Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I vote for 3 or 1.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

First of all, Awesome concept and thread (as usual) FS23. Can't wait to see a program take on itself down the road.

I think #1 or #3 is fine. Skimmed through all 6 pages today, paying more attention to some of the games where I knew the teams better. May I suggest highlighting the scoring plays, so those of us skimming through can get a better sense of the score and players on some of the teams.

I know 2 CC squads square off in the first round. That should be interesting. There are also possibilities where back to back years from the same program square off (example: '68-69 Cornell could play '69-70 Cornell).

When you say "highlighting the scoring plays", do you mean more description, or like putting the text in bold?

Also, thanks to everyone for the feedback. It seems like everyone likes how it is done for the most part, so unless there is an outcry for one of the other options, that is probably how it will continue to be done.

 

[aparch]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

FS23, is your simulation program easy to use? Wondering if there is any way to use it over in the WCHA 3 thread to simulate the current season's "What-if" New WCHA playoffs.

And I'm thoroughly enjoying your work in preparing this top 100 tourney. What a wonderful event!

 

[Siouxfaninseattle]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I would vote for option 1. I also would be available to help with the write-ups, but having 2 Sioux fans doing the narrative might make some posters heads asplode!

 

[Zim]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I know 2 CC squads square off in the first round. That should be interesting. There are also possibilities where back to back years from the same program square off (example: '68-69 Cornell could play '69-70 Cornell).

When you say "highlighting the scoring plays", do you mean more description, or like putting the text in bold?

Bolding would be great

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Bolding would be great

Gotcha. I'll do my best to remember to do that going forward.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

FS23, is your simulation program easy to use? Wondering if there is any way to use it over in the WCHA 3 thread to simulate the current season's "What-if" New WCHA playoffs.

And I'm thoroughly enjoying your work in preparing this top 100 tourney. What a wonderful event!

Yeah, the "Predictor" was used by CHW to predict games early on in the season, and it could easily be used to predict a "What-If" Tournament (In fact, it was first used last year by CHW for their "What If" Tournament that featured all 58 teams...and it correctly predicted a BC National Championship). FWIW, early in the season, it was only getting games correct around 60% of the time. That being said, when I used it in early February, it was getting games correct around 70-75% of the time. If you'd like, I could run the teams through and send you the box scores. Just let me know what teams are playing what teams, and I'll do my best to get the information back to you ASAP.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Yeah, the "Predictor" was used by CHW to predict games early on in the season, and it could easily be used to predict a "What-If" Tournament (In fact, it was first used last year by CHW for their "What If" Tournament that featured all 58 teams...and it correctly predicted a BC National Championship). FWIW, early in the season, it was only getting games correct around 60% of the time. That being said, when I used it in early February, it was getting games correct around 70-75% of the time. If you'd like, I could run the teams through and send you the box scores. Just let me know what teams are playing what teams, and I'll do my best to get the information back to you ASAP.

Well maybe we could start by simulating the rest of the nWCHA regular season

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I vote for #1 or #3

I vote for bolding the scoring plays as well.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I thought I would post the order of games for the First Round. I generally will be able to do 1 game each Wednesday, 1 game each Friday, and 1 game on the weekend. However, there may be times (during my spring break for example) where I will be able to do 1 (or more) game each day. There may also be times (during my final period for example) where there will not be a game played for a stretch of time (although I'll still try to do at least 1/week). That being said, here will be the order of the remaining (30) First Round games...

#35 - 1988-1989 Harvard vs. #94 - 2006-2007 Boston College
#61 - 2003-2004 Maine vs. #68 - 1978-1979 Bowling Green
#41 - 1956-1957 Colorado College vs. #88 - 1968-1969 Denver
#50 - 1982-1983 Minnesota vs. #79 - 1971-1972 Boston University
#59 - 1987-1988 Maine vs. #70 - 1963-1964 Michigan
#44 - 2000-2001 North Dakota vs. #85 - 1952-1953 Minnesota
#40 - 1984-1985 Minnesota Duluth vs. #89 - 1995-1996 Colorado College
#55 - 2002-2003 Cornell vs. #74 - 2009-2010 Miami
#46 - 1996-1997 Michigan vs. #83 - 1978-1979 North Dakota
#53 - 1981-1982 Wisconsin vs. #76 - 1964-1965 Michigan Tech
#56 - 1990-1991 LSSU vs. #73 - 2005-2006 Boston University
#47 - 1998-1999 New Hampshire vs. #82 - 2002-2003 Minnesota
#30 - 1988-1989 Michigan State vs. #99 - 1975-1976 Michigan Tech
#45 - 1983-1984 Bowling Green vs. #84 - 1999-2000 Wisconsin
#32 - 1948-1949 Boston College vs. #97 - 1953-1954 Minnesota
#31 - 1996-1997 North Dakota vs. #98 - 1995-1996 Boston University
#38 - 2002-2003 Colorado College vs. #91 - 2007-2008 Colorado College
#52 - 1979-1980 Northern Michigan vs. #77 - 2001-2002 Minnesota
#48 - 1991-1992 LSSU vs. #81 - 1985-1986 Michigan State
#34 - 1993-1994 Boston University vs. #95 - 1965-1966 Clarkson
#51 - 1998-1999 North Dakota vs. #78 - 1991-1992 Michigan
#29 - 1959-1960 Denver vs. #100 - 2002-2003 New Hampshire
#49 - 1987-1988 LSSU vs. #80 - 2001-2002 Denver
#39 - 1994-1995 Maine vs. #90 - 1998-1999 Michigan State
#42 - 2005-2006 Wisconsin vs. #87 - 1989-1990 Michigan State
#54 - 1984-1985 Michigan State vs. #75 - 1978-1979 Minnesota
#43 - 1982-1983 Wisconsin vs. #86 - 1974-1975 Michigan Tech
#33 - 1967-1968 Cornell vs. #96 - 1972-1973 Denver
#37 - 1993-1994 Michigan vs. #92 - 2000-2001 SCSU
#36 - 1989-1990 Wisconsin vs. #93 - 1973-1974 Michigan Tech

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I thought I would post the order of games for the First Round. I generally will be able to do 1 game each Wednesday, 1 game each Friday, and 1 game on the weekend. However, there may be times (during my spring break for example) where I will be able to do 1 (or more) game each day. There may also be times (during my final period for example) where there will not be a game played for a stretch of time (although I'll still try to do at least 1/week). That being said, here will be the order of the remaining (30) First Round games...

#35 - 1988-1989 Harvard vs. #94 - 2006-2007 Boston College
#61 - 2003-2004 Maine vs. #68 - 1978-1979 Bowling Green
#41 - 1956-1957 Colorado College vs. #88 - 1968-1969 Denver
#50 - 1982-1983 Minnesota vs. #79 - 1971-1972 Boston University
#59 - 1987-1988 Maine vs. #70 - 1963-1964 Michigan
#44 - 2000-2001 North Dakota vs. #85 - 1952-1953 Minnesota
#40 - 1984-1985 Minnesota Duluth vs. #89 - 1995-1996 Colorado College
#55 - 2002-2003 Cornell vs. #74 - 2009-2010 Miami
#46 - 1996-1997 Michigan vs. #83 - 1978-1979 North Dakota
#53 - 1981-1982 Wisconsin vs. #76 - 1964-1965 Michigan Tech
#56 - 1990-1991 LSSU vs. #73 - 2005-2006 Boston University
#47 - 1998-1999 New Hampshire vs. #82 - 2002-2003 Minnesota
#30 - 1988-1989 Michigan State vs. #89 - 1975-1976 Michigan Tech
#45 - 1983-1984 Bowling Green vs. #84 - 1999-2000 Wisconsin
#52 - 1948-1949 Boston College vs. #97 - 1953-1954 Minnesota
#31 - 1996-1997 North Dakota vs. #98 - 1995-1996 Boston University
#38 - 2002-2003 Colorado College vs. #91 - 2007-2008 Colorado College
#52 - 1979-1980 Northern Michigan vs. #77 - 2001-2002 Minnesota
#48 - 1991-1992 LSSU vs. #81 - 1985-1986 Michigan State
#34 - 1993-1994 Boston University vs. #95 - 1965-1966 Clarkson
#51 - 1998-1999 North Dakota vs. #78 - 1991-1992 Michigan
#29 - 1959-1960 Denver vs. #100 - 2002-2003 New Hampshire
#49 - 1987-1988 LSSU vs. #80 - 2001-2002 Denver
#39 - 1994-1995 Maine vs. #90 - 1998-1999 Michigan State
#42 - 2005-2006 Wisconsin vs. #87 - 1989-1990 Michigan State
#54 - 1984-1985 Michigan State vs. #75 - 1978-1979 Minnesota
#43 - 1982-1983 Wisconsin vs. #86 - 1975-1976 Michigan Tech
#36 - 1989-1990 Wisconsin vs. #93 - 1973-1974 Michigan Tech
#33 - 1967-1968 Cornell vs. #96 - 1972-1973 Denver
#37 - 1993-1994 Michigan vs. #92 - 2000-2001 SCSU

So Which MTU team is #86 and which is #89? you have both listed as the 1975-76 team, I assume one is the 1974-75 team.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

I lean towards #1 as I appreciate the quality of your write-ups. Worth the wait from my point of view. Admittedly, I don't read all the detail in every game, but do if I know one of the teams.

Exactly this from me, except I have a clear vote for #1, not just a "leaning."

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

So Which MTU team is #86 and which is #89? you have both listed as the 1975-76 team, I assume one is the 1974-75 team.

#86 = 1974-1975
#99 = 1975-1976

Also, what were the odds that 3 of Michigan Tech's teams would meet up with 3 of Wisconsin's teams! Combine that with the order coming out with two of those 3 matchups back to back. I just used a random generator to pick the order of the games. I may have to move one of those Wisconsin-Tech matchups so we don't have back to back games with the same two teams. If I do, I'll update my original post and note it in the thread.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

There may also be times (during my final period for example)...

Menopause? Already?

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

For those that plan on following (and feel free to comment while the game is going on), the 1988-1989 Harvard (#35) vs. 2006-2007 Boston College (#94) has a puck drop of 12:05pm Central (1:05pm Eastern) from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

For those that plan on following (and feel free to comment while the game is going on), the 1988-1989 Harvard (#35) vs. 2006-2007 Boston College (#94) has a puck drop of 12:05pm Central (1:05pm Eastern) from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

I better hurry up and get downtown or I'll miss the tailgate! Sidenote, I'm sure I asked this back when you made your list but the 1974-1976 stretch fascinates me. How exactly did all three MTU teams make the top 100 but none of the Minnesota teams did?

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Tech was better at beating the better teams, and they also had higher winning margins in general. Also, Tech won the MacNaughton 2 of those three years, along with winning the Broadmoor each of those three years (along with Minnesota) and they had a higher winning %. IMO, the '74 and especially '76 Tech teams were better throughout the season than their Minnesota counterparts, but the Gophers had Brooks behind the bench who knew how to win come March.

The 1974-1975 Minnesota squad came very close (#110) to making the top 100, but narrowly missed out. Not surprisingly, that was also the only Gopher squad of those three to win the MacNaughton, and they had the highest winning % of that three year period by about 10-15%. Of course, I'm sure Michigan Tech fans would happily trade their three top 100 teams and 1 title for Minnesota's zero top 100 teams and 2 titles.

No hurry up and get down there for the tailgate!

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

Menopause? Already?

It's a ***** getting old.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

#35 - 1988-1989 Harvard Crimson vs. #94 - 2006-2007 Boston College Eagles
March 6, 2013
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

Game Update Post but feel free to chime in during the game

Starting Goalies:
Harvard - Allain Roy
Boston College - Cory Schneider

A raucous crowd of nearly 20k is already packed into the X today. Standing Room Only is even sold out. This was one tough ticket to get! The teams are just about ready to come out for warmups. There was a little question mark as to who Coach Cleary would start in net tonight, but he's going with Roy. Coach York had a much easier decision, giving the nod to Schneider. The bands are in place, the students are revved up, the Alumni are talking trash, and there are no audible 'r' sounds in the building. This one should be a dandy!

Teams are out on the ice for warmups! Harvard wearing white, while Boston College is sporting their away maroon jerseys.

Just got word that Jeff Healey was set to perform the national anthem, but has come down with laryngitis after getting lost trying to find the entrance to the X. Don't worry though, we've got a stellar replacement band coming in to sing.

Teams back out on the ice after warmups, and introductions are about to get underway.

Tension is filling the arena right now, as introductions finish up.

National Anthem is coming up, and who is that coming out to sing? No!!! It Couldn't Be!!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, singing today's national anthem is the superstar band SHERIFF!!

Baaaabbbbyyyyy WOW! What a performance. Crowd is up on their feet, and the puck is set to drop here any minute!

1st Period:
- Puck has been dropped, and game is underway. Harvard going right to left!
- C.J. Young rips one high. First shift, and Harvard has jumped on BC. Peter Ciavaglia comes in along the far boards, and circles down below the goal, and finds Young streaking into the slot, but Young's shot goes high.
- Kevan Melrose lays out Joe Rooney in the neutral zone! Rooney attempting to dump the puck into the Crimson zone pays the price as Melrose flattens the BC forward. 18:30 left in the 1st.
- Schneider with a nice save on Tod Hartje. Hartje comes in 1x2, but moves to the high slot, and fires a wrister, that Schneider blocks away. 17:30 left in the 1st.
- BC will head to the powerplay! Ben Smith was coming through the neutral zone, dumped the puck in, again Melrose lays him out at the blue line, but this time he gets called for interference. 16:29 left in the 1st.
- Roy stones Boyle! Brian Boyle wins the draw back to Brett Motherwell, who fires a shot in that gets deflected in front, right to Boyle in the slot. He tries to go low on Roy, but Roy gets his pad down to make the save. Under 1:00 left on the powerplay
- Harvard kills the rest of the powerplay off. 14:00 left in the 1st.
- And Ciavaglia gets his stick slashed away by Boyle, and Harvard will head to the man advantage. 12:31 left in the 1st
- BC kills the powerplay with a masterful PK...didn't give Harvard much of anything. Just over 10:00 to go in the 1st.
- Pat Gannon hits the post!! Gannon gets free along the near circle, and fires a wrister that beats Roy glove side, but rights off the crossbar. 9:15 left in the 1st.
- Lane MacDonald making his presence known, as he gets a feed from Ciavaglia, circles around the net, comes out below the near circle, and tries to go high, but Schneider gets a piece of it with his shoulder. Still 0-0 with 7:00 left in the 1st.
- What a save by Schneider! Mike Vukonich gets a beautiful feed from Josh Caplan to send Vukonich in on a clean break. Vukonich goes forehand to backhand back to forehand and tries to tuck the puck in, but Schneider gets his leg over just in time to keep this one tied. 5:30 left in the 1st.
- Crimson heading back to the powerplay, as Mike Brennan gets called for holding as Harvard was cycling the puck. 4:12 left in the 1st.
- Allen Bourbeau pushes his tap-in just wide! Bourbeau gets a feed at the far post from Ted Donato, and Bourbeau has a wide open net, but his one-timer goes just wide.
- And now we'll skate 4x4 as Bourbeau gets called for tripping.
- Neither side willing to open it up at this point, and Brennan now out of the box, and BC will have a short powerplay. Just over 2:00 left in the 1st.
- Bourbeau is out of the box, and a long feed from Melrose nearly connects that would have sent Bourbeau on a break, but it just misses Bourbeau's stick. Under 1:00 left in the 1st.
- That's the end of the First Period! Game still scoreless.
- Shots on Goal: Harvard - 12, Boston College - 10

2nd Period:
- Puck has dropped and we're underway in the second!
- Lane MacDonald Scores!!! BC wins the faceoff, but MacDonald steals the puck from Motherwell, and takes the puck to the far circle where he lets a wrister fly, and it beats Schneider 5-hole. Just 9 seconds into the 2nd! 1-0 Crimson
- Peter Ciavaglia Scores!! Harvard gets the puck down in the BC zone, and MacDonald wins a battle along the boards for the puck, and fires another shot on Schneider that gets deflected to Ciavaglia at the near post, who taps it in to give Harvard a 2-0 lead!
- Jerry York calls a timeout. BC looks stunned.
- BC has really shifted to a more defensive look here after the two Crimson goals. A lot of neutral zone action right now. 17:30 left in the 1st.
- BC starting to gain some momentum back, but nothing really to show for it thus far. 15:00 left in the 1st.
- BC draws a penalty! John Weisbrod takes down Boyle trying to come into the zone and Weisbrod will sit 2 minutes for interference. 13:37 left in the 1st.
- Brian Boyle Scores!! Boyle wins an offensive zone draw to Nathan Gerbe who fires a wrist shot on Roy, who makes the stop, but the rebound bounces out in front, and Boyle slams home the rebound to make this a 2-1 game! 12:08 left in the 1st.
- Now Harvard is swarming the Eagles. Donato with a great chance from the far circle, but Schneider makes a nice glove save. Just under 11:00 left in the 2nd.
- C.J. Young Scores!! Ciavaglia wins a draw back to MacDonald, who circles the puck behind the net, then finds Young coming in to the near post, and Young one-times a shot that trickles through Schneider, and it's 3-1 Crimson
- Both teams a little cautious with the puck right now, and neither team able to mount much of an attack. 9:00 left in the 2nd.
- Benn Ferriero Scores!! Brian Boyle brings the puck into the zone on a 3x2, dishes it over to Gerbe, who goes back to Boyle, who lays an amazing drop pass to Ferriero who rifles a mean slapshot that beats Roy glove side high. 3-2 Game...Wow! 8:01 left in the 2nd
- The back and forth continues, but this time Cory Schneider is up to the task, and makes a nice blocker save on Donato's wrister from the slot. Under 7:00 left in the 2nd.
- Harvard keeping the pressure on the Eagles, as Ed Presz nearly scores on a slapshot from the point. 6:00 left in the 2nd.
- And Harvard draws a penalty, as Young is crosschecked by Tim Filangieri in front of the Eagle net. 5:24 left in the 2nd.
- Schneider keeps the Eagles within one, after Ciavaglia finds Young all alone at the far circle, but Schneider gets the stick over just in time. Just a few seconds left on the Harvard Powerplay
- BC kills the rest of the penalty. 3:00 left in the 2nd.
- Boyle with a decent opportunity, as he wins a battle along the boards behind the Harvard net, then tries to come out, but Roy smoothers the puck. Under 2:00 left in the 2nd.
- That's the end of the 2nd. Harvard has a 3-2 lead.
- Shots on Goal in the 2nd: Harvard - 15, Boston College - 12

 

[Zim]

Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament

For those that plan on following (and feel free to comment while the game is going on), the 1988-1989 Harvard (#35) vs. 2006-2007 Boston College (#94) has a puck drop of 12:05pm Central (1:05pm Eastern) from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Harvard going back to the future to play at the X.