B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

[5mn_Major]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

UMD would be great but I'm also fearing it's ASU in the end. Gophers are bringing them in last weekend of the year and that feels too much like a tryout to me.

Boy, could be right.

The only thing that makes me question that is broadcast eyeballs. One might expect ASU being on BTN could be a huge asset. But the league can already estimate viewership from schools with softer community ties to hockey - and I bet its modest. I'm not sure how many at B1G schools would tune in for an ASU game. For viewship, I would put my money on UND and secondarily on UMD. Being a flagship school, I would imagine places around the country might tune in for UND first and foremost...and the bump in Minnesota broadcasts in viewership on both sides of the Red river would probably take care of the numbers all by itself.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Boy, could be right.

The only thing that makes me question that is broadcast eyeballs. One might expect ASU being on BTN could be a huge asset. But the league can already estimate viewership from schools with softer community ties to hockey - and I bet its modest. I'm not sure how many at B1G schools would tune in for an ASU game. For viewship, I would put my money on UND and secondarily on UMD. Being a flagship school, I would imagine places around the country might tune in for UND first and foremost...and the bump in Minnesota broadcasts in viewership on both sides of the Red river would probably take care of the numbers all by itself.

One has to think of the Big Ten as a giant spider casting it's web from one end of the country to the other. When Maryland and Rutgers were brought in it wasn't because the majority of their sports programs were on a equal level to the rest of the B1G, it's because it gave the B1G an anchor in a VERY densely populated region of the country for marketing and broadcast rights. Nebraska started the westward expansion. Let's face it, the B1G is all about the money and if they can get as close to the west coast as possible the financial benefits with marketing and advertising will be enormous!
What schools will be able to resist the money carrot dangled in front of them to share in this growing revenue?

 

[gopher wes]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

UMD would be great but I'm also fearing it's ASU in the end. Gophers are bringing them in last weekend of the year and that feels too much like a tryout to me.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but at the same time I don't think I'd read too much into it. With Notre Dame in last year it gave the BTHC an odd number of teams. Michigan had I think the same open weekend last year and scheduled ASU. ASU is easy to schedule at most any time of the year with no conference obligations.

 

[UMD21]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

I thought 3 teams in the Frozen Four was a statement of particular accomplishment.
Win first title in a dozen years? Unless it was just sarcasm we're in our 6th season as a conference.
And as far as beating one conference and then another and another, wasn't that what we did in the tournament? Were not the teams we beat in the tourney the best representation of their conferences? Unless I didn't understand you clearly then your questions are answered.

Since MSU, the last Big 10 member school won in 2007. Since then, Hockey East has won 5 titles, NCHC teams with 4, even "EZAC" with 2. Even if we're only looking at the six years of B1G existence there are only six conferences in total, so statistically the Big10 should have won one by now to be even average. But sure why wouldn't we declare the B1G the hockey powerhouse conference after they put three teams in the frozen four last year. Also when UMD won in 2011, I remember a Gopher fan saying "every now and then even a blind squirrel finds a nut", so maybe that was last year's frozen four?

UMD was not the best representative of the NCHC. They hold the dubious honor of being a National Champion with the worst regular season record ever.

Three teams--that apparently lost to the team with the worst regular season record in history. SteveO did have a great point though that the B1G is the most "politically" powerful conference in the country. That is true.
Three teams in the frozen four on the year that the B1G conference had a head-to-head record against NCHC that was well under .500. Notre Dame (the team that terrorized the Big 10 in it's first year of participation) only won 1/5 games against the NCHC. The only team that earned my respect last year was Ohio State with how they beat Denver and played UMD tough. Notre Dame was lucky to not get bounced by Michigan Tech in the first round.. You may want to believe it, but doesn't sound like the type of season to brag about propelling you to the top of the college hockey stratosphere.
Big 10 vs NCHC spat aside, I'm just saying it's pretty disrespectful and downright stupid to call the Big 10 conference the best conference in the country this year. They have a huge hole to climb out of for all the unsuccessfull years so even if they put four teams in and finally win it this year, it's a revolving door at the top and it will take more than one or two good years to climb out of.
My opinion, if there's going to be a top conference in the future it will be the Hockey East. The B1G/WCHA/CCHA split was pretty devastating to Michigan and Minnesota in particular while the HE was unaffected. They're the conference having the down years that will come back.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Also when UMD won in 2011, I remember a Gopher fan saying "every now and then even a blind squirrel finds a nut", so maybe that was last year's frozen four?

Well you know Gopher fans, surprised there weren't mass suicides when they didn't make it last season.

I'm just saying it's pretty disrespectful and downright stupid to call the Big 10 conference the best conference in the country this year.

Just a reminder that this thread's title of the B1G rising to the top does have a question mark so it's only asking does the B1G have what it takes to be the top conference this season or not? It's not meant to be a statement that they already are the top.
BTW, thank's for the Ohio State respect!

 

[gopher wes]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Also when UMD won in 2011, I remember a Gopher fan saying "every now and then even a blind squirrel finds a nut", so maybe that was last year's frozen four?

Also, I remember being in Duluth for the season opener in 2012 and having a tUMD fan say 'get back to me when you win a championship' after the Gophers won in OT Friday night. Two can play that game, I guess.

For the record, there were a large number of Gopher fans cheering for tDogs in 2011, myself included. I'll never make that mistake again......

 

[UMD21]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Also, I remember being in Duluth for the season opener in 2012 and having a tUMD fan say 'get back to me when you win a championship' after the Gophers won in OT Friday night. Two can play that game, I guess.

For the record, there were a large number of Gopher fans cheering for tDogs in 2011, myself included. I'll never make that mistake again......

Well, and? 7 years later and I guess we're still waiting Sorry I had to, you walked yourself right into that one. Fan was either drunk, or remembering that to this day and still laughing while waiting for you to get back

Gopher fans upset UMD fans acting like--Gopher fans. Despite hating Gophers forever being a UMD fan and distant SCSU fan, I still couldn't help but cheer for them in the 2002 championship. Crazy how conference pride trumps state pride. Was funny seeing all the UND fans cheering for UMD this year--they hated us so bad last year. or maybe just Pionk

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Gopher fans upset UMD fans acting like--Gopher fans.

You wish, Cindy.

 

[The Rube]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

There can be a better conference, but yet a hotter team when it comes to playoffs. Small, but significant difference.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Well, and? 7 years later and I guess we're still waiting Sorry I had to, you walked yourself right into that one. Fan was either drunk, or remembering that to this day and still laughing while waiting for you to get back

I'm a big fan of UMD. But you're missing the point.

Prior to the split, B1G teams were near the top of their respective conferences...and so the schools inherently are strong enough. The formation of NCHC was pretty close to skimming the top off the WCHA (excepting UM and may UW)...so little change and NCHC schools like UMD actually had its schedule improve while keeping MN on the calendar. On the other hand, the upheaval among B1G has been enormous and some of the schools have had a difficult time making the adjustment. Because of who MN is, the school could have sailed through the transition fine (and in some ways did OK), but unknown to us at the time...MN was struggling with a declining Lucia. MI had similar struggles in getting rid of Ref. Now that these issues are all aside and the B1G is getting settled, its a new day. I wouldn't rest on your laurels as was seen in our earlier I 35 series.

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

NCHC should have taken Bowling Green instead of Miami. You took the shiny nouveau riche team and didn't realize that sooner or later (it was sooner) they'd regress back to their historical norm.

 

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Well you know Gopher fans, surprised there weren't mass suicides when they didn't make it last season.

Just a reminder that this thread's title of the B1G rising to the top does have a question mark so it's only asking does the B1G have what it takes to be the top conference this season or not? It's not meant to be a statement that they already are the top.
BTW, thank's for the Ohio State respect!

Also, it says "rising", which would connotate that they are on their way, but aren't there yet.

 

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

NCHC should have taken Bowling Green instead of Miami. You took the shiny nouveau riche team and didn't realize that sooner or later (it was sooner) they'd regress back to their historical norm.

Yeah, Bowling Green has been covered in glory the past few years....

0 NCAA tournament appearances since 1990
0 Regular season conference titles since 1987
0 Conference tournament titles since 1988

Bowling Green sucks.

 

[UMD21]

NCHC should have taken Bowling Green instead of Miami. You took the shiny nouveau riche team and didn't realize that sooner or later (it was sooner) they'd regress back to their historical norm.

Not gonna argue that, although not sure why you chose Bowling Green. Wouldn’t mind seeing conferences migrate more towards regional locations. Mankato and BSU come to mind first—somebody will perhaps have to take in ASU so if not B1G the NCHC would make most sense. AFA would be a nice acquisition if we needed to even up #s.
I thought NCHC criteria was hockey focused schools, but why would that exclude Mankato then. Pretty sure the reason Dean Blais “retired” from Omaha was their stripped down budget and how few full scholarships the school could afford the program. They fit regionally still haven’t been to Omaha but maybe someday will catch a series there going between CO-MN

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

NCHC should have taken Bowling Green instead of Miami. You took the shiny nouveau riche team and didn't realize that sooner or later (it was sooner) they'd regress back to their historical norm.

One of the things I recall with a grin in Ohio State's rivalry we had going with Miami was the first home game we had against them the season after they blew and pretty much gave away the National Championship, two of our students in the first row behind their net were wearing Boston University jerseys and were rubbing their chests in them against the glass all game reminding them how badly they scr*wed the pooch!

 

[gopher wes]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

still haven’t been to Omaha but maybe someday will catch a series there going between CO-MN

Made a few road trips back in the WCHA days. Omaha was by far our group's favorite. Sadly we only got to make it one time since the conferences split shortly after Minnesota's only conference trip there. Selfishly I liked it because I have family there who are UNO fans, but I think we would have had fun no matter what.

That was back at the Clink though, I would definitely enjoy seeing their new arena.

 

[gopher wes]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

One of the things I recall with a grin in Ohio State's rivalry we had going with Miami was the first home game we had against them the season after they blew and pretty much gave away the National Championship, two of our students in the first row behind their net were wearing Boston University jerseys and were rubbing their chests in them against the glass all game reminding them how badly they scr*wed the pooch!

Buying jerseys of a team that you don't cheer for to try to get a rise out of your rivals = UND fans

Congrats on that.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

Buying jerseys of a team that you don't cheer for to try to get a rise out of your rivals = UND fans

Congrats on that.

Now we don't really know how they came by those jerseys do we?
The other funny thing with outerwear at an OSU game was back in the CCHA when Steve Piotrowski was a MAJOR thorn in our side with his officiating. (Of course him being one of Red Berenson's close buddies had NOTHING to do with it! )
One of our students by the glass has a white tee shirt made out like an eye chart and it spelled
P and old Pio saw it during warm ups pointing at the kid!
I O
T R O
W S K I

 

[gopher wes]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

The other funny thing with outerwear at an OSU game was back in the CCHA when Steve Piotrowski was a MAJOR thorn in our side with his officiating. (Of course him being one of Red Berenson's close buddies had NOTHING to do with it! )

Conspiracy theories about officials? Are you sure you're not a Whioux fan?!

 

[Eddie Schorr]

Re: B1G 2018-19 Rise to the Top?

One of the things I recall with a grin in Ohio State's rivalry we had going with Miami was the first home game we had against them the season after they blew and pretty much gave away the National Championship, two of our students in the first row behind their net were wearing Boston University jerseys and were rubbing their chests in them against the glass all game reminding them how badly they scr*wed the pooch!

College Hockey's Newest Dynasty! Meh, screw 'em. I just wish we'd been able to hold onto the all-time series lead before the programs went their separate ways. Lots of bad blood between Ohio State and Miami on the university side, so I can't say that I wish them well in anything. BGSU is another thing though. I'd love to see Bergeron make them a consistent top 20 team and for us to play them annually.