Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Postseason Thread
Josh Ciocco by way of C-H-C:
It is my opinion that (Scott Borek) has done an excellent job of keeping UNH stocked with talent. Since his arrival UNH has only missed the NCAA tournament 1 year. To have the talent capable of making the NCAA tournament on an annual basis is very impressive. Here are a couple things I would like to point out.
First, UNH needs tangible change. Facilities very much so play a role in the recruiting game. I think the Whit is a great rink and the best place to play college hockey in my opinion. But if you go down to BU and BC there is simply no comparing the facilities. Id really like to see UNH enhance the locker room, build a lounge (which just about every other team has one) and potentially build their own weight room (which alot of other teams have). These things DO make a difference.
Since Scott Borek has arrived there have been zero tangible changes made (in the facilities). BU built a palace 1 hour away. Merrimack renovated their entire rink/locker room. Northeastern has built a first class players only weight room and renovated the locker room. Maine has renovated their entire facility. If you think these things do not make his job MUCH more challenging than you are sadly mistaken.
I am not going to say its impossible for UNH to out recruit BU and BC, but it is MUCH more challenging now than it was 15 years ago. Facilities do make a big difference. Look no further than Miami of Ohio and how much better that program has gotten. Look no further than BU and how the program was on a serious decline before Agganis.. My Freshman year, the final season at Walter Brown Arena, BU finished 8th place.
Do you know what UNH's recruiting budget is? I wont go into details, but I will tell you that Providence College has double the budget of UNH---how much more do you think BC and BU have? I believe the state and the school need to recommit themselves to having a top notch program and make tangible changes.
* I'm not here to criticize or laud Coach Borek's recruiting abilities. I claim no expertise in this area. Others here are far more qualified to comment;
* As noted in my previous post, the results at BU really haven't changed all that much pre-Agganis and post-Agganis. Maybe if you are a player like Ciocco and focus only on your four years in the league, I can see how that might shade your perception, but in the end, it's not just about four years. In fact, BU teams of the 1990's performed better at WBA than their teams of the 1980's in a presumably less outdated version of the WBA. You can look it up;
* UMaine "has renovated their entire facility". How's that been working out for them?
* NU has "a first class players only weight room and renovated the locker room". Double ditto -- 10th place;
* "Merrimack renovated their entire rink/locker room." As well they should have ... the place was (and in someways still is) nothing more than a glorified HS arena. I'm sure it helps them avoid the "walkaway factor" (i.e. why would I want to play 4 years in this dump?) in the recruiting process. After that though, isn't it really down to a guy like Coach Dennehy and his staff getting the culture of the program changed? Ditto for Coach Bazin at UMass-Lowell??
* The comparison to Miami of Ohio makes me twitch, and for all of the wrong (but sadly well-known) reasons;
With all due respect, IF it really does come down to (1) an upgraded locker room; (2) a player's lounge; and (3) their own separate weight room, this is hardly a calamity of epic proportions. In fact, to me it all sounds pretty superficial. These are "wants" - not "needs". I mean, having a separate weight room, so the players don't have to mix with the other student-athletes ... that's going to make them want to lift more weights and do more weight-training??
Please. Just get in there and do your work, princess.
The "elephant in the room" when it comes to comparisons with BC and BU are two-fold: one, they have Boston only a trolley ride away IF your recruit is going to want to enjoy the city's nightlife. No way to change that, no matter the charms of Portsmouth. And two, there is the matter of the trophy case, tradition and national exposure. Which is why NU always finds itself stuck in neutral.
Ask yourself this question ... if you could magically switch Agganis Arena with Matthews Arena (which I love BTW) over the summer, do you really think that in 5-10 years' time, Northeastern will become the "new superpower" in HE, and BU will slide down to the bottom of the league?
Again, with all due respect, I think the whole facilities argument - at least as it applies to UNH currently - is just another excuse for underperformance. JMHO.
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