Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

[Watson Rink]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Yikes, BU's 6-0 win over BC suddenly puts a new perspective on the 'Pot. I'd been thinking there was a very good chance of catching BU shorthanded and winning what would have been a relatively meaningless Expected Win in NCAA terms, then going on to lose to a still dominant BC team for an Expected Loss. Now the first-round match-up looks very tough (and BU may become a TUC by the end of the season) and who knows whether the next opponent will be BC or NU or where each of those teams will rank in the pecking order by season's end.

So luck takes a hand....lucky to have played StL and Clarkson both times so early in the year before they jelled, perhaps unlucky to be playing BU now, and at the whim of the HE final results as to which Beanpot opponents will prove to have been the most advantageous or disadvantageous to have faced in Pairwise terms.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Huge week coming up for the Crimson on two fronts.

With the games they made up on Quinnipiac, they are now in 2nd place in the ECAC, with a hungry pack of wolves just 1 point behind.

Havard first faces a rejuvenated BU in the beanpot followed by the Bob Cats in league play. That first game is crucial for both teams in the NCAA rankings, and the winner of that second game will have a gain a foothold on second place in the ECAC.

The Beanpot for the men and women takes place during first week in February (men on Monday, women on Tuesday). The Crimson's next game is Friday night versus the Bobcats. If the Crimson beat the Bobcats, they'll have the tiebreaker against them having tied Quinnipiac a few weeks ago in CT. A weekend sweep as I indicated in an earlier post puts them in the driver's seat for a second place finish given their remaining schedule.

I'm not worried about the NCAA because at this point, Harvard has only the Beanpot left against ranked teams to break into the Top 8. A tall order to be sure and I don't expect it will happen for them this year.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

The Beanpot for the men and women takes place during first week in February (men on Monday, women on Tuesday). The Crimson's next game is Friday night versus the Bobcats.

According to the college Stats schedule the first beanpot games are Tomorrow Night (Jan 31) at BU:

Tuesday, January 31 - Women:
* Boston College vs Northeastern NC 5:00 pm ET
Colby at Holy Cross NC 6:00 pm ET
Hamilton at RIT NC 7:00 pm ET
Trinity at Salve Regina NC 7:00 pm ET
# Harvard at Boston University NC 8:00 pm ET
Gustavus Adolphus at Wis-Superior NC 7:00 pm CT
* - Beanpot at Boston University
# - Beanpot

 

[whoop87]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Skate79 - you are going to be a week late this year if you show up for the 1st round of the Beanpot on Tuesday Feb.7th. I don't know if this is the first time that they have started playing the Beanpot in late January - I think that is the case. You are correct, it is usually the first 2 Tuesdays in Feb. for the women but not the case this year.

As OnMAA noted: BC vs. NU tomorrow night at 5 pm at WBA followed by Harvard vs. BU at 8 pm

 

[alslammerz]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Yes, game is tomorrow night...which from a broadcast schedule viewpoint is a nightmare.

For those looking for it, the game will be on the WHRB.org low bandwidth stream starting at 8pm but it won't start airing on the radio due to the men's hockey game that starts at 7. When the men end (and possibly in the 2nd intermission as well), we will transition over to the end of the Harvard/BU game.

This is probably the first time ever that we're not airing both Harvard Beanpot games live over the radio in their entirety, which is a real shame. Hopefully next year the schedule returns to normal.

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

I'm not worried about the NCAA because at this point, Harvard has only the Beanpot left against ranked teams to break into the Top 8. A tall order to be sure and I don't expect it will happen for them this year.

Harvard is currently at No. 6. As for games against ranked teams, I'm assuming that it may run into a ranked team or two in the ECAC Hockey tourney if it lasts long enough.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Harvard is currently at No. 6. As for games against ranked teams, I'm assuming that it may run into a ranked team or two in the ECAC Hockey tourney if it lasts long enough.

So if Harvard wins Beanpot, they would look really good for an at large bid ?

Question to ARM. If there is a surprise winner in HE or ECAC, would that winner then become part of the pairwise calculations ?.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Harvard is currently at No. 6.

Interesting looking at The winning percentages in the Pairwise Rankings. Wisconsin is listed with the Highest winning percentages at .89%, but only ranked second. Who is first ???

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Question to ARM. If there is a surprise winner in HE or ECAC, would that winner then become part of the pairwise calculations ?.

It would almost seem like they would -- slide that team into the TUC list and bump the 12th team. I haven't seen that explicitly stated anywhere by the NCAA, however.

Interesting looking at The winning percentages in the Pairwise Rankings. Wisconsin is listed with the Highest winning percentages at .89%, but only ranked second. Who is first ???

Holy Cross, a team that doesn't play enough games versus D-I opponents to be under consideration.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

It would almost seem like they would -- slide that team into the TUC list and bump the 12th team. I haven't seen that explicitly stated anywhere by the NCAA, however.

Holy Cross, a team that doesn't play enough games versus D-I opponents to be under consideration.

Thanks for the explanations. R U saying there is some "Black Magic/Logic" involved. . Somehow that does not surprise me.

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Thanks for the explanations. R U saying there is some "Black Magic/Logic" involved.

More wild guesses than explanations. It seems logical to me that a team that is in the field would be under consideration. That doesn't mean the NCAA is all that big on logic. They give us the BCS to decide things in the crown jewel of their sporting year, so logic is likely a rare commodity.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

More wild guesses than explanations. It seems logical to me that a team that is in the field would be under consideration. That doesn't mean the NCAA is all that big on logic. They give us the BCS to decide things in the crown jewel of their sporting year, so logic is likely a rare commodity.

In that sport it is all about the money. Heard a report the other day that the folks running the Bowl games are raking in all the loot, and want it to stay that way, so they would be against a true play-off system in that prized sport, to preserve their own piece of the pie.

 

[dave1381]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

I'm not worried about the NCAA because at this point, Harvard has only the Beanpot left against ranked teams to break into the Top 8. A tall order to be sure and I don't expect it will happen for them this year.

As ARM pointed out, Harvard's still in contention for NCAAs, but I agree with the intuition. They have yet to show they are a legit top 8 team. Really, this team has come up pretty small in any kind of big game or in the face of elite opposition since Kessler's career ended about two years ago. I've been pretty surprised by how badly they've been blown out in games like this Beanpot semifinal, the Dartmouth game last year, and NCAAs two season ago. Good news is they are still young and improving.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Skate79 - you are going to be a week late this year if you show up for the 1st round of the Beanpot on Tuesday Feb.7th. I don't know if this is the first time that they have started playing the Beanpot in late January - I think that is the case. You are correct, it is usually the first 2 Tuesdays in Feb. for the women but not the case this year.

As OnMAA noted: BC vs. NU tomorrow night at 5 pm at WBA followed by Harvard vs. BU at 8 pm

The Harvard schedule on GoCrimson had the Beanpot games listed for February. They have always been that way so I can't explain why the opening round took place on Tuesday.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Harvard is currently at No. 6. As for games against ranked teams, I'm assuming that it may run into a ranked team or two in the ECAC Hockey tourney if it lasts long enough.

True but they are ranked 9th in the polls and that is what I was going on. The point differential between 9 and 8 was such that I didn't think Harvard could make the jump into the Top Eight given their remaining schedule. Their loss to BU can't help given BU's problems this year but if BU goes on to do well in the HE tournament, that may help the Crimson. And I'm thinking that they will have to beat Cornell in the ECAC tournament to really solidify their chances.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

So if Harvard wins Beanpot, they would look really good for an at large bid ?

Question to ARM. If there is a surprise winner in HE or ECAC, would that winner then become part of the pairwise calculations ?.

At this point, they need to win the consolation game and then hope to meet and beat Cornell in the ECAC tournament. To me, that's the best way for the Crimson to ensure an NCAA bid. Anything else may not be enough especially since BU is having an off year and really crushed Harvard on Tuesday (guess I know why I missed the game)

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

As ARM pointed out, Harvard's still in contention for NCAAs, but I agree with the intuition. They have yet to show they are a legit top 8 team. Really, this team has come up pretty small in any kind of big game or in the face of elite opposition since Kessler's career ended about two years ago. I've been pretty surprised by how badly they've been blown out in games like this Beanpot semifinal, the Dartmouth game last year, and NCAAs two season ago. Good news is they are still young and improving.

It has been surprising to me as well. Some of it has to do with youth, some of it is talent. I think Bellamy is the least of their worries at least this year. She has been good enough to win most of these big games. She hasn't always gotten the support. Their D hasn't always played well and their offense vacillates between very good and inept. The forwards are not of the quality in years past but they are good enough to compete with the Top Tier teams. Hopefully better recruiting will yield positive results in the years to come.

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

True but they are ranked 9th in the polls and that is what I was going on.

Never mix the human polls with NCAA bids; they are two separate universes. A lot of what you were saying is now true because of the loss to BU, which caused Harvard to drop out of the its previous 6th to 9th in the NCAA picture. If the Crimson are going to beat Cornell in the ECAC tourney, then they may as well win the thing and take the auto bid. If Harvard holds on to second in the league, then they won't see Cornell before the final anyway.

 

[dave1381]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

It has been surprising to me as well. Some of it has to do with youth, some of it is talent. I think Bellamy is the least of their worries at least this year. She has been good enough to win most of these big games. She hasn't always gotten the support. Their D hasn't always played well and their offense vacillates between very good and inept. The forwards are not of the quality in years past but they are good enough to compete with the Top Tier teams. Hopefully better recruiting will yield positive results in the years to come.

Sure, and to be clear, when I said they haven't been the same since Kessler, I didn't mean to single out Bellamy, who has continued to improve, and it's not fair to hold her to the standard of replacing Kessler. It's simply the case that Kessler was that last All-American caliber player this program has had. Without that kind of talent, this team has done well to be borderline top 10 throughout, but they simply haven't been a serious contender against Minnesota or Cornell, or BU when healthy.

 

[Hux]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Sure, and to be clear, when I said they haven't been the same since Kessler, I didn't mean to single out Bellamy, who has continued to improve, and it's not fair to hold her to the standard of replacing Kessler. It's simply the case that Kessler was that last All-American caliber player this program has had. Without that kind of talent, this team has done well to be borderline top 10 throughout, but they simply haven't been a serious contender against Minnesota or Cornell, or BU when healthy.

Well, I think one could make a case that Pucci is an All-American caliber player. Oh, and then there is that kid named Dempsey. She is no slouch.