Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

[richl49]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Well, see first we have a mall which implies that most people can get their business done... further that there are no bars on the stores so that means they can probably do it in relative security. Also, this is likely something the whole town would come out for. I can't imagine this is in line with the goals of the tournament as rinks were selected based on their ability to be the ideal home for a rat colony.

Just figured that the chances of imminent death from a variety of sources made up for the other drawbacks of the facility.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

This weekend's games that could impact BFB:

CHA Semifinal #1. Alabama-Huntsville v Robert Morris. The winner of this game (especially if its RMU) could drop below the bubble.

CHA Semifinal #2. Bemidji State v Niagara. Bemidji's case is hopeless, and a Niagara win could drop them out of the field.

CHA Consolation game. Very good possibility that this game could feature two bubble teams fighting for their BFB lives.

ECAC Quarterfinals. Brown v Yale and Harvard v Cornell. Both are long shots, but if Brown and/or Harvard fail to return to form, they might just play themselves right out of contention.

Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals. As you'd expect, the AH tournament is filled with teams in contention for BFB bids.

Canisius v Mercyhurst. Both are well inside the FARTS bubble, but lose their spots becauce of their LP. If Mercy hurst can manage to get swept, their LP would rise enough to bring them back in the field.

Holy Cross v Sacred Heart and Army v Air Force. I don't see any way Sacred Heart or Air Force can make the field. Even if they manage to get swept, their LP's will not be high enough to earn a spot. Holy Cross and Army could both see their LP's drop below .560 with series wins. That might open the door for Anchorage or Notre Dame.

 

[IdahoBemidjiFan]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

I wholeheartedly endorse the selection of Moscow, ID for the west regional. An average college in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bars and farms. Hole in the ground if I ever saw one...

 

[BUT09]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

uh ... this tournament uses a Zamboni?

Of course it does. But only if it can die halfway through, venting gas (having been in a rink where this has happened, it is really a horrific smell and makes you lightheaded), leaving both toxic fumes and half-cut ice.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Of course it does. But only if it can die halfway through, venting gas (having been in a rink where this has happened, it is really a horrific smell and makes you lightheaded), leaving both toxic fumes and half-cut ice.

well, ok, then.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Niagara's stunning upset of Bemidji creates an interesting dilemma for the BFB Committee. As Alabama-Huntsville plays Niagara today for the CHA championship, and an autobid to that 'other' tournament, they are also playing with the certainty that one of these bottom feeders will lose their coveted spot in our tournament.

Brown's game 1 upset of Yale in the ECAC quarters moves the Bears one step closer to possible elimination.

Canisius is also on the brink of elimination after winning game 1 of their Atlantic quarterfinal series over Mercyhurst. Mercyhurst can regain their position as a TWIT if they allow themselves to get swept.

All this creates the very real possibility that the door may be open for Alaska-Anchorage if they stay true to form against Wisconsin. This would mark the first time in MANY years that two WCHA teams have made the field...how many years is unknown, but our crack research staff is presently busy at work searching landfills in three midwestern states for documentation.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

All this creates the very real possibility that the door may be open for Alaska-Anchorage if they stay true to form against Wisconsin. This would mark the first time in MANY years that two WCHA teams have made the field...how many years is unknown, but our crack research staff is presently busy at work searching landfills in three midwestern states for documentation.

I can't confirm, but it's long been rumored that at the request of the league office, those records were partially burned and thrown down a mineshaft in Colorado.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

I can't confirm, but it's long been rumored that at the request of the league office, those records were partially burned and thrown down a mineshaft in Colorado.

Urban legend.

We've heard it for years, but know it's untrue. The committee is far too lazy to go to so much effort. Standard operating procedure is to just let the waitress or busboy at whatever coffee shop they're meeting at dispose of the records along with the coffee grounds and used paper placemats.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

WOW, what an exciting weekend. Let's see how it affected our brackets!

Last week's brackets:

Moscow ID
1. AIC
2. Army
3. Brown
4. Western Michigan

Laurium MI
1. UConn
2. Clarkson
3. Harvard
4. Providence

Massena NY
1. Bentley
2. Bowling Green
3. Dartmouth
4. Robert Morris

Saugus MA
1. HolyCross
2. Michigan Tech
3. Alab-Hunts
4. Niagara

This week's FARTS:
1. AIC
2. Conn
3. Bentley
4. Holy Cross
5. Army
6. Bowling Green
7. Mercyhurst
8. Clarkson
9. Michigan Tech
10. Harvard
11. Dartmouth
12. Canisius
13. Brown
14. Air Force
15. Niagara
16. Robert Morris
17. Alabama-Huntsville
18. Princeton
19. Rochester Tech
20. Western Michigan
21. Providence
22. Colgate
23. Alaska-Anchorage
24. Notre Dame
25. Rensselear

Eliminate teams with LP's below .560 (Canisius, AirForce, SacredHeart, Colgate and Rensselear) and Alabama-Huntsville for having the audacity of accepting a bid to that 'other' tournament, and we are left with the 18 TWITS: (last weeks TWITS rank)

1. AIC (1) *AHA Autobid
2. Conn (2)
3. Bentley (3)
4. HolyCross (4)
5. Army (5)
6. Bowling Green (7)
7. Mercyhurst (NR)
8. Clarkson (6) *ECAC Autobid
9. Michigan Tech (8) *WCHA Autobid
10. Harvard (10)
11. Dartmouth (11)
12. Brown (9)
13. Niagara (13) *CHA Autobid
14. Robt Morris (14)
****BUBBLE****
15. Princeton (15)
16. West Michigan (16) *CCHA Autobid
17. Providence (17) *HEA Autobid
18. Alaska-Anchorage (18)
19. Notre Dame (19)

Conference breakdown: Atlantic 6, ECAC 4, CHA 2, CCHA 2, HE 1, WCHA 1

Place the #1 seeds, starting with the top overall seed in the region furthest from their home:
#1 AIC goes to Moscow ID
#2 Conn goes to Laurium MI
#3 Bentley goes to Massena NY
#4 HolyCross goes to Saugus MA

Place the #2 seeds so that if both top seeds advance to regional finals, matchups would be 1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5:
#5 Army goes to the HolyCross bracket in Saugus
#6 BG goes to the Bentley bracket in Massena
#7 Mercyhurst goes to the UConn bracket in Laurium
#8 Clarkson goes to the AIC bracket in Moscow

Avoiding intra-conference matchups, place the #3 seeds to get first round matchups of 8v9, 7v10, 6v11, 5v12:
#9 Michigan Tech plays #8 Clarkson in Moscow
#10 Harvard plays #7 Mercyhurst in Laurium
#11 Dartmouth plays #6 BG in Massena
#12 Brown plays #5 Army in Saugus

Place the #4 seeds so that 16v1, 15v2, 14v3, 13v4...but avoid intra-conference matchups in the first round:
#13 Niagara heads to Saugus against #4 HolyCross
#14 RbtMorris heads to Massena to play #3 Bentley
#15 WestMichigan heads to Laurium against #2 UConn
#16 Providence heads to Moscow against #1 AIC

Here's a initial look:

Moscow ID
AIC
Clarkson
MichTech
Providence

Laurium MI
Conn
Mercyhurst
Harvard
WestMichigan

Massena NY
Bentley
BowlGreen
Dartmouth
RobtMorris

Saugus MA
HolyCross
Army
Brown
Niagara

Now lets look at attendance.
We've got several problems, starting in Saugus. Bad enough we've got HolyCross so close to home, but all the other #1 seeds are very nearby as well, so nothing we can do about that. Lets take the whole middle of this bracket (Army & Brown) and send them out west for Clarkson & MichTech. (keeping the first round seeding intact).

We still don't like the idea of having WMU playing in state, and swapping them with RMU has the added bonus of making their trip longer too, so lets do that.

We're also not crazy about Brown & Providence in the same bracket, so we'll swap Providence with RMU.

Now we're done:

Moscow ID
1. AIC
2. Army
3. Brown
4. RbtMor

Laurium MI
1. Conn
2. Mercyhurst
3. Harvard
4. Providence

Massena NY
1. Bentley
2. BowlingGreen
3. Dartmouth
4. WestMichigan

Saugus MA
1. HolyCross
2. Clarkson
3. MichTech
4. Niagara

 

[kdiff77]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Is Brown really that bad that we're still in this tournament? Even after beating RPI and Yale on the road twice apiece? Our record is 12-19-4. That's not really worthy of a three seed, IMO.

Plus, what would happen if the unthinkable occurs, and we somehow get into the NCAA Tournament? Can we be in both, or would it force disqualification from this?

 

[burgie12]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Princeton got jobbed!! Their LP is 0.562. They deserve to be in!

Plus, what would happen if the unthinkable occurs, and we somehow get into the NCAA Tournament? Can we be in both, or would it force disqualification from this?

See: UAH

 

[HighToTheGloveSide]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

I humbly come before the tournament committee with a request for a special exemption to the Futile Four selection process.

Ahem.......... Any team that has more NHL draft picks than victories while also managing to produce a losing record should be given an automatic berth.

Most of the teams under consideration did not have high expectations coming into the season and many are repeat qualifiers from years past.

I have one question to ask of the committee........

What team is more pathetic:

A team that is doomed to this tournament before the season even begins or a team loaded with NHL draft picks that can't even manage a winning record?

I will conclude my presentation by asking the committee to strongly consider the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers - who meet all of the setforth criteria - for an at large bid.

Record: 18-19-2
NHL draft picks: 20

Thank you for your consideration.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Princeton got jobbed!! Their LP is 0.562. They deserve to be in!

The committee wishes to offer their sincere appologies to the Princeton Tigers and all their loyal fans. There was an alcohol induced error in our programming that resulted in dropping Princeton from the list of TWITS.

Princeton (#18 in FARTS) SHOULD be #15 on the TWITS, and we have corrected the original post.

Please be aware, however, that this change will not get them in the tournament field, as the teams immediately beneath them (WesternMichigan and Providence) are both automatic qualifiers, thus raising the 'bubble' to 14.

Unfair as this may seem, don't blame us for your team not making the field. You had the opportunity to lose more games, and just didn't manage to get it done. Those two wins over NCAA bound Cornell really hurt your numbers.

 

[BUT09]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Record: 18-19-2
NHL draft picks: 20

Wow. I have to say, there is something to this.

However, they would probably win themselves right out in early rounds, so what would be the point?

 

[burgie12]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

The committee wishes to offer their sincere appologies to the Princeton Tigers and all their loyal fans. There was an alcohol induced error in our programming that resulted in dropping Princeton from the list of TWITS.

Princeton (#18 in FARTS) SHOULD be #15 on the TWITS, and we have corrected the original post.

Please be aware, however, that this change will not get them in the tournament field, as the teams immediately beneath them (WesternMichigan and Providence) are both automatic qualifiers, thus raising the 'bubble' to 14.

I didn't realize that Western was the autobid. I retract my "they should be in" comment.

Unfair as this may seem, don't blame us for your team not making the field. You had the opportunity to lose more games, and just didn't manage to get it done. Those two wins over NCAA bound Cornell really hurt your numbers.

I am a fan of Rensselaer, not Princeton. I just wish to see more ECAC teams represented in this prestigious tournament. Those two stretches of 3-0-1 and 4-1-0 between December and February really hurt. I blame the Ivy scheduling restrictions on the Tigers' inability to pad their resume with losses.

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

I humbly come before the tournament committee with a request for a special exemption to the Futile Four selection process.

Ahem.......... Any team that has more NHL draft picks than victories while also managing to produce a losing record should be given an automatic berth.

While we are sympathetic to your frustration, the committee is not impressed with your argument. This tournament strives to identify the worst-of-the-worst. While the Gophers certainly ought to qualify for a special award for 'massive underacheivement', that is not the purpose of our event.

Embarrasing victories over NCAA contenders like Duluth, Bemidji, Wisconsin (twice) and NoDak (twice) ought to prove that you've got no business anywhere near this event. It's simple math!!! If you want to get in this field, you need to lose more games.

PS...In anticipation of your next post; don't even think about bringing that worn-out 'eastern bias' conspiracy theory nonsense in to the conversation.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

All this creates the very real possibility that the door may be open for Alaska-Anchorage if they stay true to form against Wisconsin. This would mark the first time in MANY years that two WCHA teams have made the field...how many years is unknown, but our crack research staff is presently busy at work searching landfills in three midwestern states for documentation.

In 2001, three WCHA teams, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, and UMD all made the field.

http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?t=954&page=3

 

[Eaglefan06]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Providence better represent the HEA well.

Oh and Bentley better win it all!!

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

Providence better represent the HEA well.

Oh and Bentley better win it all!!

Yes, I really like Bentley's bracket in Massena!

 

[Freddie]

Re: Bottom Feeders Bracket/Futile Four 2010

In 2001, three WCHA teams, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, and UMD all made the field.

http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?t=954&page=3

Thanks for the help, Bob.

It appears that the committee's crack research staff was more interested in crack than research. We gave him an advance to cover his expenses, and never heard from him untill this morning, when he called from the city jail in Galena Illinois looking for bail money.

Where have you been? We have not seen you on this thread for two years!

If you have a chance, could you scope out in your area (Arizona?) and see if you can find an appropriately trashy rink? There is concern within the committee that with so many eastern teams apparently headed for the tournament, we may need to find an alternate (more remote) location for one of the eastern regionals. Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma... maybe some Indian revervation.