Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

[bigmrg74]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

2 bids out of a 4 team conference is a complete joke, but UAH won out so they deserve it. I think there should be a minimum of teams in a conference if they are giving an autobid, though.

UAH and Bemidji are in, while teams like Michigan, BU, Minnesota, etc are going to be out. I dont think this makes the NCAAs more appealing to anyone to be honest.

I don't think a conference with 4 teams should have an automatic birth to the NCAA tournament. Seems a bit unfair.

Ok then, how about we have Brown and Northern Michigan go and join the CHA then if a conference needs to have a minimum number of teams in order to maintain their autobid. The four remaining schools of the CHA have had a long hard road here in order for them to continue the dream of D1 hockey, and its not exactly like they the big name teams coming to their barns every year to help them out with drawing paying eyeballs. If you think they have it too easy, then go beat down the door to your AD and tell em that you want your school to join up, then all you gotta do is just win the tournament right?? wait, isn't that what anybody can do in their own conference???

Last time I checked Michigan, BU, and Minnesota are all still very much alive for the NCAA tournament. All they need to do is win a few more games, you know, sort of like UAH did the last couple of days.

So much hand-wringing over UAH and I don't get it. I'll forever be more concerned with the games MY team DIDN'T win to get into the tournament than the games UAH (or any other team) DID win to get in.

Was it the best idea to let a 4-team conference retain their auto-bid? Maybe, maybe not. Especially since we all knew that 3 of the teams were joining much larger and/or more established leagues and the other one has every intention of soldiering on and likely re-applying to join one of the "big boys."

As for making the NCAAs more appealing, I think any time you get a head-scratcher team in there, or someone unexpected, it does make things more interesting. If college hockey cannot maintain interest in the sport without the most popular or most traditional teams participating in the tournament every year we're in trouble. If fans of traditional teams like Minnesota, BU, or Michigan drift away and lose interest in college hockey because they miss the tournament once or twice in a generation I say too bad for them, but they obviously aren't real fans of either their team or our sport.

If UAH "ruins" anyone elses season, I'm all for it. After all, my team already ruined their own one.

Well said, This time of year, you should have had more wins somewhere else along the way. It really shouldn't be that hard to look at your teams results and see where they let a few games that would have had them in a far more comfortable position to make the NCAA's get away from them.

 

[MikeAnderson]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

You wouldn't have this problem had the presidents done the right thing.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

You wouldn't have this problem had the presidents done the right thing.

What the Hell does Obama have to do wit... oh wait you said presidentS...

Congrats to your Chargers, sir.

 

[Golden Tuuk]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

Last time I checked Michigan, BU, and Minnesota are all still very much alive for the NCAA tournament. All they need to do is win a few more games, you know, sort of like UAH did the last couple of days.

I detect sarcasm.

Minnesota still alive? Not really. Here's a likely list of consecutive wins they would have needed.

North Dakota, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Denver, Wisconsin.

I'm sure CHA players would crap their pants just reading that list of teams out loud.

Much easier to run the table in the NCAA's if you ask me. That's why I had to laugh when a previous poster suggested Michigan Tech was still in it and all they had to do was win the conference tournament like Alabama did. Here's the difference. It could never happen in the WCHA. I don't even think a 4 or 5 (Final Five) seed has ever won the Broadmoor Trophy. Except for Duluth.

I do like to look at the human side of this as well so congratulations to UAB. To say they're excited surely must be an understatement.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I detect sarcasm.

Minnesota still alive? Not really. Here's a likely list of consecutive wins they would have needed.

North Dakota, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Denver, Wisconsin.

I'm sure CHA players would crap their pants just reading that list of teams out loud.

Much easier to run the table in the NCAA's if you ask me. That's why I had to laugh when a previous poster suggested Michigan Tech was still in it and all they had to do was win the conference tournament like Alabama did. Here's the difference. It could never happen in the WCHA. I don't even think a 4 or 5 (Final Five) seed has ever won the Broadmoor Trophy.

I do like to look at the human side of this as well so congratulations to UAB. To say they're excited surely must be an understatement.

Never say Never. All it takes is one goalie getting HOT and a team finding their scoring touch. And the worst team in any of the leagues can be in the NCAA tournament. That's the power of the Autobid.

 

[NUMcNeely]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

Look, fans of big time schools who make the NCAAs regularly, shut up. You can make it next year if you are on the bubble. Be glad for huntsville, because this maybe the last time EVER that they make it. Let me phrase that again, this program might not survive another ten years, think about if that was happening to your team. Stop being selfish and be happy for huntsville. Be happy that your program is strong enough to have ensured longevity.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I don't even think a 4 or 5 (Final Five) seed has ever won the Broadmoor Trophy.

Well, it did happen last year.

 

[streaker]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

For everyone whining about the CHA autobid: whine all you want, because the conference is dead today.

1. The conference would have been dead sooner without it. With the WCHA having a moratorium on expansion in the past, BSU would likely have been shut out. All indications were that BSU would fold their program if they didn't get picked up by the WCHA.

2. UAH would still have been likely go it alone as an independent.

3. Atlantic Hockey was less receptive to expanding earlier, which puts Niagara and Robert Morris both in jeopardy.

The reason that the league lived as long as it did was the autobid. Did you want four fewer schools in D-I? Remember, the CHA getting an AQ is the main reason we went from 12 to 16 teams making the postseason.

Now, you can argue that the CHA dying two years ago would still see the same situation we're seeing now: the WCHA picking up BSU, UAH going indie, and AHA picking up NU and RMU. I'm just positing that it was far less likely a couple years back than it was last spring and summer, when everything moved. [Except, you know, the idea that everyone had that a CCHA team would leave for the WCHA and be backfilled by UAH.]

Bemidji absolutely deserves its at-large bid. UAH is no more deserving of its AQ than any past CHA AQ, and the CHA has represented itself fairly well in the NCAAs.

Of course, not that any of the haters care. They're too busy pouting that bubble team #14 got knocked out, forgetting that there were only eight at-large spots just a few years ago.

Suck it up and grow a pair.

GFM

Congrats UAH.

FTR- Michigan fans know that the only reason that their team may not make it to the NCAA tourney is because their team waited until March to play like they are capable, even if their schedule or their conference may be a little more difficult than the CHA. The way I look at it, UAH, RIT and any other 4th seed is just as worthy of respect as any other large conference team. Notre Dame was minutes from being out of the 2008 tournament, squeaked in and made it to the NC game. Anything can happen and those teams that qualify earned their way in.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I'm just going to bask in the amusing glow that Western Michigan swept a team in the NCAA's.

The last time that happened? February 16-17 2007 vs. Michigan State.

2 months later, Michigan State won the National title.








*runs off to bet the house on the Chargers*

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I don't think a conference with 4 teams should have an automatic birth to the NCAA tournament. Seems a bit unfair.

The automatic response for anyone who complains about UAH making the tournament (or any derivative of 2 teams from College Hockey America) is:



There are larger problems you should all be getting your panties in a jumble for, like healthcare, taxes, whether or not your Prius is going to stop before you hit that giant tree or why the hell can't I fry a decent egg...

Maybe not the best situation for college hockey to be in, but I have grown sort of fond of the 16 team tournament. Without teams like UAH or more conferences like the CHA we'd still be at 12 and wondering if we were going to go back to 8.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

There are larger problems you should all be getting your panties in a jumble for, like healthcare, taxes, whether or not your Prius is going to stop before you hit that giant tree or why the hell can't I fry a decent egg...

This is really a dumb statement. I don't fall on the side of the whiners, but saying that people shouldn't complain about something because you think it's trivial compared to a variety of non-related items is really pretty childish.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

The automatic response for anyone who complains about UAH making the tournament (or any derivative of 2 teams from College Hockey America) is:



There are larger problems you should all be getting your panties in a jumble for, like healthcare, taxes, whether or not your Prius is going to stop before you hit that giant tree or why the hell can't I fry a decent egg...

Maybe not the best situation for college hockey to be in, but I have grown sort of fond of the 16 team tournament. Without teams like UAH or more conferences like the CHA we'd still be at 12 and wondering if we were going to go back to 8.

Yeah, I can see your point, there is nothing quite like a Fried Egg Sandwich with some Bacon on it.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I think Michigan and Boston College may have a bone to pick with you leaving them out of the "traditional powerhouse" tag...

And I cannot imagine who you were speaking with in DC. In Denver nearly every fan I ran into was a huge fan of college hockey and their knowledge of college hockey was both broad and deep. Every Frozen F is attended by 1000s of fans who go every year regardless of which teams are participating. It seems to me a much better mix of people than those who will attend that other Final Four, most of them being corporate types or people there because it is the place to be, as opposed to being fans of college basketball or one of the four teams.

I'm not talking about the folks there, I'm talking about people who actually watched it on TV because "name" teams were in it, especially Notre Dame. Last year's Frozen Four field was a TV nightmare as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

Ok then, how about we have Brown and Northern Michigan go and join the CHA then if a conference needs to have a minimum number of teams in order to maintain their autobid. The four remaining schools of the CHA have had a long hard road here in order for them to continue the dream of D1 hockey, and its not exactly like they the big name teams coming to their barns every year to help them out with drawing paying eyeballs. If you think they have it too easy, then go beat down the door to your AD and tell em that you want your school to join up, then all you gotta do is just win the tournament right?? wait, isn't that what anybody can do in their own conference???

Why would Brown leave a set of schools academically on par with them and join the CHA? That is idiotic. I realize Brown is a doormat for the most part on the ice, but at least we are recruiting against schools that academically are on par with eachother. That's idiotic. I agree a few more teams should join the CHA or just disband it and disperse the teams to other conferences. Im pretty sure I would beat the AD's door down if they tried to get Brown into the CHA with UAH and Niagara.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

Yeah, I can see your point, there is nothing quite like a Fried Egg Sandwich with some Bacon on it.

breakfast.lunch.and dinner.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

I'm not talking about the folks there, I'm talking about people who actually watched it on TV because "name" teams were in it, especially Notre Dame. Last year's Frozen Four field was a TV nightmare as far as I'm concerned.

No one watches hockey on television. The only reason the Frozen Four is even aired is because ESPN got stuck showing all the piddly little tournaments as part of their deal to pick up other stuff.

The games are usually a black hole of ratings suck surrounded by higher rated NHRA racing, rodeo, and poker reruns. They could have Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Boston College in a final, and the ratings will still suck.

Just quit now while you're way behind.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

No one watches hockey on television. The only reason the Frozen Four is even aired is because ESPN got stuck showing all the piddly little tournaments as part of their deal to pick up other stuff.

The games are usually a black hole of ratings suck surrounded by higher rated NHRA racing, rodeo, and poker reruns. They could have Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Boston College in a final, and the ratings will still suck.

Just quit now while you're way behind.

I had plenty of friends who watched the Final when Notre Dame and BC were in it because they recognized the schools from their football games. When BU played Miami, no one cared. I dont think any specific college matchup is going to make someone in the middle of Oklahoma watch, but I know a lot of people would watch the Frozen Four if big time schools were in it.

I guess if you don't think a Notre Dame vs. Boston College is more appealing to an average sports fan than BU vs. Miami, I"m not sure what I can say.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

Just quit now while you're way behind.

This is the Western Michigan way, I assume?

 

[tnlong]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

The goal is to determine the best team in the country on 10 April. Teams improve and teams regress over the course of a season. Regardless of records, every team deserves the opportunity to prove that they are the best on 10 April through the tournament route. The sad thing is that UAH has alone been denied that opportunity by the hockey elite in 2011 and onward.

If you look in the handbook (handbook page 10),
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/ice_hockey/2010/10_1_m_icehockey.pdf
you can see that the selection committee still has enough "wiggle room" to deny Bemidji an opportunity to make a return trip to the final four if they decide that there are 16 better teams than Bemidji.
"The committee reserves the right to evaluate each team based on the relative strength of its respective conference using the overall conference RPI and conference comparisons (e.g., Conference A’s won-lost record versus Conference B, etc.) in determining competitive equity."

It's still possible that the Beaver's inability to beat any of the other three CHA teams in its last three games may cause the selection committee to look closely. Regardless, UAH's ability to go undefeated against the other three CHA teams in its last three games gives them a tournament route opportunity that every team in the country deserves and that they alone will be denied after this year.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: Who'd of thunk it - 2 CHA teams in the Big Skate

It's still possible that the Beaver's inability to beat any of the other three CHA teams in its last three games may cause the selection committee to look closely.

It's still possible that I might be acclaimed King of the world too, it's just not overly likely.

Take one good look at Bemidji's non-conference and overall records and tell me they haven't earned an at-large bid. Go ahead. I need a good laugh.