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Pre-Season Predictions

Re: Pre-Season Predictions

JDUBBS1280 said:
Enough about BC. Are there any other thoughts on my rankings?
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I would say that given your top 5 (and only teams listed) are all from the west, you're probably off some. If you intended to only rank the top 5 western conference teams, I expect each of the teams you listed to be in the mix for the tournament and top seeds.
 
SJHovey said:
I would say that given your top 5 (and only teams listed) are all from the west, you're probably off some. If you intended to only rank the top 5 western conference teams, I expect each of the teams you listed to be in the mix for the tournament and top seeds.
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Ah, good catch. I will have to consider that when I put together my Top 16. Thanks!
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

I'd really like to see UNH come out of nowhere and do well. I say that because I live in New Hampshire, even though my 'adopted team' is BC because my Dad was a double Eagle. But I agree: "Enough about me; Let's talk about you."

UNH is gathering momentum with a reputation they'd like to shake: An underachieving team that does NOT play its best at the end when it counts.

It would be nice to see the Wildcats just shock everyone and run the table.
 
Chris_NH said:
I'd really like to see UNH come out of nowhere and do well. I say that because I live in New Hampshire, even though my 'adopted team' is BC because my Dad was a double Eagle. But I agree: "Enough about me; Let's talk about you."

UNH is gathering momentum with a reputation they'd like to shake: An underachieving team that does NOT play its best at the end when it counts.

It would be nice to see the Wildcats just shock everyone and run the table.
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UNH is my second favorite team, so I'd like to see that as well :)
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

JDUBBS1280 said:
No disrespect, because I have a lot of respect for what BC has done since the late 90's, but BC has not been a clear favorite (and in some years even a favorite at all) in every year since the late 90's. This should be one of those years in my opinion.
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Sprinkled in there are years they WERE a favorite and lost (v. Michigan once; Michigan State another time, and most recently when they laid an egg versus Colorado College).
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

UMICH said:
Just wanna throw an idea out there, how about Michigan for National Champion? It's pretty much guaranteed that they'll make the tourny. It's been what, 22 consecutive times? Yea, we're breaking in a new goalie but heck, we had a walk-on the past couple of years and we still made the National Championship game. We've got an awesome class coming in, assuming they all do actually go to Michigan instead of the OHL. Michigan traditionally has younger players, and and will be 15 years since out last title. It's time. I'm not calling it but this is the final season of the CCHA before it dissolves and both Western Michigan and Ferris State are playing very well right now. That will make Michigan better in the long run.

Thoughts?
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I think Michigan should be a very solid team this year. I think they'll have a year similar to last year. They should compete for the CCHA Regular Season and Tournament Titles, and make the NCAA tournament. Once there, anything can happen. I think they are in the next tier after the top 4, largely due to lacking experience throughout the lineup. That being said, Red usually has the Wolverines playing very good hockey at the end of the season, and I wouldn't be surprised if they made a trip to the Frozen Four if they got the right group in the Regional (read: No BC or Western).

One thing I will add, is that I don't think the CCHA will be as deep as they were last year. The power at the top half of the conference should be there, which will help, but I don't see the bottom half of the conference being as strong as last season.
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

altazo said:
I didn't say A premier program, I said THE premier program.

One program that I expect to have less success than last season would be Minnesota. No doubt last season was kinda a fluke. They would be an example of a "good" or "decent" program.
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This should make someones(not pointing fingers) head explode...
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

Chris_NH said:
Sprinkled in there are years they WERE a favorite and lost (v. Michigan once; Michigan State another time, and most recently when they laid an egg versus Colorado College).
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I guess it depends on what you consider to be a "favorite?" Is it just that they were a #1 seed? BC has done that 6 times since 1998 (15 seasons), or 40% of the time. Do they have to be the #1 overall seed? They were the #1 overall seed this past year, but haven't been the #1 overall since 2005 (the only other time since 1998). That equates to just 13.33% of the time where the Eagles were the top overall seed.

Looking at just the preseason polls (which are probably more relevant to this discussion) let's look at the past 15 years (USCHO Poll)...

BC's Preseason Rank
1997-1998: NR (T-14th w/6 votes)
1998-1999: #1
1999-2000: #1
2000-2001: #4 (3 first place votes)
2001-2002: #11
2002-2003: #9
2003-2004: #3 (2 first place votes)
2004-2005: #3 (2 first place votes)
2005-2006: #3 (2 first place votes)
2006-2007: T-#1 (10 first place votes)
2007-2008: #2 (3 first place votes)
2008-2009: #1
2009-2010: #12
2010-2011: #1
2011-2012: #5 (2 first place votes)

In the last 15 seasons, BC was a top 5 choice 11 of the 15 seasons. They were the #1 choice 5 times, and received first place votes 11 times.

Once again, it all comes down to how you define "favorite." Preseason, I would include at least the top 5 (so BC = favorite ~73.33% of the time). In the NCAA Tournament, I would include the #1 seeds as the favorites (BC = favorite 40% of the time). If you look at seasons where BC was a favorite preseason, and then again NCAA tourney time, that brings up a total of 5 times, or 1/3 of the time.

FWIW, I think it is certainly arguable to consider any preseason top 10, and any 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament as a "favorite." Under this criteria, BC was a favorite in both the preseason poll and in the NCAA Tournament 2/3 of the time.
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

walrus said:
I'll believe its somebody else when I see it. I take it you're a Minnie fan. I can see them also but Jerry York is a god and everyone else is a mere mortal. Quite awhile started in the late 90s, while they haven't won it every year they certainly have been in it most every year since then. BC is by far the best program in D1 hockey
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Wow, we've found the one person who has not heard of the legend of Dubbs. :D :D
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

To get things back on track, so far only FS23 and I have submitted their pre-season predictions. Anyone else care to share theirs?
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

JDUBBS1280 said:
So, I was flying home on the corporate jet last night, drinking an apple martini and listening to my favorite Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's album, and it got me thinking. Who are the preseason favorites to win it all?

Here are my Top 5 teams:

1. Minnesota - They return the most scoring and they should have the best defensive group in college hockey. Giant favorite to win it all and continue to cement their spot as the greatest program in the history of college hockey.

2. North Dakota - Assuming Danny Kristo doesn't lose anymore toes, and Rocco doesn't fake anymore "injuries" because he can't handle the pressure of college hockey, this should be a very high scoring team. Defensively they are solid, but not intimidating. While I don't think Schmalz will live up to the hype, he should be a staple in the Flickertails back end for years.

3. Michigan - Great recruiting class coming in. Trouba is going to be an absolute stud muffin. Hopefully he hangs around more than a year. Very excited to see what Nieves can do at this level. They should be a very balanced team and are always very well coached.

4. Notre Dame - Anders Lee had somewhat of a sophomore slump (by his standards), but should bounce back and have a stellar junior season. Love the talent they have coming in. Mario Lucia is going to be a star, and Steven Fogarty has game. This Minnesota-import team is poised to contend for their first title.

5. Western Michigan - Last year wasn't a fluke. Andy Murray is an excellent coach and he has amassed a great group of talent. Look for Balisy and Berschbach to have big years offensively and DeKyser and Witkowski to keep WMU one of the most solid teams defensively.

Should be a great season!
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Huge Western bias. It's one of the 3 million reasons no one takes you seriously with anything you post.

BC is number one to start the season and they're the champs until someone knocks them out of the NCAA's, either by preventing their appearance or beating them in the tournament. Everyone else is irrelevant until some games are played.

So, my preseason rankings are:

1. BC
 
ScoobyDoo said:
Huge Western bias. It's one of the 3 million reasons no one takes you seriously with anything you post.

BC is number one to start the season and they're the champs until someone knocks them out of the NCAA's, either by preventing their appearance or beating them in the tournament. Everyone else is irrelevant until some games are played.

So, my preseason rankings are:

1. BC
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Funny, because a lit of people didn't have UMD as the preseason #1 after they won their championship.

I do not subscribe to the philosophy that last year's #1 should automatically be this year's preseason #1.

And your rankings are incomplete. Who do you have at 2-5?
 
Re: Pre-Season Predictions

Just off the top of my head

1. Minnesota
2. Boston College
3. Western Michigan
4. North Dakota
5. Cornell

6. Michigan
7. Wisconsin
8. Union
9. Notre Dame
10. U-Mass
 
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