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2026 Bracketology: The Road to the Aud

Lord_Zubin said:
I know we've all had our fair share of complaints about the NPI this year but at least it's not what's happening in the club hockey scene right now. Midland University from Nebraska just made the ACHA d1 national tournament as an AT LARGE TEAM with a 7-22-5 record. They're SOS was so extremely high since 20 of their games were against top 10 teams. They didn't even do well in those games they went 1-19.Imagine winning 20% of ur games and still making the national tournament. Safe to say the formulas will be adjusted in that league for next year.
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So you're saying it could always be worse...? :ROFLMAO:
 
Lord_Zubin said:
I know we've all had our fair share of complaints about the NPI this year but at least it's not what's happening in the club hockey scene right now. Midland University from Nebraska just made the ACHA d1 national tournament as an AT LARGE TEAM with a 7-22-5 record. They're SOS was so extremely high since 20 of their games were against top 10 teams. They didn't even do well in those games they went 1-19.Imagine winning 20% of ur games and still making the national tournament. Safe to say the formulas will be adjusted in that league for next year.
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The NCAA (especially at the D-3 level) loves to fix what ain't broke, just for the sake of putting its greasy fingerprints on the process.

Any, ANY, person who knows even the basics of statistical analysis would have opted for the KRACH, but the PWR was fairly predictive as well.

Now we have another iteration of petty thumbs on the scale. A return to idiocy.
 
Lord_Zubin said:
I know we've all had our fair share of complaints about the NPI this year but at least it's not what's happening in the club hockey scene right now. Midland University from Nebraska just made the ACHA d1 national tournament as an AT LARGE TEAM with a 7-22-5 record. They're SOS was so extremely high since 20 of their games were against top 10 teams. They didn't even do well in those games they went 1-19.Imagine winning 20% of ur games and still making the national tournament. Safe to say the formulas will be adjusted in that league for next year.
Click to expand...
I've never thought too highly of ACHA hockey, and having the #1 and #2 overall seeds on the same side of the bracket (and apparently the visitors for their second games) reinforces my feelings. https://www.achahockey.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/M1_2026_nationals_bracket-scaled.jpg
 
JSicedog said:
Doesn't mean much but Utica jumped Salve Regina in the NPI last night. Razor thin margins separating 4-9 in the NPI right now.
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Just a simple flip in Home/Away between Utica and Salve, but the structure is the same. A lot of opportunity for movement these next two weeks though

CNE: UNE (4)
Little East: Norwich (16)
MAC: Neumann (32)
MASCAC: Anna Maria (25)
MIAC: Saint John’s (21)
NCHA: Adrian (5)
NESCAC: Hamilton (2)
SUNYAC: Hobart (1)
UCHC: Utica (7)
WIAC: UW-Stout (10)

At-Large:
Endicott (3)
Bowdoin (6)
Salve Regina (8)
Aurora (9)

First Four Out:
St. Norbert (11)
Babson (12)
Geneseo (13)
Oswego (14)

Round 1:
UW-Stout @ Aurora
Saint John’s @ Adrian
Neumann @ Endicott
Anna Maria @ UNE
Norwich @ Bowdoin
Salve Regina @ Utica

Quarterfinals:
Salve Regina/Utica @ Hobart
Norwich/Bowdoin @ Hamilton
Anna Maria/UNE @ Neumann/Endicott
UW-Stout/Aurora @ Saint John’s/Adrian
 
altazo said:
I've never thought too highly of ACHA hockey, and having the #1 and #2 overall seeds on the same side of the bracket (and apparently the visitors for their second games) reinforces my feelings. https://www.achahockey.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/M1_2026_nationals_bracket-scaled.jpg
Click to expand...
As much as I don't like the league either (you would not believe how many players think they're legit d1 athletes holy ego) I do have to admit the top 10-15 teams do compete with d3 and sometimes d1 teams. Niagaras club team regularly schedules brockport buff state and fredonia and they very easily hold their own or even beat them. UNLV last year (or maybe 2 years ago) beat the reigning champs Denver in denver with zeev buium playing. It does drop off a cliff though in terms of talent after the top 20-30 ish. Still it's gotten too a point where every year it's looking more and more like a viable option especially for the low end d3 guys.
 
Aurora just beat Adrian 6-2 to move to 5-0 vs them this season. Will travel to the winner of SNC vs. Trine next Saturady. Do they stay behind Adrian in the NPI??
 
We are just 12 games away from the bracket being revealed, and we've got a few shakeups. St. Norbert is in, Adrian is out, UW-Stout has a Round 1 home game, and with a lack of upsets, there's so much to play for on the bubble on Championship Saturday

CNE: UNE (5)
Little East: Norwich (15)
MAC: Neumann (29)
MASCAC: Anna Maria (21)
MIAC: Saint John’s (18)
NCHA: St. Norbert (11)
NESCAC: Hamilton (2)
SUNYAC: Hobart (1)
UCHC: Utica (6)
WIAC: UW-Stout (9)

At-Large:

Endicott (3)
Bowdoin (4)
Aurora (7)
Salve Regina (8)

First Four Out:

Adrian (10)
Babson (12)
Geneseo (13)
Oswego (14)

Round 1:

St. Norbert @ UW-Stout
Saint John’s @ Aurora
Neumann @ Endicott
Anna Maria @ Bowdoin
Norwich @ UNE
Salve Regina @ Utica

Quarterfinals:

Salve Regina/Utica @ Hobart
Norwich/UNE @ Hamilton
Anna Maria/Bowdoin @ Neumann/Endicott
St.Norbert/UW-Stout @ Saint John’s/Aurora
 
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I'm guessing St. Norbert still needs to beat Aurora in order to make the tournament. A loss, and St. Norbert becomes the first team out and Adrian becomes the last at-large? How much would that jumble the bracket just posted?
 
spwood said:
I'm guessing St. Norbert still needs to beat Aurora in order to make the tournament. A loss, and St. Norbert becomes the first team out and Adrian becomes the last at-large? How much would that jumble the bracket just posted?
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A SUNYAC tournament upset will throw everything into chaos.
 
spwood said:
I'm guessing St. Norbert still needs to beat Aurora in order to make the tournament. A loss, and St. Norbert becomes the first team out and Adrian becomes the last at-large? How much would that jumble the bracket just posted?
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The only way St Norbert is making the tournament is if they win on Saturday. They are currently sitting at #11 in the NPI and obviously would not move up after a loss.

That might be the case for Aurora as well after seeing how far Adrian dropped after their loss on Saturday. I still think the NCHA only gets one bid (maybe Adrian can sneak in to depending on how the other conference tourneys play out).
 
spwood said:
I'm guessing St. Norbert still needs to beat Aurora in order to make the tournament. A loss, and St. Norbert becomes the first team out and Adrian becomes the last at-large? How much would that jumble the bracket just posted?
Click to expand...
Honestly, seeing that no result has really moved Salve Regina, I don't think Adrian will be on the right side of things come Selection Sunday.

And if St. Norbert wins, Aurora falling below the cutline also becomes a potential outcome
 
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