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Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

KaMiGo said:
It is entirely possible that that MSU will be playing an entire conference schedule against ranked teams given where teams are right now and what they have in the next several weeks..
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OK, time to check in on how things went as we approach the first conference games...

Penn State...wow...6-0-0 and climbs to #7
Ohio State went 3-2-1 and checks in at #10
Minnesota also went 3-2-1 and checks in at #11
Michigan went 4-2-0 and is barely there at #20
Wisconsin loves them some splits; went 3-3-0 and is still "receiving votes" and is unofficially ranked #29
Heck, Michigan State even figured out how to play again and went 3-2-1

In general, I'm pleasantly surprised. Short of a sweep against visiting UNO this weekend, Wisconsin hasn't quite done enough to get into the top 20 at the start of conference play.

The timing of the games still leaves a possibility that when MSU plays each team that they could be ranked, but getting Wisconsin and Michigan both in the top 20 at the same time in first half of the conference season is going to be pretty tricky. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be kind of cool to see it happen. I'm pretty sure that it would be the first time in modern history that it has happened.

Oh, and add in the fact that so far in out of conference performances BTHC is sitting at .637 right now, ahead of the mighty NCHC at .621, and things are looking pretty OK at the moment.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

KaMiGo said:
I'm pretty sure that it would be the first time in modern history that it has happened.
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Well it's not like the Big Ten has anything other than modern history for hockey! ;)
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

Slap Shot said:
The History of Big Ten Hockey (1922-Present)
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Interesting! I knew they posted banners in Mariucci of Big Ten championships from a bygone era, but always thought they were kind of bogus because the conference they actually played in was the WCHA, and other schools like Michigan and Michigan State played in the CCHA. But as traced in the article you posted, the roots of the Big Ten go back much further than that, something that I was not aware of.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

Penn State's start got me curious to see what their strength of schedule has been. The RPI lists them at 27th toughest so far, which is much higher than I thought it would be considering that 10 of their wins have come against these teams (PairWise for each listed):

41-Canisius
53-Mercyhurst
54-Arizona St
59-Niagara
60-AK Anchorage

But then again, Michigan is 6-7-1 with a SOS of 25, so it just goes to show that you can only win the games on your schedule. Looking forward to seeing if PSU can keep it up.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

John J. MacInnes said:
Penn State's start got me curious to see what their strength of schedule has been. The RPI lists them at 27th toughest so far, which is much higher than I thought it would be considering that 10 of their wins have come against these teams (PairWise for each listed):

41-Canisius
53-Mercyhurst
54-Arizona St
59-Niagara
60-AK Anchorage

But then again, Michigan is 6-7-1 with a SOS of 25, so it just goes to show that you can only win the games on your schedule. Looking forward to seeing if PSU can keep it up.
Click to expand...

This ranking has the Strength of Schedule in it.. Sortable by SOS rank. http://www.uscho.com/rankings/krach/d-i-men/

Penn State is 38th and that is after the Michigan series...It was probably much worse before that. In no particular order -Michigan is 11th, Minnesota 5th, MSU 25th, Wisconsin 27th, OSU 32nd.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

gomsuman said:
This ranking has the Strength of Schedule in it.. Sortable by SOS rank. http://www.uscho.com/rankings/krach/d-i-men/

Penn State is 38th and that is after the Michigan series...It was probably much worse before that. In no particular order -Michigan is 11th, Minnesota 5th, MSU 25th, Wisconsin 27th, OSU 32nd.
Click to expand...

I also noted that PSU has played 10 consecutive home games, and only 3 on the road overall so far.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey 2016-2017

Stauber1 said:
Yeah man. December.
When the weather is crap and the PWR is meaningless.
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Meaningless? I would definitely rather be the No. 1 than halfway down the PWR, say at No. 30.

Just curious: has there ever been a No. 1 at the break that didn't make the NCAA tournament?
 
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