Latest pairwise rankings

[J.D.]

But when you consider that I can sit and have a burger at Charlie’s on the Harvard campus and then be in Manchester in an hour or Bridgeport in less than 2 1/2, Harvard would likely draw far greater crowds in either venue than St Cloud would. Manchester is also accessible from Harvard by public transportation.

I think you have high expectations of Harvard "fans".

 

[Darius]

I think you have high expectations of Harvard "fans".

Also of Harvard - Manchester public transportation.

 

[altazo]

That's 1k more than if SCSU hosted the final.

True, 6k is 1k more than 5k.

I wonder what it costs for the NCHC to rent the Xcel Center for the weekend. Must have been worth it to be able to get those additional one thousand people in there.

 

[Skate79]

Dude it might happen but you are very clearly being this definitive because you're the Harvard fan.

No kidding. I doubt the committee will send us to Fargo given our pairwise and the need to minimize travel and maximize attendance. Cue those who want to bash Harvard's ability to travel.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Cue those who want to bash Harvard's ability to travel.

You have to admit that Harvard is not known for its rabid fan base.

 

[Speed Kills]

No kidding. I doubt the committee will send us to Fargo given our pairwise and the need to minimize travel and maximize attendance. Cue those who want to bash Harvard's ability to travel.

Based on their pairwise position, Fargo seems like the most logical destination for Harvard. Can't have 1 and 8 together because Penn State has to be in Allentown, so putting 1 and 7 together is the next best thing.

 

[sezenack]

Based on their pairwise position, Fargo seems like the most logical destination for Harvard. Can't have 1 and 8 together because Penn State has to be in Allentown, so putting 1 and 7 together is the next best thing.

I think they are just going to switch St. Cloud and Penn State and not mess with Harvard

 

[J.D.]

No kidding. I doubt the committee will send us to Fargo given our pairwise and the need to minimize travel and maximize attendance. Cue those who want to bash Harvard's ability to travel.

But there's a very legitimate case for Harvard to go to Fargo because of the math. It might not happen but Harvard let this become an option by losing last night.

Who says they need to minimize travel/maximize attendance? It hasn't seemed to come into play a whole lot recently. I would be on board with a clear direction from the committee.

 

[RENCEB]

I think you have high expectations of Harvard "fans".

You always have to use the plural of "fan", even if it is only slightly more than 1.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

You always have to use the plural of "fan", even if it is only slightly more than 1.

The 3 of them would likely agree...

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

As anticipated...

Fargo
1. Minnesota vs. 16. Canisius
6. St. Cloud State vs. 11. Minnesota State

Bridgeport
2. Quinnipiac vs. 14. Merrimack
7. Harvard vs. 9. Ohio State

Allentown
3. Michigan vs. 15. Colgate
8. Penn State vs. 10. Michigan Tech

Manchester
4. Denver vs. 13. Cornell
5. Boston University vs. 12. Western Michigan

 

[J.D.]

Putting St. Cloud with Minnesota is not my definition of bracket integrity but ultimately I am fine if there's a consistent emphasis to try and improve the atmosphere at these things. For once there doesn't appear to be a dumpster fire regional attendance/atmosphere wise.

 

[J.D.]

I also see they did away with the 6 hr gap in starting times at each site after only one year.

 

[sig]

We will find out the toughest next weekend.

 

[StateofHockey78]

But when you consider that I can sit and have a burger at Charlie’s on the Harvard campus and then be in Manchester in an hour or Bridgeport in less than 2 1/2, Harvard would likely draw far greater crowds in either venue than St Cloud would. Manchester is also accessible from Harvard by public transportation.

I don't really care what the committee does placing teams, but I dislike how inconsistent it is from one year to the next. Frankly, I was laughing when the board chair from Vermont said how pleased they were with a balanced bracket. I guess if the goal was balanced geography, yes they did great. Enjoy the burger, I have a feeling it will be your last while watching Harvard play hockey this year.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

I don't really care what the committee does placing teams, but I dislike how inconsistent it is from one year to the next. Frankly, I was laughing when the board chair from Vermont said how pleased they were with a balanced bracket. I guess if the goal was balanced geography, yes they did great. Enjoy the burger, I have a feeling it will be your last while watching Harvard play hockey this year.

The inconsistency is because they have so many "priorities" that they can manipulate the results almost any way they want them. You can spout "bracket integrity" to defend one decision, and then turn around and say "atmosphere" or "airline flights" for another. And all the while, you let teams host who aren't #1 seeds so you work around the brackets to justify that. Give basketball credit - They are going with a serpentine bracket every year (Now, how they determine those seeds is a little shady, but that's another story.), and they generally don't give a de facto home game to a low seed (Drake, for instance, had to go out east as a #12 seed this year, even though Des Moines was a regional site.).

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Putting St. Cloud with Minnesota is not my definition of bracket integrity but ultimately I am fine if there's a consistent emphasis to try and improve the atmosphere at these things. For once there doesn't appear to be a dumpster fire regional attendance/atmosphere wise.

I don't know that there was a need to improve the atmosphere at Fargo after the Gophers were placed there. Fargo only seats about 6000. It was going to be full or near-full even without adding St. Cloud and Kato.

 

[StateofHockey78]

The inconsistency is because they have so many "priorities" that they can manipulate the results almost any way they want them. You can spout "bracket integrity" to defend one decision, and then turn around and say "atmosphere" or "airline flights" for another. And all the while, you let teams host who aren't #1 seeds so you work around the brackets to justify that. Give basketball credit - They are going with a serpentine bracket every year (Now, how they determine those seeds is a little shady, but that's another story.), and they generally don't give a de facto home game to a low seed (Drake, for instance, had to go out east as a #12 seed this year, even though Des Moines was a regional site.).

100%.

 

[bodyup88]

I don't know that there was a need to improve the atmosphere at Fargo after the Gophers were placed there. Fargo only seats about 6000. It was going to be full or near-full even without adding St. Cloud and Kato.

Think of the revenue they are giving up this weekend. Having this regional at Xcel would draw 19,000. Can they "buy out" Fargo? haha

 

[J.D.]

I don't know that there was a need to improve the atmosphere at Fargo after the Gophers were placed there. Fargo only seats about 6000. It was going to be full or near-full even without adding St. Cloud and Kato.

This was my thought as well. Which is why I would have placed Harvard in Fargo instead of St. Cloud. If atmosphere was a concern I could even get on board with Harvard-Minnesota State. To me, bracket integrity should be kept as best as possible but working your way from #1 overall on down and taking into account the QF round.

Minnesota (1)
Harvard(7)
Minnesota State (11)
Canisius

Quinnipiac (2)
St. Cloud State (6)
Ohio State (9)
Merrimack

I could have lived with this if you wanted to get another Minnesota team to Fargo.