WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

I'm with you Innova! It's all there in black and white! Simple math... Statistically speaking... Law of averages, and all that.

Somebody once told me that if you flip a coin 100 times and it comes up heads every time, the odds of it coming up heads on the 101st flip is still 50/50. That's just crazy talk!


The one thing I might say for Eaves system of Hockey: You could argue that, in theory, the system might have the best chance of positive results in single elimination tournament hockey. (see Bo Ryan.) However getting there is another story.

 

[The Hallucination]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Wrote about attendance, Mike Eaves, class sizes, etc. tonight if anyone here that never reads our website cares.

LINK

Good article.

Next year's important. If we make a title game every four years, I will put up with a LOT of crap inbetween. Regular NCAA tourney seasons are not that satisfactory if Frozen Fours are too far between, so I'm on the make-the-good-seasons-great side of that trade off. I'm not sure whether to share the optimism for next year though... I think we needed a decent, make the tourney kind of year this year- and then if we'd seen more out of this team and they got a bit of tourney experience maybe I'd have higher next year hopes. So, I'd agree calling for Eaves' head before next year is premature, but I'm not sure how much hope to have for next year.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Even if the forwards who have underachieve this year live up to expectations next year and stay healthy, if a D steps up to be the PP QB, and provided that team continues to play stellar defense and they compete for the B10 title next year, what happens the following year?

6 forwards graduate + McCabe and Kerdilis leave early and given trends this team could be looking at a last place finish.

After 10 seasons I have enough data to measure Eaves on his results and see ZERO reason to keep him around based on future potential at this point. Since 2005-06 we've been talking about UW's future potential and the NCAA bubble by Christmas rather then actually competing for a WCHA title far more often then not.

Over Eaves tenure, Wisconsin is the 5th most successful WCHA program:

1 [three way tie]) DU, UMN, and UND (order them however you want)
Gap based on consistancy
4.) UMD
Gap based on winning WCHA hardware
5.) UW
Gap based on winning NCAA title
6.) CC
7.) BSU
Gap based on NCAA F4 appearances
8 & 9.) SCSU & UNO
10-12) MSUM, MTU, and UAA

The issue is that UW is a post in the final seconds and an OT loss toBC on 2006 away from being nearly tied with CC and a Cornell OT goal away from being no more successful than BSU over the past decade.

Which group SHOULD UW's success be most comparable to: DU, UMN, and UND OR CC, UMD, and BSU?

Eaves has had a DECADE to show that he can get UW to a consistently elite level in the WCHA, UW's on ice results CLEARLY demonstrate that UW isn't even close to COMPETING for elite status let alone AT elite status. Why should he be given yet another chance? For me, this season was Eaves final chance to demonstrate enough improvement that he should remain as HC, and he completely failed.

1000% spot on Almington

 

[LordofBrewtown]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Fri-Sat BT hockey series will all be eliminated....it will most be Sun-Mon...a couple yrs down the road this will be the normal schedule.....

I'll echo others & say that I certainly hope not. That will end my group's season tickets (Saturday).

What I really don't understand is how moving to Sun/Mon or week nights even helps Network scheduling that much. Currently, they have basketball games on almost every night - the only 'holes' seem to be Friday & Monday nights. They've been showing some wrestling & hockey on Friday nights - Hockey for Friday nights & 1-2 Saturday games would seem to be perfect for the network - especially with a couple more basketball games per week after Rutgers & Maryland join. Put the extra basketball game on Monday night, or highlight Women's Bball that night.
It would also make some sense for some later hockey starts (say 8:00 or 8:30) for MN & WI home games, to show hockey doubleheaders (& early starts for the Eastern zone teams). So moving Hockey from Friday night to fill a monday hole in the schedule just seems to create another hole - & likely at the cost of home attendance (& that's probably the case for the other schools also - excepting MN).

 

[uwmark]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Great article Schwartz. However, your article basically explained how poorly Eaves has performed relative to other top programs and then concluded that he should stay for next year. In fairness to UW and Eaves this year though, they are currently ranked 15 in the Krach ratings despite a ton of missed games by key people. I think they are deserving of an NCAA bid and would be a tough out if they got in. Unfortunately, the Pairwise is working against them. No way is this a 25 team. I hope you are right about next year. Who would be a good replacement for him if he were to be let go? What are your thoughts on Jackson, coach at NDame?

 

[icebadger]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Baggot has some notes about scheduling next year:

Link

Next season, non-traditional Sunday-Monday series like this one will be more common, though certainly not the norm, as the Big Ten pieces together a 20-game regular-season schedule that will involve all teams meeting four times.

Jennifer Heppel, the Big Ten associate commissioner overseeing the new men’s hockey product, said officials at the member schools have been instructed to cordon off weekly windows from Thursday to Monday in order to best coordinate schedules with men’s and women’s basketball.

“The majority will be a Friday-Saturday night,” she said of league series next season. “But, periodically, in order to take advantage of coordinated scheduling with basketball, it could be another (slot).”

Series will continue to be played back-to-back nights, though there might be some afternoon starts, especially for Saturday-Sunday series. Heppel said teams will not play more than two straight Big Ten series on the road.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

... I think they are deserving of an NCAA bid and would be a tough out if they got in. Unfortunately, the Pairwise is working against them. No way is this a 25 team.

Just checked Pairwise and UW is up to 17 in PWR - tied with two other teams, one of which, Alaska, has the PW on WI. So I assume that could be flipped easily if UW plays well next two weeks and Alaska flames out in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how the result of tonight's game against Penn St. affects things.

 

[Badgers1]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Actually since Fairbanks plays Anchorage this weekend the comparison will automatically switch to Wisconsin assuming maintain the RPI lead which is pretty big margin right now. As our common opponent record will move to 5-4-1 and even if Fairbanks sweeps Anchorage their COP would be 5-5-1.

Of course a win is a must tonight as I assume that would be devastating to the chances.

 

[SatNightFever]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

I was shocked to see they were at T-17 after the PSU win....a lot of things must have gone our way this weekend. Gotta keep it going tonight....can't believe there was an opportunity for ice cream/custard after a scoreless first period.

 

[Almington]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Actually since Fairbanks plays Anchorage this weekend the comparison will automatically switch to Wisconsin assuming maintain the RPI lead which is pretty big margin right now. As our common opponent record will move to 5-4-1 and even if Fairbanks sweeps Anchorage their COP would be 5-5-1.

Of course a win is a must tonight as I assume that would be devastating to the chances.

UW would be better off losing to PSU than losing to either UNO or SCSU in the PWR (psychologically is a different issue).

At this point, all UW can do is 1.) Win and 2.) hope that CC and/or NMU fall out of being TUC.

Given how the season started, the fact that UW is in a place to even control their destiny for an at-large NCAA birth is downright shocking.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

UW would be better off losing to PSU than losing to either UNO or SCSU in the PWR (psychologically is a different issue).

At this point, all UW can do is 1.) Win and 2.) hope that CC and/or NMU fall out of being TUC.

Given how the season started, the fact that UW is in a place to even control their destiny for an at-large NCAA birth is downright shocking.

A loss tonight to Penn State drops Wisconsin from #17 to #28.

A single loss to Nebraska-Omaha would drop Wisconsin from #17 to #21. A single loss to St. Cloud would drop Wisconsin from #17 to #21 as well.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

A few takeaways from last night's game -

It started a little flat, but the crowd felt electric for the most part. I know it's different in the student section where I don't have empty seats around me, but I felt great energy/buzz in the crowd...with a paid crowd of 8547. (Side note - I understand the mental aspect of feeling "into the game" and being willing to chant when fans are spread out instead of packed together, and I understand the mental aspect of seeing seas of red plastic. Also the whole sound-bouncing thing. But 6000 fans at Yost Ice Arena or 5000 at Alfond can produce a great atmosphere, and our worst crowds have a couple thousand on them. No reason we can't have good energy through this bad stretch, which I honestly believe will get better. I can only go by internet commenters, but I've heard the atmosphere at Coyotes games is better than at Flames and Leafs games.)
Of course, exciting offense will do that.

Power play. I know it's Penn State, but the way the Badgers played on the power play made me so happy and excited. They wouldn't be quite as effective against a better team, but the quick movement, both of the puck and bodies, was something that would have yielded much better results in the games so far. It was just so...dynamic.

Barnes seems to be best at knowing what to do when suddenly facing the goalie one-on-one.

Musico has a fun name and in my unprofessional opinion, is pretty good. There were multiple times when he robbed what appeared to be a sure goal, and a few of the Badgers goals were the result of the Badgers simply beating Penn State's defense. Often by causing commotion in front with quick passes. The power play. Holy moly, the power play. Not last in the NCAA anymore!

And the Badgers took a big leap in the PairWise? I'm super-pumped for tonight.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

I was shocked to see they were at T-17 after the PSU win....a lot of things must have gone our way this weekend. Gotta keep it going tonight....can't believe there was an opportunity for ice cream/custard after a scoreless first period.

Observations from the game last night. Nice seats Gandalf. There was no one on either side, in the rows directly in front of or behind us, it felt like a women's game from last year at the K/C room-wise. Too bad the Sr's and parents night was last night. It was a shame to honor them with a small but expected crowd on a Sunday night. It should have been last Friday against the rodents.

After the first period, shots were 6-6, and I'm thinking "why am I submitting myself and my son to this?" They were sharp and in connecting passes well, but there was just no pace at all. Well, someone threw the switch and the 2nd and 3rd periods were fun to watch. Poor Zengerlee just can't buy a goal. He had 2 breakaways and 1 all alone in the slot play and had nothing to show for it. He did seem engaged in the game and was creative. Lee had 2 awesome chances and did not score, but was creative as well. Kerdiles had some good moments and some weak ones. These awesome chances made the game fun to watch and the 5 goals was great considering the first period. Rumpel looked a little off in warm-ups, but he had a couple big saves and a bunch of easy ones and got the s/o. Obviously PSU played pretty porous D, I expect they will clean some of that up tonight, if they have the talent to do so. I can't imagine UW is THAT much better than them.

Why was the apparent goal in the first period waved off?

 

[icebadger]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Why was the apparent goal in the first period waved off?

On TV, it was apparent that the whistle blew well before the puck was in the net. The ref didn't make much of an effort to get in a better position to see things though.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Observations from the game last night. Nice seats Gandalf. There was no one on either side, in the rows directly in front of or behind us, it felt like a women's game from last year at the K/C room-wise.

So which is worse, having no one around you or having the people around you be BORING?

 

[Goldy The Gopher]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Was it just me or did it seemed like Wisconsin really pushed Penn state around, bullied them making a statement for whats to come, and penn state didn't really defend themseleves.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

So which is worse, having no one around you or having the people around you be BORING?

Boring people for sure! They crowd you and talk about their nephew from Wausau's BB team the whole game, it can be distracting. Your seats are a bit better, but I haven't sat anywhere in the 2nd tier and not loved it.

icebadger, thanks for the info on the wave-off. I thought it had to be related to the whistle, but you never know with these yahoos. I hadn't seen too may men on the ice called all year and they called it twice in one game. Then at one point Rammer was against the boards on the ice with 2 PSU dudes and another Badger there fighting for the puck that apparently was under him and the the ref's yelling "play it play it". How many times did he want Rammer to get a stick in the head?

 

[Timothy A]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Was it just me or did it seemed like Wisconsin really pushed Penn state around, bullied them making a statement for whats to come, and penn state didn't really defend themseleves.

Overall I'd say UW laid more wood that PSU did. PSU was fairly physical, in fact I thought they were a little chippy, trying to send a message that they won't be bullied around. That's where a full house would have added greatly to their discomfort.

 

[Innova]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Barnes seems to be best at knowing what to do when suddenly facing the goalie one-on-one.

Yeah, that was my big takeaway from last night. How many break aways did the Badgers get stymied on? Is Musico that good, or do we lack the ability to finish? Barnes restored some of my confidence with his "EFSDLKM". (Elaine From Seinfeld Dance Leg Kick Move).

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: WISCONSIN Hockey Vol. XXIV - Craziest Season Of All Time

Observations from the game last night. Nice seats Gandalf. There was no one on either side, in the rows directly in front of or behind us, it felt like a women's game from last year at the K/C room-wise. Too bad the Sr's and parents night was last night. It was a shame to honor them with a small but expected crowd on a Sunday night. It should have been last Friday against the rodents.

After the first period, shots were 6-6, and I'm thinking "why am I submitting myself and my son to this?" They were sharp and in connecting passes well, but there was just no pace at all. Well, someone threw the switch and the 2nd and 3rd periods were fun to watch. Poor Zengerlee just can't buy a goal. He had 2 breakaways and 1 all alone in the slot play and had nothing to show for it. He did seem engaged in the game and was creative. Lee had 2 awesome chances and did not score, but was creative as well. Kerdiles had some good moments and some weak ones. These awesome chances made the game fun to watch and the 5 goals was great considering the first period. Rumpel looked a little off in warm-ups, but he had a couple big saves and a bunch of easy ones and got the s/o. Obviously PSU played pretty porous D, I expect they will clean some of that up tonight, if they have the talent to do so. I can't imagine UW is THAT much better than them.

Why was the apparent goal in the first period waved off?

Glad you enjoyed the seats and the game! It looked alright on TV too.

I did some "what if" calculator today and to get home ice the Badgers either need to go 3-1 or 2-2 and hope minnesota sweeps DU at home this weekend. DU ends w/ UAA at home, penciling them in for 4 pts there. If UNO continues to fold (they lost to USA U-18 team this weekend) UW could catch/pass them too. I would love to see some hockey at the Kohl Center after the SCSU series. I think home ice is the road to an at large bid.

Also, I doubt Joel Rumpel will get 1st team WCHA, but I think he deserves it. Stud.