NCAA Tourney Team Selection Options

[SCSUBlackandRed]

I really don't know what other solution there would be, other than maybe just bagging the whole tourney.

If they decided to discard Miami and just play with six teams, well then you're handing out two byes, so why not give everyone a shot and hand out just one bye. You could reduce it down to the top four teams, except that both WMU and DU are currently perceived as two teams very capable of making a run, winning the tourney and getting the autobid, so I don't think the conference wants to interfere with that.

I think they should go with seven teams and give #1 (UND) the bye. That's how the Big Ten does it with seven teams and it makes sense.

I just hate seeing UND get yet another advantage but again, it's the right thing to do.

Definitely play the tourney with all the other teams. Don't penalize them because of CC's inability to stay off the Covid.

 

[SJHovey]

Why does there have to be a west and east attached to any of the teams. why not pick without regard to location or league. ? If I was Omaha and some random Eastern team like say, Clarkson got in and I didn't, I'd be pretty unhappy.

There doesn't have to be. I just think it will. I think I've heard that the committee as a group that is looking at eastern teams, because they will have had a chance to see more of them, and the same in the west. I don't think they'll be able to go 8-8 because this year it's basically HE out east, and a couple of other teams. But again, I also don't see them going 10-6.

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

I think after this last series with Lake State, you can take BSU off the list of bubble teams. The only way they get in now is to win the WCHA tournament.

 

[manurespreader]

I think after this last series with Lake State, you can take BSU off the list of bubble teams. The only way they get in now is to win the WCHA tournament.

The refs cost them. I would disagree, depending on how they do in the tournament. They need another quality win, but you have to realize LSSU is a lot better than people think. Yes they play the heavy game, but they have some scorers and great goaltending. They could easily end up second.

 

[lakersparty]

The refs cost them. I would disagree, depending on how they do in the tournament. They need another quality win, but you have to realize LSSU is a lot better than people think. Yes they play the heavy game, but they have some scorers and great goaltending. They could easily end up second.

The refs didn't cost Bemidji. The Beavers were committing a bunch of obvious penalties because they were tired coming off a really intense series with the Mavericks in a tough part of the schedule. If anything, the Lakers were screwed earlier in the year against the Beavers with that dumb faceoff protocol penalty that shouldn't even be a thing.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

How can you consider Clarkson for an at-large? Considering that under normal circumstances you need 6 teams to keep your autobid, I think the committee is very generous to guarantee one ECAC team makes the field. Two out of four? Especially when Clarkson has a grand total of two good wins, that's just not a good idea.

 

[J.D.]

They could look at how Clarkson has played Quinnipiac 6 times and dissect those games. I am not saying they should be in, I don't know. I have no clue how Clarkson stacks up with teams 2-4 in WCHA this year. With that said, weren't their next 4 games (all against SLU) called off? That hurts them. I think they will need to win the tournament to get in.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

They could look at how Clarkson has played Quinnipiac 6 times and dissect those games. I am not saying they should be in, I don't know. I have no clue how Clarkson stacks up with teams 2-4 in WCHA this year. With that said, weren't their next 4 games (all against SLU) called off? That hurts them. I think they will need to win the tournament to get in.

After seeing Clarkson in person 4 times last season and watching them numerous times on streams this season, I don't consider them NCAA tournament material. 2 wins in 6 games vs QU is not exactly a resume builder, especially when that team's top argument is that someone has to get in from ECAC.

ECAC is a one bid league and they should be thankful they even get that.

If you're comparing the Knights to WCHA teams, that's going to be sketchy. BG should have been a lock, but they hit the skids in the past few weeks. Lake State is coming on at the right time, but doesn't have a particularly strong resume. Bemidji has a hard time passing the eye test and dumping points at home to LSSU might have been fatal. The only way Tech gets a strong enough case is by sweeping at Mankato this weekend, and there's almost zero chance of that.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Clarkson... I don't consider them NCAA tournament material. 2 wins in 6 games vs QU is not exactly a resume builder, especially when that team's top argument is that someone has to get in from ECAC.

Clarkson 2 wins in 6 tries vs QU (all but one game were single goal wins or decided in OT/shootout)
BGSU 2 road wins in 2 tries @ QU (4-1 and 4-2)
QU racked up 7 of their wins against Atlantic Hockey teams and LUI.

In a season with little to no play between conferences, its hard to argue against: BGSU >> QU (barely) > Clarkson

 

[J.D.]

You guys are forgetting that they want to limit travel even more this year. With no PWR, the committee can take Clarkson if it helps fill one of the Eastern regionals. Not for attendance obviously but because they can bus to Bridgeport and Albany. I would not rule that out as a factor.

 

[J.D.]

That doesn't make it "fair" but it could happen.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

If they are not going to equally distribute NCAA bids by conference, they certainly are not going award bids simply because a team is located close to a regional site.

If that is the case, the Loveland, CO regional is already set: Omaha, Denver, Air Force and CC, four teams that can bus to the site. And 75% NCHC teams to boot so everyone should be happy...

 

[Hockey John]

If they are not going to equally distribute NCAA bids by conference, they certainly are not going award bids simply because a team is located close to a regional site.

If that is the case, the Loveland, CO regional is already set: Omaha, Denver, Air Force and CC, four teams that can bus to the site. And 75% NCHC teams to boot so everyone should be happy...

Bowling Green is closer to Albany and Bridgeport than it is to the two western sites of Fargo and Loveland. It would be fine to send us east.

 

[J.D.]

If they are not going to equally distribute NCAA bids by conference, they certainly are not going award bids simply because a team is located close to a regional site.

If that is the case, the Loveland, CO regional is already set: Omaha, Denver, Air Force and CC, four teams that can bus to the site. And 75% NCHC teams to boot so everyone should be happy...

Jesus, talk about taking it to the extreme. We're talking about teams under consideration, Einstein.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

You guys are forgetting that they want to limit travel even more this year. With no PWR, the committee can take Clarkson if it helps fill one of the Eastern regionals. Not for attendance obviously but because they can bus to Bridgeport and Albany. I would not rule that out as a factor.

This is a very interesting point. What bubble teams are within bussing distance of the regionals? Clarkson (Bridgeport or Albany); Bemidji State (Fargo); Omaha (Fargo?); Connecticut (Bridgeport or Albany); Providence (Bridgeport or Albany). I'm sure there are others.

Then, what bubble teams would be a flight? Bowling Green, LSSU, Michigan Tech.

As you noted elsewhere, it probably shouldn't be a factor, but if the committee is debating between say Clarkson and LSSU, do they go with the bus team vs the flight team?

 

[TimothyLeary On LSD]

This is a very interesting point. What bubble teams are within bussing distance of the regionals? Clarkson (Bridgeport or Albany); Bemidji State (Fargo); Omaha (Fargo?); Connecticut (Bridgeport or Albany); Providence (Bridgeport or Albany). I'm sure there are others.

Then, what bubble teams would be a flight? Bowling Green, LSSU, Michigan Tech.

As you noted elsewhere, it probably shouldn't be a factor, but if the committee is debating between say Clarkson and LSSU, do they go with the bus team vs the flight team?

I think a trip from the UP to Fargo is manageable on a bus.

 

[Andrew J Carter]

I think a trip from the UP to Fargo is manageable on a bus.

Back in the 70s with NMU basketball, we played a game at Edinboro State in NW Pennsylvania. The trip was a nightmare. We flew from Marquette to Escanaba, to Green Bay, to Milwaukee, to Chicago, to Pittsburg, to Erie then bused to Edinboro. It took us a full day. Keeping this flight disaster in mind, I prematurely thought flying from Sault Ste Marie to Fargo would have similar problems, and perhaps busing might be just as fast. After checking, I learned that Delta flies directly from the Soo to MSP. It takes 5 hours and 13 minutes over and 3 hours and 23 minutes back (Soo to Fargo with just one plane change each way).

Although the 11-hour 30-minute 655-mile non-interstate bus trip doesn't sound too inviting, it certainly would be tolerable for the opportunity to play in the national tournament.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

I think a trip from the UP to Fargo is manageable on a bus.

Houghton would be doable if they were to relax the 400 miles requirement (455 miles to Fargo). As just mentioned, it's 655 miles from Sault St. Marie. That's probably a bit far.

 

[J.D.]

If you're looking for some chaos, look to the women's bracket. The easiest thing for the committee should be evaluating teams within a conference. Yet nobody seems to know why UMD was picked and Minnesota was left out. And then you see that the UMD athletic director was on the committee...

 

[Ralph Baer]

If you're looking for some chaos, look to the women's bracket. The easiest thing for the committee should be evaluating teams within a conference. Yet nobody seems to know why UMD was picked and Minnesota was left out. And then you see that the UMD athletic director was on the committee...

Thankfully, the reintroduction of the "smoke-filled room" this year is only for one year.