UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

UNH remains #1, but after that debacle, Cornell moves up to #13 and Maine up to #15, with Princeton dropping down to a tie for #56 (in SOS). Amazingly, UNH remains at #20 in RPI.

Anyone else see Redford in the recent film "All Is Lost"?

Boy, those rafters at the Whitt are going to get crowded. Banners for the top SOS will have to compete for space with the all important jumbotron.

 

[Ryan422]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Going into Florida tournament, UNH is ranked #1 in Div 1, with Cornell at #18, Maine at #22, and Princeton way back at #43. I like our chances.

I'm not trying to be negative, but who cares about the SOS? Yeah it shows UNH has had a tough schedule but they also haven't beaten any of those real good teams yet (You need to beat good teams to win a championship). SOS plays into the formula for the RPI/pairwise but it doesn't matter at this point. At this rate they'll be ranked number 1 at the end of the season but won't even make the tournament. The team, Umile, and whoever else can say they're okay with losses because they're putting in a 'good performance' or 'good effort' but you can only keep saying that for so long because that doesn't get you into the tournament. And I'm sure they're really not okay with the losses (at least I hope not) but.... Go Win a Hockey Game! and preferably against a good team.....
Sheesh. This second half could get painful.....

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

I'm not trying to be negative, but who cares about the SOS? Yeah it shows UNH has had a tough schedule but they also haven't beaten any of those real good teams yet (You need to beat good teams to win a championship). SOS plays into the formula for the RPI/pairwise but it doesn't matter at this point. At this rate they'll be ranked number 1 at the end of the season but won't even make the tournament. The team, Umile, and whoever else can say they're okay with losses because they're putting in a 'good performance' or 'good effort' but you can only keep saying that for so long because that doesn't get you into the tournament. And I'm sure they're really not okay with the losses (at least I hope not) but.... Go Win a Hockey Game! and preferably against a good team.....
Sheesh. This second half could get painful.....

Don't worry, Ryan. They'll clobber Princeton today, pad some personal stats all around, and be back to the Mediocrity Line (.500). All the powers that be will be fat and happy (probably working on their tans). Just another "blue skies" day in the life at Complacency U.

 

[Scott]

Don't worry, Ryan. They'll clobber Princeton today, pad some personal stats all around, and be back to the Mediocrity Line (.500). All the powers that be will be fat and happy (probably working on their tans). Just another "blue skies" day in the life at Complacency U.

A 3-2 win today, but they had to do it by coming from behind.

They are rioting in the streets at Complacency U with the win!!

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

I'm not trying to be negative, but who cares about the SOS? Yeah it shows UNH has had a tough schedule but they also haven't beaten any of those real good teams yet (You need to beat good teams to win a championship). SOS plays into the formula for the RPI/pairwise but it doesn't matter at this point. At this rate they'll be ranked number 1 at the end of the season but won't even make the tournament. The team, Umile, and whoever else can say they're okay with losses because they're putting in a 'good performance' or 'good effort' but you can only keep saying that for so long because that doesn't get you into the tournament. And I'm sure they're really not okay with the losses (at least I hope not) but.... Go Win a Hockey Game! and preferably against a good team.....
Sheesh. This second half could get painful.....

I care about SOS, and SOG, as those are about all we have this season.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Admitting that quoting one's own previous post may be a disturbing sign of megalomania, but proceeding forward nevertheless ...

I'd personally really like to see this team break character and come out quickly with a pair of wins this weekend, and parlaying that into what hopefully would be 5-6 wins during this initial 7 game non-conference stretch. Is this realistic? Is the team experienced enough to play consistently well enough to move from being the mediocre .500 team they currently are, and forge a bona fide identity as a legit contender for HE honors and an NCAA berth? Or will there be more inconsistent play, with the team hovering at or around .500 and leaving themselves with the "OK we'll just have to win the HE Tourney" route to the real postseason that's never quite panned out?

Well ... the early returns from this past weekend are not exactly breaking past form (i.e. loss coming out of the winter break) OR even current form (i.e. valiantly grappling to maintain a .500 record). But with 5 non-conference games to follow - all of which are home OR virtual home games, the target should still be to emerge from this stretch with 5-6 wins. Two home games next weekend against a Nebraska-Omaha team also hovering in the mediocrity zone, but having lost and tied to a CC team that UNH swept on the road back in November, should give UNH a realistic shot at a weekend sweep. Dartmouth the following weekend, struggling this season, offers a realistic and attainable goal of 3 straight wins. Then comes Union for another pair at The Whitt, and if perhaps a split that weekend might be akin to the split the 'Cats achieved on the road a few weeks ago against Providence, it's not a ridiculous expectation from a team that supposedly has post-season aspirations.

The time for futzing around is over. It's time to start stringing together some wins, or else Plan B is likely going to have to be to win the HE Tourney outright from a non home-ice position, and that's ultimately a one-way ticket to Mediocrity-Land. Your choice, gentlemen.

 

[The Zlax45]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Admitting that quoting one's own previous post may be a disturbing sign of megalomania, but proceeding forward nevertheless ...



Well ... the early returns from this past weekend are not exactly breaking past form (i.e. loss coming out of the winter break) OR even current form (i.e. valiantly grappling to maintain a .500 record). But with 5 non-conference games to follow - all of which are home OR virtual home games, the target should still be to emerge from this stretch with 5-6 wins. Two home games next weekend against a Nebraska-Omaha team also hovering in the mediocrity zone, but having lost and tied to a CC team that UNH swept on the road back in November, should give UNH a realistic shot at a weekend sweep. Dartmouth the following weekend, struggling this season, offers a realistic and attainable goal of 3 straight wins. Then comes Union for another pair at The Whitt, and if perhaps a split that weekend might be akin to the split the 'Cats achieved on the road a few weeks ago against Providence, it's not a ridiculous expectation from a team that supposedly has post-season aspirations.

The time for futzing around is over. It's time to start stringing together some wins, or else Plan B is likely going to have to be to win the HE Tourney outright from a non home-ice position, and that's ultimately a one-way ticket to Mediocrity-Land. Your choice, gentlemen.

It is likely that Lowell, Notre Dame, and Maine all jump past UNH in the Hockey East standings with games in hand.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Admitting that quoting one's own previous post may be a disturbing sign of megalomania, but proceeding forward nevertheless ...



Well ... the early returns from this past weekend are not exactly breaking past form (i.e. loss coming out of the winter break) OR even current form (i.e. valiantly grappling to maintain a .500 record). But with 5 non-conference games to follow - all of which are home OR virtual home games, the target should still be to emerge from this stretch with 5-6 wins. Two home games next weekend against a Nebraska-Omaha team also hovering in the mediocrity zone, but having lost and tied to a CC team that UNH swept on the road back in November, should give UNH a realistic shot at a weekend sweep. Dartmouth the following weekend, struggling this season, offers a realistic and attainable goal of 3 straight wins. Then comes Union for another pair at The Whitt, and if perhaps a split that weekend might be akin to the split the 'Cats achieved on the road a few weeks ago against Providence, it's not a ridiculous expectation from a team that supposedly has post-season aspirations.

The time for futzing around is over. It's time to start stringing together some wins, or else Plan B is likely going to have to be to win the HE Tourney outright from a non home-ice position, and that's ultimately a one-way ticket to Mediocrity-Land. Your choice, gentlemen.

If we keep pummeling opposing goaltenders with 46 SOG per game, we are bound to score a few goals, eh?

In Florida, UNH won the SOG contest with 92, followed by Maine with 69, Cornell with 60, and Princeton with 55.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

The time for futzing around is over. It's time to start stringing together some wins, or else Plan B is likely going to have to be to win the HE Tourney outright from a non home-ice position, and that's ultimately a one-way ticket to Mediocrity-Land. Your choice, gentlemen.

Well, they'd better hurry because time is running out on their careers. This season will be the zenith before UNH begins rebuiliding.
The first 9 scorers are seniors/juniors (6 seniors, 3 juniors, one of which will go pro after the season). Only two freshman are playing.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Well, they'd better hurry because time is running out on their careers. This season will be the zenith before UNH begins rebuiliding.
The first 9 scorers are seniors/juniors (6 seniors, 3 juniors, one of which will go pro after the season). Only two freshman are playing.

Watcher, are you referring to Brett Pesce (as to who will go pro). Knodel?

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Watcher, are you referring to Brett Pesce?

I assumed he meant TVR.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

If we keep pummeling opposing goaltenders with 46 SOG per game, we are bound to score a few goals, eh?

In Florida, UNH won the SOG contest with 92, followed by Maine with 69, Cornell with 60, and Princeton with 55.

Say it ain't so

If anything is evident from this weekend it's that Iles stood on his head.

I actually think yesterday's win was huge. Princeton was probably playing desperate. UNH came home with a win making the long trip back better. I'm ok with where they are at as long as they start to string some wins together quick, as Chuck has mentioned. I like their chances this weekend.

 

[ExHockeyguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Maybe we'll get lucky and Umilie will grab a kid on the bench and chew him out. Then Scarano will have to let him go and UNH begins a new era of disappointment.

 

[C-H-C]

Freshman defenseman Dylan Maller, who missed the first semester due to a family tragedy, played a regular shift throughout the Princeton game. It was Maller's first NCAA game.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Freshman defenseman Dylan Maller, who missed the first semester with an injury, played a regular shift throughout the Princeton game. It was Maller's first NCAA game.

From what I know about hockey I think he played a good game. I liked the fact that other players got in that game and did a respectable job. And like ecat...I like where we are at and there's no question that Isles played out of his mind (in both games; kudos to him). Anyways...time will tell. Looking forward to the first trip to Lake Whittemore this weekend for the Friday night game.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Freshman defenseman Dylan Maller, who missed the first semester with an injury, played a regular shift throughout the Princeton game. It was Maller's first NCAA game.

ps C-H-C do you have something on your blog about Dylan? I could look; just being lazzzyyy!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Well, they'd better hurry because time is running out on their careers. This season will be the zenith before UNH begins rebuiliding.
The first 9 scorers are seniors/juniors (6 seniors, 3 juniors, one of which will go pro after the season). Only two freshman are playing.

Agreed 110%. IF there is any leadership on this team - seniors or otherwise - then any time now would be a good time to start showing it. A split with UNO this coming weekend simply cannot be seen as "good enough" - with all due respect to the Mavs.

If this turns out to be another season where the highlights have already happened in November - especially considering the home-heavy schedule the rest of the way in 2014 - that's going to be quite an indictment on the program. Again. Time to play with urgency, gents.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Agreed 110%. IF there is any leadership on this team - seniors or otherwise - then any time now would be a good time to start showing it. A split with UNO this coming weekend simply cannot be seen as "good enough" - with all due respect to the Mavs.

If this turns out to be another season where the highlights have already happened in November - especially considering the home-heavy schedule the rest of the way in 2014 - that's going to be quite an indictment on the program. Again. Time to play with urgency, gents.

I would be overjoyed if we can come away with a split this coming weekend. Despite losing their opener to Bentley 6-4 in Omaha (the Mavs did not play great the next night either in their 4-2 win (eng) over Bentley), they have since swept Miami (two good wins at home) and DU (two 3-2 OT wins at mile-high Denver), and split with Nodak and Michigan at home and Northern Michigan and CC on the road, and lost two close games at home against Cornell. The big ice at Lake Whitt does not scare visiting teams any longer; those days are long gone.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

I would be overjoyed if we can come away with a split this coming weekend. Despite losing their opener to Bentley 6-4 in Omaha (the Mavs did not play great the next night either in their 4-2 win (eng) over Bentley), they have since swept Miami (two good wins at home) and DU (two 3-2 OT wins at mile-high Denver), and split with Nodak and Michigan at home and Northern Michigan and CC on the road, and lost two close games at home against Cornell. The big ice at Lake Whitt does not scare visiting teams any longer; those days are long gone.

How far has UNH fallen ... to the point where its fanbase would be "overjoyed" at the prospect of splitting a two-games-at-home series against another mediocre .500 team that's apparently struggled to split a similar two-games-at-home series against mightly Bentley.

I'm not sure if D-1 athletes ever get "scared" by anything, other than the prospect of having their scholarships revoked ... but if there isn't a home ice advantage in Durham anymore, I'd suggest it has more to do with the relative quality of the UNH program now vs. then as opposed to the dimensions of the surface, or even the number of fannies up in the seats.

 

[Goldie]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread

Chuck Murray- you are the most negative person on any of these boards. Bar None. You are a first ballot Hall of Famer when it comes to *****ing & moaning about these young men and this program. Have u ever met any of them? Why do you even follow this team? Not everything is perfect in this world. I do know that all of the staff and players go out each and everyday and work their asses off to improve their craft to bring credit to their school. What exactly is your attachment to this team/UNH? What year did you graduate? 19 oh what? Did you kid get cut? Dick Umile cut you off at a red light? Please tell us what world you have conquered? How many Championship trophies on your mantle?