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WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

MavHockey14 said:
I don’t mean be to be an ***hole, I’m just sick of watching the Mavs rack up the wins to make the tournament and bounce first round. Minnesota State has heavily invested in its program to make it a winner, and a national contender annually. I’m not saying they’re going to be North Dakota or Michigan putting together double digit year streaks of making the tournament, but they should be in the mix annually and win games at the NCAA tourney level — even with all the success in the new WCHA, the Mavs still haven’t been able to do it.

The WCHA currently leaves little margin for error in the W/L column, and frankly, playing 20 games against tougher opponents this season, while resulting in a few more losses, would’ve helped the Mavericks go through a more rigorous test and preparation for the postseason.

I enjoy when MTU or BSU and MSU play or the FSU/MSU great series we had early in the new WCHA, etc. I’d rather see the Mavs split more series and play tougher opponents rather than generally run through most of te league with their top teams and then fall flat come NCAA time.

There were multiple games the Mavs played their “B” game and were successful and won. That would happen far less in the NCHC, and would force the Mavs to consistently be at the top of their game, or they won’t make the NCAA tournament.

Now, I will acknowledge part of the NCAA failures have been on the staff and the team as well — you cannot lose to RIT as the #1 overall seed, or completely dominate UMD for 20 minuets then hit the coast button and watch it all fall apart.
Click to expand...

If I understand your point, you're saying that if you were in the Nacho this year you would have won your first round game against a fellow Nacho team because you would not have had to play Alaska Anchorage because playing UAA gives your players a case of the sads that carries over to affect their performance in the regionals.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

TalonsUpPuckDown said:
If I understand your point, you're saying that if you were in the Nacho this year you would have won your first round game against a fellow Nacho team because you would not have had to play Alaska Anchorage because playing UAA gives your players a case of the sads that carries over to affect their performance in the regionals.
Click to expand...

That is what I got out of it too.

Not alot of logic in this argument.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

MavHockey14 said:
I’m just sick of watching the Mavs rack up the wins to make the tournament and bounce first round. ...even with all the success in the new WCHA, the Mavs still haven’t been able to do it.

The WCHA currently leaves little margin for error in the W/L column, and frankly, playing 20 games against tougher opponents this season, while resulting in a few more losses, would’ve helped the Mavericks go through a more rigorous test and preparation for the postseason.

There were multiple games the Mavs played their “B” game and were successful and won. That would happen far less in the NCHC, and would force the Mavs to consistently be at the top of their game, or they won’t make the NCAA tournament.
Click to expand...

I'm honestly not sure this holds water. Just ask the current NCHC members how playing their "tough" conference schedule prepared them to dominate the NCAA tourney.
#1 overall SCSU gets smoked by Atlantic Hockey in their opening game.
#3 overall Denver beats barely 0.500 Penn State and then gets blown out by Ohio State
...and UMD, the team who really shouldn't have even been in the tourney, barely beat MSU (who isn't battle tested in your opinion) and is the only one who actually won two tourney games. And for their second win they barely won their gift game vs Air Force, who really had no business being in the regional final if SCSU had done their job in the semi-final game.

Join the NCHC and you get four games a year against CC and Miami as well so it's not like you're going to suddenly play only top 5 teams every weekned. CC has become a doormat in the NCHC, just like Tech was for many years in the WCHA. It doesn't matter how great your conference makes itself out to be. It didn't help Tech recruit talent in the old WCHA and it won't help CC in the NCHC if they keep losing like they are. WINNING breeds winning, not a conference patch on your team's jerseys.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying...
Ryan
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

MavHockey14 said:
I don’t mean be to be an ***hole...

There were multiple games the Mavs played their “B” game and were successful and won.
Click to expand...

First of all, you may not mean to be one but you are. It must come naturally.

Second, how in the hell is it the fault of the WCHA if the Mavs don't bring their A game every night? MnSU earned their at-large bid. It doesn't matter one bit if no other WCHA teams did or not. The fact remains they lost and they have nobody but themselves to blame.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Shirtless Guy said:
Yeah, I mean SCSU had a terrible streak, your frustration isn't with WCHA, its with MnSU failing on the big stage...
Click to expand...

This is part of where this comes from, yes. I’m also very nervous about losing Mike Hastings, as I believe playing in the NCHC is a huge advantage compared to the WCHA.

First and foremost, look at the success the NCHC has had on a national level. Additionally, look at the talent of players in the NCHC compared to the WCHA. One metric would be to look at how many more draft picks play in the NCHC, for example. 8 NCHC teams have 35 NHL draft picks. 10 WCHA teams have 8 NHL draft picks.

The NCHC is clearly a far superior conference with better teams — See NCAA tournament and Frozen Four success, non conference record, etc.

The Mavs still may have kept their winless NCAA streak alive had they been an NCHC member, but they would’ve undoubtedly been tested far more throughout their regular season schedule than they were this year. You want to play as many good teams as possible, as it forces you to play at a consistently high level night in and night out.

Yes, you can still do that playing inferior teams, but there’s not a coach out there that doesn’t want to play the top teams night in and night out as your margin for error on a nightly basis is much smaller doing so — college kids, no matter what you tell them, will develop small bad habits here and there, things they can consistently get away with and still be successful in the win column and on the scoresheet.

Replacing 20 games against the bottom half of teams in the country with 20 games against top half teams, for example, is a big deal.

When trying to recruit kids in MN, for example, rarely would the Mavericks beat the Gophers for a player. Beating St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth is realistic, but still isn’t regularly happening, as those programs are ahead of MSU. I don’t like that, but it’s the truth. (Scott Sandelin may be the most underrated coach in the country.)

As a recruit, do you want to play in a league with many of the top players in the nation, and in a conference that consistently puts guys in the NHL, NCAA Tournament, and Frozen Four? Or would you rather play in a less competitive league with less talented players with very little recent NCAA tournament success?
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

MavHockey14 said:
I don’t mean be to be an ***hole, I’m just sick of watching the Mavs rack up the wins to make the tournament and bounce first round. Minnesota State has heavily invested in its program to make it a winner, and a national contender annually. I’m not saying they’re going to be North Dakota or Michigan putting together double digit year streaks of making the tournament, but they should be in the mix annually and win games at the NCAA tourney level — even with all the success in the new WCHA, the Mavs still haven’t been able to do it.

The WCHA currently leaves little margin for error in the W/L column, and frankly, playing 20 games against tougher opponents this season, while resulting in a few more losses, would’ve helped the Mavericks go through a more rigorous test and preparation for the postseason.

I enjoy when MTU or BSU and MSU play or the FSU/MSU great series we had early in the new WCHA, etc. I’d rather see the Mavs split more series and play tougher opponents rather than generally run through most of te league with their top teams and then fall flat come NCAA time.

There were multiple games the Mavs played their “B” game and were successful and won. That would happen far less in the NCHC, and would force the Mavs to consistently be at the top of their game, or they won’t make the NCAA tournament.

Now, I will acknowledge part of the NCAA failures have been on the staff and the team as well — you cannot lose to RIT as the #1 overall seed, or completely dominate UMD for 20 minuets then hit the coast button and watch it all fall apart.
Click to expand...

One slight correction...you actually fell flat on your face at home against the WCHA 6th seed in the second round of the conference tournament. Then you fell flat on the big stage. You might, and I emphasize might, have a stronger argument had you actually won the WCHA tournament. Until then, don’t blame the rest of the conference for failing to kiss Mike Hastings’ feet.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Squarebanks said:
One slight correction...you actually fell flat on your face at home against the WCHA 6th seed in the second round of the conference tournament. Then you fell flat on the big stage. You might, and I emphasize might, have a stronger argument had you actually won the WCHA tournament. Until then, don’t blame the rest of the conference for failing to kiss Mike Hastings’ feet.
Click to expand...

The 6th seed in the WCHA tournament was Ferris State. If you're making corrections, be correct.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Squarebanks said:
One slight correction...you actually fell flat on your face at home against the WCHA 6th seed in the second round of the conference tournament. Then you fell flat on the big stage. You might, and I emphasize might, have a stronger argument had you actually won the WCHA tournament. Until then, don’t blame the rest of the conference for failing to kiss Mike Hastings’ feet.
Click to expand...

Ah, that's 5th seed, to you. :p

edit: ****, beat to it!
 
AKSWF said:
Maybe if his team didn't rely on their B game, their A game would have pushed the team to still be playing.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I feel it is easier to consistently play your A game when your league opponents force you to do so in order to beat them, as well.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

MavHockey14 said:
I agree with this. I feel it is easier to consistently play your A game when your league opponents force you to do so in order to beat them, as well.
Click to expand...

Dude, we get it. We suck and you want to hang out with the hottie standing next to the Nacho bar.

Give it a rest.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

TalonsUpPuckDown said:
Dude, we get it. We suck and you want to hang out with the hottie standing next to the Nacho bar. Give it a rest.
Click to expand...

Then shouldn't he be looking at the BIG ten. I mean they let ND in, and being in the same conference as the goofs means it will be a 50/50 battle all the time for recruits.
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Mav just wants MnSU to be in the NCHC so that his real hockey crush, the F'in Hawks, will play in Mankato again. :p
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

giwan said:
Then shouldn't he be looking at the BIG ten. I mean they let ND in, and being in the same conference as the goofs means it will be a 50/50 battle all the time for recruits.
Click to expand...
And I'm sure the B1G would like to have an 8th (place) team.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

At this point Minnesota State is like a dad who’s staying in a relationship for the kids, but everyone knows he’s sleeping around in the neighborhood.
 
giwan said:
Then shouldn't he be looking at the BIG ten. I mean they let ND in, and being in the same conference as the goofs means it will be a 50/50 battle all the time for recruits.
Click to expand...

Minnesota State will never be a blue blood college hockey program and will rarely, never consistently, beat MN for recruits.

It is realistic to think they can compete with SCSU and UMD however, two in state teams that have had more postseason and recruiting success than the Mavs.

Y’all may not think the conference has much to do with any of this, and that’s fine, but I’m a firm believer joining the NCHC would help the Mavs be better prepared for the postseason and enhance recruiting.
 
BGDrew said:
At this point Minnesota State is like a dad who’s staying in a relationship for the kids, but everyone knows he’s sleeping around in the neighborhood.
Click to expand...

All I can tell you is if the NCHC called Minnesota State and invited them to join the NCHC, without hesitation that invitation would be accepted.
 
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