad nauseum, get it changed! If you can’t do that, it’s because people are okay with the rules.

 

[altazo]

Huh?

So a team that could go 0-22 in the RS should be gifted a berth, just via winning 3 games ?

Sooooo dumb.

Teams play 25 regular season games, not 22. And if a team went winless in the regular season, they likely (depending on conference) wouldn’t even make their post season playoffs for the opportunity to earn the AQ.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Russ, I'm heartbroken that you and "we" -whomever "we" are- have forsaken me. i'll probably toss and turn all night as a result. Cry on my pillow. etc.

But, if you think that it's at all equitable that a #80 should even be within a country mile of the championship, you're certifiably insane, or just plain stupid.

I almost hope that MCLA, whoever TF that is, takes away a berth from a deserving team, because you might actually get it, after all these years.

But, most likely, you won't.

Don't give a fuck.

 

[JSicedog]

I don’t fully agree with Fish, but I do find it mind numbing that teams like Fitchburg State, MCLA,Gustavus are going to be in the tournament over teams like Trine or Adrian. How can anyone think that is fair

 

[altazo]

I'd wager Fish's two least favorite movies of all-time are "Hooisers" and "Miracle"?

The USSR's body of work over the '79-'80 hockey season was far more impressive than the USA's. They should be the gold medalists.

 

[elbojpb]

So a team that could go 0-22 in the RS should be gifted a berth, just via winning 3 games ?

Conversely, do you believe a team that goes 22-0 in the RS, but loses to an 0-22 team in the conference tourney still deserves to get in? Just wondering.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

I don’t fully agree with Fish, but I do find it mind numbing that teams like Fitchburg State, MCLA,Gustavus are going to be in the tournament over teams like Trine or Adrian. How can anyone think that is fair

The one thing that does bother me is that some conferences allow every team to participate in the conference playoffs. I don't mind the hot team going to the NCAA even if they didn't finish first in the regular season, but I also think the regular season should mean something and therefore the regular season should be used to cut out some teams. But, ultimately it is up to each conference, and if they want a last place team to represent the conference in the NCAA, that's their choice.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

I'd wager Fish's two least favorite movies of all-time are "Hooisers" and "Miracle"?

The USSR's body of work over the '79-'80 hockey season was far more impressive than the USA's. They should be the gold medalists.

Look up the 1938 Stanley Cup champion's record...

 

[altazo]

Look up the 1938 Stanley Cup champion's record...

Yep, and somehow getting your name engraved on the Stanley Cup today is still considered an achievement...

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

It's all about access to the NCAA Tournament.

How do you recruit players to a team that knows they have not shot at playing for a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament and a chance at a national championship?

Certainly someone recruited to Hobart, St. Norbert, Adrian, Stevens Point, Utica etc. has a much "higher" chance at those things but under the current protocols even the players at Anna Maria, Western New England, MCLA, Castleton etc. still have a chance to get into the NCAAs even if they can't compete year in and year out, night in and night out with the "big dogs".

It's part of what makes sports great honestly. The true underdog/cinderella story.

 

[JSicedog]

It's all about access to the NCAA Tournament.

How do you recruit players to a team that knows they have not shot at playing for a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament and a chance at a national championship?

Certainly someone recruited to Hobart, St. Norbert, Adrian, Stevens Point, Utica etc. has a much "higher" chance at those things but under the current protocols even the players at Anna Maria, Western New England, MCLA, Castleton etc. still have a chance to get into the NCAAs even if they can't compete year in and year out, night in and night out with the "big dogs".

It's part of what makes sports great honestly. The true underdog/cinderella story.

It wouldn't affect recruiting at all. Hobart, St. Norbert, Adrian, SP, and Utica already get the best recruits. Its why they are at the top every year.

I would rather the tournament be the 14 best teams in the country. Not the 11 or 12 best teams and 2 or 3 that got lucky.

 

[Fishman'81]

Conversely, do you believe a team that goes 22-0 in the RS, but loses to an 0-22 team in the conference tourney still deserves to get in? Just wondering.

There you go, elbow.

Such a thing is absolutely a (remote) possibility under the current system.

You make a perfectly logical comment, but prepare to field a few idiotic retorts as a result.

 

[Fishman'81]

It's all about access to the NCAA Tournament.

How do you recruit players to a team that knows they have not shot at playing for a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament and a chance at a national championship?

Certainly someone recruited to Hobart, St. Norbert, Adrian, Stevens Point, Utica etc. has a much "higher" chance at those things but under the current protocols even the players at Anna Maria, Western New England, MCLA, Castleton etc. still have a chance to get into the NCAAs even if they can't compete year in and year out, night in and night out with the "big dogs".

It's part of what makes sports great honestly. The true underdog/cinderella story.

(Well, if you've a decent recruit, you wouldn't be at MCLA, would you? Guess you alluded to the obvious fact that better players tend to go to more successful programs...)

But, more to the point, why should a bottom-feeder such as MCLA even be allowed a shot at the NC, when it's proven itself to be a lousy team over the course of a RS?

This all goes back to the stupid-as-Hell-notion that the conference tournaments ought to trump (excuse the profanity) an entire season of work.

Again, if the tournaments are all that matter, just play them right off the bat, in October. We'd be looking at a handful of games over a few days, save a shit-ton in travel expenses, and not have to bother with all those pesky RS games in the first place.