>>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Robert Morris is 26th in both Pairwise and RPI, and RPI at least will get worse after a series against the worst team in the country (destroying their SOS). Add at least one more loss onto their record and they have zero chance of making the NCAAs as an at-large team.


Powers &8^]

Agreed, as a coach it kind of makes winning the AHA Conference secondary to making sure that your team is playing their best hockey at the end of the season.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Agreed, as a coach it kind of makes winning the AHA Conference secondary to making sure that your team is playing their best hockey at the end of the season.

I didn't say that. I didn't say anything remotely resembling that.


Powers &8^]

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

I didn't say that. I didn't say anything remotely resembling that.


Powers &8^]

Didn't mean to imply that you did, sorry if you interpreted my post in that way. In my opinion, mine only, if the ultimate goal is to make it to the NCAA tournament, having your team playing its best hockey at the end of the season seems more in line with that goal than winning the league championship especially if winning the AHA Championship does not assure the victor a bid in the NCAA's. Not taking away from RMU and it's first AHA Championship. Congrats to them.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Didn't mean to imply that you did, sorry if you interpreted my post in that way. In my opinion, mine only, if the ultimate goal is to make it to the NCAA tournament, having your team playing its best hockey at the end of the season seems more in line with that goal than winning the league championship especially if winning the AHA Championship does not assure the victor a bid in the NCAA's. Not taking away from RMU and it's first AHA Championship. Congrats to them.

I can't really disagree. Though practically speaking, if your team plays well enough to be in line for an at-large bid, they're probably going to win the regular season crown regardless.


Powers &8^]

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

I'm sure RMU was pulling for HC last night. Niagara is playing well at the end of the season and should give RMU some difficulties although I think RMU at home should prevail. What has to be on RMU's mind though is if they lose a three games series at home against Niagara does that negate a bid to the NCAA's? Probably. Next weekend will be exciting for college hockey fans.

RMU has been out of auto bid contention for at least a month now. No way the NCAA gives the AHA two entries when RMU is at 26th + place in PWR.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

10 goals is hard to do with any team... I'll take a struggling Holy Cross team any day.

Be careful what you wish for. It's academic now since HC lost, but I find it difficult to say "We'd rather face team X than team Y in the next round because team X is struggling lately". Whomever you end up facing will be coming off a victory the week before, meaning they aren't exactly struggling at the moment.

After a three game series they're going to be a little drained for next week.

Really? Anyone who plays at this level should not be "drained" a full five days after completing a series, regardless how many games and overtimes they played. The minor pros do 3-in-3's many times during the season then go every other night for two weeks each series in the post season. A 3-in-3 followed by 5 days off shouldn't be tough for guys their age and fitness levels.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

RMU has been out of auto bid contention for at least a month now. No way the NCAA gives the AHA two entries when RMU is at 26th + place in PWR.

Leagues with an OOC winning percentage of around 20% don't get at large bids. When Niagara received their at large, the league winning percentage OOC was 36.5%

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

RMU has been out of auto bid contention for at least a month now. No way the NCAA gives the AHA two entries when RMU is at 26th + place in PWR.

Yes. RMU is in the same Must Win situation as everyone else still alive in the AHC playoffs.
It's a shame (and it will not likely ever change) that 1-bid conferences (in any sport) award their conference tournament champ with that bid instead of the regular season champ. RMU proved themselves to be the best over the course of an entire season, but if they suffer a single upset (series or elimination game) between now and March 21 and it was all for naught. Then the AHC will be represented at the NCAA's by a team that's not quite as good (although playing well at the moment).

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Yes. RMU is in the same Must Win situation as everyone else still alive in the AHC playoffs.
It's a shame (and it will not likely ever change) that 1-bid conferences (in any sport) award their conference tournament champ with that bid instead of the regular season champ. RMU proved themselves to be the best over the course of an entire season, but if they suffer a single upset (series or elimination game) between now and March 21 and it was all for naught. Then the AHC will be represented at the NCAA's by a team that's not quite as good (although playing well at the moment).

Isn't that the story of all American Sports though? Whoever is hot going into the playoffs is rewarded. The only reward for a good season (outside of at-large bids in other conferences) is seeding into the playoffs.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Isn't that the story of all American Sports though? Whoever is hot going into the playoffs is rewarded. The only reward for a good season (outside of at-large bids in other conferences) is seeding into the playoffs.

So very true. On the flip side though you can take a look at the Lady Tigers who finished last in a six team league and wound up winning their Championship and an auto bid to the NCAA's. The Purple Eagles could do the same thing as crazy as that sounds. I don't know who said it or if it is attributed to 'anonymous', but that is why 'you still have to play the game'. Great weekend of college hockey coming up. Go Tigers!

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Yes. RMU is in the same Must Win situation as everyone else still alive in the AHC playoffs.
It's a shame (and it will not likely ever change) that 1-bid conferences (in any sport) award their conference tournament champ with that bid instead of the regular season champ. RMU proved themselves to be the best over the course of an entire season, but if they suffer a single upset (series or elimination game) between now and March 21 and it was all for naught. Then the AHC will be represented at the NCAA's by a team that's not quite as good (although playing well at the moment).

Why would we want our representative in the national tournament to be a team that can't win a tournament?


Powers &8^]

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Once upon a time, for 3-4 glorious years around the turn of the last century, both the regular season and playoff champions in the Division I leagues got automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. The field consisted of 12 teams and there were four conferences, so as few as four and as many as eight autobids could be claimed. But the addition of the MAAC/Atlantic Hockey and the CHA, despite increasing the size of the field to 16, caused the end of that system, because there was no way in hell those leagues were getting the chance to have two teams each in the tournament.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Really? Anyone who plays at this level should not be "drained" a full five days after completing a series, regardless how many games and overtimes they played. The minor pros do 3-in-3's many times during the season then go every other night for two weeks each series in the post season. A 3-in-3 followed by 5 days off shouldn't be tough for guys their age and fitness levels.

I always feel the same way but it seems like people simply cannot grasp it. 5 days off is a really, really long time to recuperate from simply being tired/sore. By tomorrow I highly doubt any regular player on Niagara will feel any side effects from this past weekend. These guys are all high level athletes who have been playing hockey on frequently as possible their entire lives. They have access to good facilities and training staff. They are not going into Friday night's tilt feeling anything but amped up and ready to go.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Once upon a time, for 3-4 glorious years around the turn of the last century

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away .....

 

[blazer777]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away .....

Star Wars or Spaceballs?

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Star Wars or Spaceballs?

It's the NC$$, therefore Spaceballs.

 

[unscarred76]

Yes. RMU is in the same Must Win situation as everyone else still alive in the AHC playoffs.
It's a shame (and it will not likely ever change) that 1-bid conferences (in any sport) award their conference tournament champ with that bid instead of the regular season champ. RMU proved themselves to be the best over the course of an entire season, but if they suffer a single upset (series or elimination game) between now and March 21 and it was all for naught. Then the AHC will be represented at the NCAA's by a team that's not quite as good (although playing well at the moment).

That would make it more boring. We all would have known that RMU was getting the only bid weeks ago and the end of the season was meaningless. Kind of anticlimatic... This way all the teams still have a chance, especially those with injury issues , etc. You wint the regular season, you still get a trophy but if you want to go to the ncaa's you should be able to win the tournament too, it proves what team can bring it when it matters most. Playoffs are the most intense time and it builds to an exciting finale rather than have a team clinch weeks ahead of time.

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

That would make it more boring. We all would have known that RMU was getting the only bid weeks ago and the end of the season was meaningless. Kind of anticlimatic... This way all the teams still have a chance, especially those with injury issues , etc. You wint the regular season, you still get a trophy but if you want to go to the ncaa's you should be able to win the tournament too, it proves what team can bring it when it matters most. Playoffs are the most intense time and it builds to an exciting finale rather than have a team clinch weeks ahead of time.

Thus the debate: American soccer vs European Football. Should a title be earned by a knockout turnout or the earning of points over a long season?

 

[Rochester]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Does anyone know how sales are going for the RIT vs Air Force series?

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Isn't that the story of all American Sports though? Whoever is hot going into the playoffs is rewarded. The only reward for a good season (outside of at-large bids in other conferences) is seeding into the playoffs.

Not exactly. This system would be like ending the regular season in the NFL and having New England have to win a "tournament" between them, Buffalo, Miami, and the Jets in order to win a bid to the playoffs. The Patriots are clearly the best team in the AFC East (and have been for most of the last 15 years). They prove that by winning the most games over the course of the regular season. That, and that alone earns them a playoff bid. They don't have to go into a single elimination tournament against, and therefore rejuvenating hope for, three teams that essentially suck in comparison to earn the right to battle for the chance to win the Super Bowl.
I completely understand the excitement (and $) that the conference tournaments generate. I also get that they're not going anywhere. It's just a shame that with rare exception, the regular season is essentially meaningless (aside from seeding) in the AHC and in all the so-called "mid-majors" in basketball. Your team can have a fantastic season and really prove themselves to be the best beyond a doubt (RMU), then get upset in a single game or two (which can happen at any time, btw) by a team that proved themselves to be not of championship caliber and the season is over.
As much as I think it's great that the RIT women are in the NCAA's and NU fans would be excited for the Eagles to get a chance to do the same, it's really just not right that teams that bad can move on over clearly superior teams that either had one bad game or two, or ran into a hot goaltender, or whatever. It's not a matter of Mercyhurst or Syracuse being "not able to" win a tournament as it is about that they didn't win this one. Does anyone think that aside from a miraculous performance by Binnington the Lady Tigers have any chance of upending Minnesota next weekend? At least Mercyhurst or SU proved over the course of the long season that they are more likely to put up a fight against the Lady Gophers.
In most conferences, none of this matters because the best teams are going to win at-large berths anyhow. But in "mid-majors", that's not the case.
Back in the day, the Big-10, PAC-10, and Ivy Leagues used the regular season to award their auto-bids in basketball. And way back when, there were no at-large bids to the NCAA's. That's just the way it went. If you were the best, you moved on, period. Obviously, both the B1G and the PAC-10 have submitted to the moneymaking benefits of having a tournament and will never go back. And we all know it's not about anything but the money, period. It has nothing to do with fan interest or giving everyone a chance. It's all about revenue. So for a few extra bucks, there is the chance that a 5 win, 59th ranked team in the regular season could make it to the tournament of 16. Really? Yeah, that's fair to all the teams that won games this year.