Wisconsin Badgers 2020-2021

[robertearle]

It was great listening to the radio on the way to Lacrosse, I love hockey on the radio.

Were you able to get WIBA all the way to La Crosse? Or were you on iHeartRadio, internet etc.?

 

[Timothy A]

Were you able to get WIBA all the way to La Crosse? Or were you on iHeartRadio, internet etc.?

iHeart Radio.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EMPTYNETTER]

It was a mini Family vacation with my wife, daughter and sister. It was great listening to the radio on the way to Lacrosse, I love hockey on the radio. I usually don't post with my phone, I'm home now..........So I get into the hotel room, turn on the TV, and I found ESPNU! YYYEEESSS!!!! Just at THAT moment OSU scores to make it 3-2. NNNNOOOO! I sweat through 3 sets of clothing from that point on. I am still flying high, but the biggie is on a few hours. Hell of a game by the third line and Blair was great.

I have no idea Watts to expect. I found it kinda funny that the NE coach was essentially shocked by the speed of the game against UMD in the first period. UW can sustain the pressure on NE that UMD did for the first period for the whole game, they have enough depth. That makes me feel confident. I don't have a lot of respect for the eastern teams, their strength of schedule is weak, that makes me feel confident. If NE makes errors in transition like OSU did, it won't matter how great Fankel is, she will have no chance. Their top line and their goalie are statistically awesome. That is scary. UW made mistakes on both OSU goals. That is scary. OSU could have won that game had they hit the net on some great looks. It scares me that UW gave up too many great looks that OSU screwed up on. NE has the last change, so that will be a crucial advantage to them, but I feel great with UW's 1st or 2nd line against their #1 unit. If either team can win special teams, they will win the game. Whoever more effectively cashes in on the other's screw ups will win. I'd say it's a 50 50 games despite my western bias.

Not sure where you get your lack of respect for "East" teams? Either you don't really understand hockey (my guess) or you're stuck so far inside your Wisconsin/WCHA bubble that you can't see out. Wisconsin didn't show much tonight to prove they are a powerhouse (outside of Eden having a great game). The fact that Watts claimed she intended on banking that puck off the back of Frankel was disappointing in the post game as the puck went off the back of the NE defenseman who was way off the post. Looked more like she was trying to sauce to her D who was dropping in from the blue line. Regardless, it's too bad the game had to end on a fluke goal.

 

[Offsides Guy]

Not sure where you get your lack of respect for "East" teams? Either you don't really understand hockey (my guess) or you're stuck so far inside your Wisconsin/WCHA bubble that you can't see out. Wisconsin didn't show much tonight to prove they are a powerhouse (outside of Eden having a great game). The fact that Watts claimed she intended on banking that puck off the back of Frankel was disappointing in the post game as the puck went off the back of the NE defenseman who was way off the post. Looked more like she was trying to sauce to her D who was dropping in from the blue line. Regardless, it's too bad the game had to end on a fluke goal.

What game were you watching? I’m not a huge Wisconsin fan but you replace Frankel on NU with with even an above average goalie and NU loses that game 3 or 4 to 0. WI was clearly the more talented and deeper team and only Frankel kept NU in the game.

 

[Steamboat]

Not sure where you get your lack of respect for "East" teams? Either you don't really understand hockey (my guess) or you're stuck so far inside your Wisconsin/WCHA bubble that you can't see out. Wisconsin didn't show much tonight to prove they are a powerhouse (outside of Eden having a great game). The fact that Watts claimed she intended on banking that puck off the back of Frankel was disappointing in the post game as the puck went off the back of the NE defenseman who was way off the post. Looked more like she was trying to sauce to her D who was dropping in from the blue line. Regardless, it's too bad the game had to end on a fluke goal.

The Minnesota Gophers learned to their dismay not to take eastern teams for granted in 2014. Clarkson was number 2 all year in the statistics and the final was the game I had been hoping to see. Unfortunately the Gophers had not studied the record that Clarkson had put up. The team went east with a cocky attitude and ended up with tears in their eyes. Even Brad Frost later admitted that they underestimated Clarkson. I will never assume a conference is weak until I see our teams, or my team, trounce them. The game is won on the ice. The winner is the best team that showed up that day. I am always satisfied with the result even if my team doesn't win. Today was a fitting battle for a championship. Hockey is the winner when both teams leave it all out there on the ice.

 

[Lurky McLurkface]

Not sure where you get your lack of respect for "East" teams? Either you don't really understand hockey (my guess) or you're stuck so far inside your Wisconsin/WCHA bubble that you can't see out.

Of their five national titles, UMD has faced East teams in four of those games (St. Lawrence, Brown, Harvard and Cornell.) The only WCHA team they played for a championship was Wisconsin, a 4-0 win in 2008. I don't know if that means anything or not.

 

[DPlaya]

Every year there are easy examples of East Coast bias. Providence making the tournament over Minnesota this year and they could not get a shot on goal in the first period. Loren Gabel winning the Patty Kaz in 2019 when Ann Pankowski skated circles around her in the title game. Every frickin' year there are examples but you are from the East and are blind to them.

The Announcers in the Providence-UW game were trying to convince the audience Providence had turned the game around because they finally got some shots on net in the 2nd period. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HAVE YOU SEEN WISCONSIN PLAY MINNESOTA....EVER?

An Eastern team has never won a Championship. Minnesota and Wisconsin have 6 each. I think the people who don't understand hockey clearly live in the East and have no argument. Stay in your own thread.



Not sure where you get your lack of respect for "East" teams? Either you don't really understand hockey (my guess) or you're stuck so far inside your Wisconsin/WCHA bubble that you can't see out.

 

[pgb-ohio]

From 5 Weeks Ago:

I have to admit I am a bit underwhelmed by the play of the Webster/O'Brien combo. Certainly on the score sheet they are not really producing and being essentially the 2nd line they see a ton of ice time. I just think it would be interesting to flip SS or Watts onto that line, both those players top end play makers who could get up the other 2 and the one who bounced up to the 1st line would also get a lot more chances. I do know that part of it is not seeing them in person, it's hard to get a great feel for the types of opportunities they are producing. The eye test told us that SS and Roque were special when they were Fr.

What a difference a post-season can make! Webster went from "not really producing" to Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. I presume that you're now fully "whelmed" by your third line.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Of course I was caught off-guard by the performance of your third line as well.

 

[robertearle]

From 5 Weeks Ago:



What a difference a post-season can make! Webster went from "not really producing" to Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. I presume that you're now fully "whelmed" by your third line.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Of course I was caught off-guard by the performance of your third line as well.

In a normal year, the number of games played would put us at "mid-season"; just freshmen, getting things figured out halfway through their first year.

 

[Offsides Guy]

In a normal year, the number of games played would put us at "mid-season"; just freshmen, getting things figured out halfway through their first year.

Good point. And I liked there being fewer games. Seemed to make each game that much more important. I wouldn’t a mind a 30-game season w/ 28 WCHA games/team and one 2-game East/West matchup.

 

[pgb-ohio]

In a normal year, the number of games played would put us at "mid-season"; just freshmen, getting things figured out halfway through their first year.

Si, claro. Just a very gentle love tap for Tim.

 

[vicb]

An Eastern team has never won a Championship. Minnesota and Wisconsin have 6 each. I think the people who don't understand hockey clearly live in the East and have no argument. Stay in your own thread.

I guess geography is not your cup of tea. You consider Clarkson's 3 Championships from where, Canada? Northern USA? West of Boston so these three are also Western Championships? (wink wink) I will now leave this thread so all the Wisconsin faithful can glow in the aftermath of a well deserved 6th championship.

 

[Timothy A]

From 5 Weeks Ago: What a difference a post-season can make! Webster went from "not really producing" to Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. I presume that you're now fully "whelmed" by your third line.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Of course I was caught off-guard by the performance of your third line as well.

No, I love the comment. The success of the offense really revolved around Watts in the overall season. When she was on line 1, they produced. When her and Curl flipped, line one never got rolling then line 2 was on fire. Now the 3rd line played crazy good and they really came together, they carried the team to victory in the ncaa's. MJ has commented more than once about how as of right now the Fr would be hitting the halfway point in the season. At this point they would have come to grips with playing a lot more without the puck, which is a change for them. And on top of that, they got thrown to the wolves with a brutal schedule that they had plenty of hard lessons. There were minimal cupcakes to hone your craft against and slowly learn. It was just a completely different season and my expectations were way off base due to this. I appreciate MJ's insight in helping me understand the reality of the situation. Of course all the wwcha teams were in this same boat, so take it easy on your Fr, LOL.

As were were driving to LaCrosse (never did cross the river thankfully during the trip LOL), Posick interviewed Pettet. She said something very interesting. She has another year of studies to go to get her degree and she said "why wouldn't I want to come back?" She also strongly implied the whole Sr. class would be coming back. I wish I could find that interview and re-listen to it, especially the part about the other Sr's. I am certain that she did say she was coming back. And just for my knowledge, all the players' eligibility is as if this year never happened, correct?

 

[robertearle]

As were were driving to LaCrosse (never did cross the river thankfully during the trip LOL), Posick interviewed Pettet. She said something very interesting. She has another year of studies to go to get her degree and she said "why wouldn't I want to come back?" She also strongly implied the whole Sr. class would be coming back. I wish I could find that interview and re-listen to it, especially the part about the other Sr's. I am certain that she did say she was coming back. And just for my knowledge, all the players' eligibility is as if this year never happened, correct?

I heard it too, and I recall just what you said. She didn't mention other names specifically, just made the implication.

Eligibility, yes. During the UW basketball game today, Matt LePay said the phrase is going to be "super seniors", an extra year added to the four years eligibility, and a sixth year added to use those five in. But I went looking sometime last week, and read a page that said (my interpretation) any senior this year on scholarship who comes back next year can remain on scholarship next year and not count against the scholarship limit FOR FALL SPORTS. It did not say the same for winter sports. It didn't specifically say that would not be the case, but certainly implied that it would not.

So who has or soon will complete their degree, who has not done so, who is thinking grad school, who can afford to pay for the extra year themself, who wants to get on with 'life', etc etc. I said last night that winning the championship could, ironically, mean some decide to move on, having achieved that goal.

It will be interesting...

(I remember my sister, just a few minutes after Green Bay had won the 1996 Super Bowl, saying "now, how long before they go from being 'the champions' to being 'the defending champions'?", meaning how long until people are talking about 'next year'. We just did it to them.)

 

[Timothy A]

Eligibility, yes. During the UW basketball game today, Matt LePay said the phrase is going to be "super seniors", an extra year added to the four years eligibility, and a sixth year added to use those five in. But I went looking sometime last week, and read a page that said (my interpretation) any senior this year on scholarship who comes back next year can remain on scholarship next year and not count against the scholarship limit FOR FALL SPORTS. It did not say the same for winter sports. It didn't specifically say that would not be the case, but certainly implied that it would not.

Yeah I really hate to rush into next year, but this Super Sr thing in HUGE. So if this fall sports thing applies to winter sports (and it seems like it will based on Watts Frosty and Muzzy have said about his Sr class and Pettet's comment), the extra year only applies to the Sr's, correct? This year's Fr will be So's, So's will be Jr,s and Jr's Sr's, correct?

 

[robertearle]

Yeah I really hate to rush into next year, but this Super Sr thing in HUGE. So if this fall sports thing applies to winter sports (and it seems like it will based on Watts Frosty and Muzzy have said about his Sr class and Pettet's comment), the extra year only applies to the Sr's, correct? This year's Fr will be So's, So's will be Jr,s and Jr's Sr's, correct?

No. My understanding is everybody currently playing gets the extra year. This year's freshmen will be (can be) super-seniors in 2025. I'm sure the extra fall sports scholarships will be for 2021-2022 only. But extra eligibility is for all current athletes.

Here is the page I was referring to.

https://www.ncsasports.org/coronavirus-sports/ncaa-eligibility-coronavirus

 

[Offsides Guy]

Yeah I really hate to rush into next year, but this Super Sr thing in HUGE. So if this fall sports thing applies to winter sports (and it seems like it will based on Watts Frosty and Muzzy have said about his Sr class and Pettet's comment), the extra year only applies to the Sr's, correct? This year's Fr will be So's, So's will be Jr,s and Jr's Sr's, correct?

And add transfers coming in as well (I can’t imagine Johnson not taking advantage of the transfer portal), and it’s a crappy time for incoming freshmen and underclassmen not on one of the top three lines this year in all of their respective programs. On the plus side, we’re going to get to watch a lot of great hockey next year with these “super seniors” on the ice for several teams. They will be playing with a high degree of confidence and a lot of experience which will make for some great games.

 

[Timothy A]

No. My understanding is everybody currently playing gets the extra year. This year's freshmen will be (can be) super-seniors in 2025. I'm sure the extra fall sports scholarships will be for 2021-2022 only. But extra eligibility is for all current athletes.

Here is the page I was referring to.

https://www.ncsasports.org/coronavir...ty-coronavirus

This excites me greatly. Web and OB got a heck of a free training year. Now the big ? is who does UW loose to the fanless Olympics? Maybe Watts and Curl?

Another this year question....Wheeler played spot minutes against OSU and NE; who was she playing with? The game was moving too fast for me to pick up on that. At any rate, she fit right in from Watts I saw. That bodes well.

Also really awesome to see Kotlowski get tons of playing time after getting zero last year, even being on the top pair on paper in the FF. Good for her. Love to see the development of players like her. I will admit a couple times she (and Edwards) did make me nervous, but the nervous plays did not cost UW.

 

[Timothy A]

And add transfers coming in as well (I can’t imagine Johnson not taking advantage of the transfer portal), and it’s a crappy time for incoming freshmen and underclassmen not on one of the top three lines this year in all of their respective programs. On the plus side, we’re going to get to watch a lot of great hockey next year with these “super seniors” on the ice for several teams. They will be playing with a high degree of confidence and a lot of experience which will make for some great games.

Hockey next year with the super seniors is going to be insane. I don't know Watts UMD's players are doing, but MN UW and OSU appear to be returning tons of talent. Hopefully there will be cupcake games that will allow for a better differentiation in the standings with a normal season. The wwcha did a pizz poor job of the schedule this year and it really killed MN in particular.

 

[Steamboat]

Hockey next year with the super seniors is going to be insane. I don't know Watts UMD's players are doing, but MN UW and OSU appear to be returning tons of talent. Hopefully there will be cupcake games that will allow for a better differentiation in the standings with a normal season. The wwcha did a pizz poor job of the schedule this year and it really killed MN in particular.

By cupcakes you're referring to the inter-conference games we missed this season or......?