Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

[burd]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I should be able to watch ESPNU at some of the finer drinking establishments, right?

Sherwin Williams always has more upscale sports like Lacrosse.

 

[UCBadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I'm less concerned with who we play than if it's on television.

Here is what is (currently) on the NCAA.com site:
Fri. Mar. 29 NCAA West Regional ESPNU 2 p.m. 208 / 141
Fri. Mar. 29 NCAA Northeast Regional TBD 4:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 29 NCAA West Regional ESPNU 5:30 p.m. 208 / 141
Fri. Mar. 29 NCAA Northeast Regional ESPNU 8 p.m. 208 / 141
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA Midwest Regional TBD 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA West Reg. Final ESPNU 4 p.m. 208 / 141
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA Midwest Regional TBD 5 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA East Regional TBD 5:30 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA Northeast Reg. Final ESPNU 6:30 p.m. 208 / 141
Sat. Mar. 30 NCAA East Regional ESPNU 9 p.m. 208 / 141
Sun. Mar. 31 NCAA Midwest Reg. Final ESPNU 4 p.m. 208 / 141
Sun. Mar. 31 NCAA East Reg. Final ESPNU 6:30 p.m. 208 / 141
Thu. Apr. 11 NCAA Semifinal ESPN2 4:30 p.m. 209 / 144
Thu. Apr. 11 NCAA Semifinal ESPN2 8 p.m. 209 / 144
Sat. Apr. 13 NCAA Championship ESPN 7 p.m. 206 / 140

EDIT: Actually, it was a link from NCAA.com to http://collegehockeyinc.com/tv-schedule

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I disagree, regardless of what happens in the NCAAs this was a successful season, they just didn't take the easy route to success. Issues certainly still exist and shouldn't be ignored but to claim this season was not a success means that UW has only had a handful of successful seasons.

I agree completely. I was on the "fire Eaves" bandwagon but the job he did coaching this team, keeping them together during dark times, and building them into what they are now is remarkable. I will never like his coaching style and there are still issues with overall fan enthusiasm, tickets, etc that need to be addressed, but I'm very happy and excited for this team and can't wait for next weekend!

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I'm not going to ignore the turnaround and that Eaves, Walsh and Schuey deserve a lot of credit for that. if UW loses in the first round however, I for one won't look at this as a successful season. First and foremost many people said this would be THE YEAR (upperclassmen plus 2 highly regarded frosh et al). *From that perspective* the season is a disappointment. They had to virtually run the table to get in and the fact they did it is fantastic and a huge statement to the team, but the fact they NEEDED to run the table (or almost) in the first place is what turned some (me and others) off ("hey I thought this was supposed to be THE YEAR!"). that and missing the NCAA's the prior 4 of 6 years (really should have been 5 of 6 considering the team that got in w/a losing record should not have gotten in)

First and foremost, who are these people who said this would be "THE YEAR?" What does that even mean? That they are going to win the NCAA title? I know I've said leading up to this year that this should be a season that Wisconsin is on an upswing. Despite losing Schultz, they were looking like a veteran laden club with a lot returning and two very talented freshman forwards coming in. It wasn't unrealistic to think this club had the potential to make a run, but I don't remember reading anywhere someone saying they felt this team would be as good as the 06 or 10 teams.

To not consider this a successful season seems puzzling considering what they've accomplished. With Kerdiles in the lineup this team is 21-5-5. To not account for him missing the first 10 games, or the injuries to Lee and Zengerle, and an assistant coach just up and quitting one day is head scratching. The team that I expected to see on the ice just reeled off 21 wins in its past 31 games, including the WCHA playoff championship. And that's not even including a talented freshman who I KNOW would have made an impact had he played a full season, and a senior center missing the past month.

If Kerdiles' advisor doesn't make a ridiculous mistake over the summer, this team is in the NCAA's easy. Regardless, they are there now and I'm not sure how you can pick against them in any game as they're playing as well as anyone in the country. Unfortunately for them they have to play a hot UMass Lowell team, in what should be one of the tournament's better first round match ups.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

You're kidding right? I think it shows a very successful season after Butters left, Kerdiles came back, and the team got more comfortable with each other. Very poor post. You can do better.

please re-read this one. I'm glad the team turned it around and give credit to the coaches. I also conceded winning is more important than my beef w/Eaves about his lousy style of play.

but putting this in perspective with regard to the expectations of the team: IF they lose to UM-L, why is this season successful? they were *expected* to make the frozen four by many prognosticators here, due mainly to their experience.

what I'm saying is this: making the NCAA's should be an expectation for UW hockey, a tick mark on the chart of accomplishments for the season. if the team makes noise in the NCAA's then I'll consider it successful. I'm not about to lower MY expectations for UW Hockey because Eaves not met those expectations in 4 of the last 6 years.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

First and foremost, who are these people who said this would be "THE YEAR?" What does that even mean? That they are going to win the NCAA title? I know I've said leading up to this year that this should be a season that Wisconsin is on an upswing. Despite losing Schultz, they were looking like a veteran laden club with a lot returning and two very talented freshman forwards coming in. It wasn't unrealistic to think this club had the potential to make a run, but I don't remember reading anywhere someone saying they felt this team would be as good as the 06 or 10 teams.

To not consider this a successful season seems puzzling considering what they've accomplished. With Kerdiles in the lineup this team is 21-5-5. To not account for him missing the first 10 games, or the injuries to Lee and Zengerle, and an assistant coach just up and quitting one day is head scratching. The team that I expected to see on the ice just reeled off 21 wins in its past 31 games, including the WCHA playoff championship. And that's not even including a talented freshman who I KNOW would have made an impact had he played a full season, and a senior center missing the past month.

If Kerdiles' advisor doesn't make a ridiculous mistake over the summer, this team is in the NCAA's easy. Regardless, they are there now and I'm not sure how you can pick against them in any game as they're playing as well as anyone in the country. Unfortunately for them they have to play a hot UMass Lowell team, in what should be one of the tournament's better first round match ups.

I recall several people on this board last year and over the summer stating UW would be a frozen four team given their experience. I also recall the wrath I got from some of the same when I stated otherwise.

regardless, you guys are jumping on a pretty minor point. See my most recent post. I *expect* UW to be in the tourney annually and given that I'm happy they made it but not going to anoint them kings for thusfar fulfilling the expectations (I feel) we should have

 

[Almington]

I recall several people on this board last year and over the summer stating UW would be a frozen four team given their experience. I also recall the wrath I got from some of the same when I stated otherwise.

regardless, you guys are jumping on a pretty minor point. See my most recent post. I *expect* UW to be in the tourney annually and given that I'm happy they made it but not going to anoint them kings for thusfar fulfilling the expectations (I feel) we should have

You expect them to win the conference tourney every year? Because they did that THIS year.

Winning the conference tournament makes this season a success, regardless of what happens in the NCAA tournament.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

You expect them to win the conference tourney every year? Because they did that THIS year.

Winning the conference tournament makes this season a success, regardless of what happens in the NCAA tournament.

No, the conference tournament I don't even think about until or unless we have situations like this where UW has to win it all.

However I do expect them in the NCAA's annually, or 3 of every 4 years. the conference hardware is far less important to me. Would I like to see them be more like Nodak and MN in that regard and capture some league crowns? Yes. but in the end the NCAA's are what I'm focused on so if they make noise in the NCAA's and don't win league crowns that's fine with me.

 

[Buck 'em]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I don't know how anyone, other than the most staunch Eaves-haters, could say this season hasn't already been a success. Leave the style of play b-itch-ing to the rodent fans, maybe it's boring, but this is a **** good team right now.

 

[icebadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Barry Melrose picked us to win it all. Sounds good to me.

 

[Buck 'em]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I officially dig "The Mullet"!

 

[jwilli]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

please re-read this one. I'm glad the team turned it around and give credit to the coaches. I also conceded winning is more important than my beef w/Eaves about his lousy style of play.

but putting this in perspective with regard to the expectations of the team: IF they lose to UM-L, why is this season successful? they were *expected* to make the frozen four by many prognosticators here, due mainly to their experience.

what I'm saying is this: making the NCAA's should be an expectation for UW hockey, a tick mark on the chart of accomplishments for the season. if the team makes noise in the NCAA's then I'll consider it successful. I'm not about to lower MY expectations for UW Hockey because Eaves not met those expectations in 4 of the last 6 years.

It would be helpful if you could find and quote some of these "many prognosticators". As Chuck points out, the Badgers were predicted to finish 4th in the WCHA, I don't recall anyone predicting they'd be in the FF. Fourth in your conference doesn't suggest a lock to be among the four best in the nation.

Make the WCHA Final Five and win at least one? - yes. Make the national tourney? - yes. They haven't done this lately with the regularity expected from a program with Wisconsin's heritage, but this year they did. As has already been stated, this finish doesn't fix all the issues that the Badgers still have to deal with. But to suggest this season is not successful unless they beat the #3 team in the tourny seems to me to be unfair.

 

[jwilli]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

The brackets are as expected, but I can't believe the Wisconsin/Lowell game is relegated to ESPN3. How quickly will the regional sports networks announce the games they're picking up?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

but putting this in perspective with regard to the expectations of the team: IF they lose to UM-L, why is this season successful? they were *expected* to make the frozen four by many prognosticators here, due mainly to their experience.

what I'm saying is this: making the NCAA's should be an expectation for UW hockey, a tick mark on the chart of accomplishments for the season. if the team makes noise in the NCAA's then I'll consider it successful. I'm not about to lower MY expectations for UW Hockey because Eaves not met those expectations in 4 of the last 6 years.

I hold the same general expectations that you do year to year. That said, individual season expectations change with circumstance. You're seem to be blatantly ignoring the circumstances that led to the first two months of the season and 1-7-2 start. Regardless of anyone's opinion of Eaves, to not consider what they've overcome this season a success is crazy.

 

[DoorCtyBadgers]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I hold the same general expectations that you do year to year. That said, individual season expectations change with circumstance. You're seem to be blatantly ignoring the circumstances that led to the first two months of the season and 1-7-2 start. Regardless of anyone's opinion of Eaves, to not consider what they've overcome this season a success is crazy.

i guess i would call this season a succes because when most of us started to bail on this team they stuck with it....won home ice for the 1st round of the wcha tourney and then had to go and win the f5 tourney to advance to the ncaa tourney....and guess what on the final night of the badger hockey regular season they had to win to play in the ncaa tourney against cc and you like all badger fans last night was jumping to the cielings....the badgers won and now we go out east win 2 more game and then we are only two games away....this team is bow what 22-5-5 this year sorry boys cant be upset with that...on ine final point mike eaves has just extended his job for a minmum of 3 more seaseons

 

[SatNightFever]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I hold the same general expectations that you do year to year. That said, individual season expectations change with circumstance. You're seem to be blatantly ignoring the circumstances that led to the first two months of the season and 1-7-2 start. Regardless of anyone's opinion of Eaves, to not consider what they've overcome this season a success is crazy.

Well stated - I agree.

When you start that way - to be where we are now - I am still kinda shaking my head at this team from Dec 1st on. I was there for the Sat night loss at the KC to CC, and there when we beat UAH and was like "nice to win, but it doesn't matter this year". I launched my remote almost into my neighbors driveway after the loss to PSU...but am relishing the way this team stayed together and fought on....pretty amazing!

I can certainly understand someone saying the glass is still half empty right now, despite the NCAA bid....I guess I prefer to see it as half-full. But if we win Friday, and it's half full of beer, well....it won't be for long!

 

[icebadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

The pertinent details: Game is 3:30pm on Friday. Only live coverage is ESPN3 (aka your computer) at the moment. Tape-delayed at 9:30pm on ESPNU. UW says there is a "possibility" of local live TV coverage.

 

[WiscTJK]

I hold the same general expectations that you do year to year. That said, individual season expectations change with circumstance. You're seem to be blatantly ignoring the circumstances that led to the first two months of the season and 1-7-2 start. Regardless of anyone's opinion of Eaves, to not consider what they've overcome this season a success is crazy.

Chuck to be fair, Butters hiring was a head scratcher so him leaving is partially on the head coach.

I was on the fire Eaves wagon earlier in the year and obviously there are still issues (at least I think this way) with unacceptable yearly results, home attendance, atmosphere and such that I think are related to the coach / coaching style. I wish Eaves would open things up and loosen the reigns a bit. But I certainly dont want to go back to the undisciplined play at the end of the Sauer era.

With that all being said the turn around has been dramatic and fun to watch and I look forward to Friday's game. I sure hope someone picks up the game locally. UMass sounds like a tough team and their starting goalie stats are eye popping. But this team can beat anyone right now. Lets go red!

 

[riverchief1]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

UMass sounds like a tough team and their starting goalie stats are eye popping.

FYI - UMass is out in Amherst. You're playing UMass-Lowell or UML or just plain Lowell. You'll find soon enough that just calling us UMass is enough to send most UML fans into fits.

UMass is the team in HE that didn't make the HE playoffs. UML is the team that won the regular season and the HE tournament.

 

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

FYI - UMass is out in Amherst. You're playing UMass-Lowell or UML or just plain Lowell. You'll find soon enough that just calling us UMass is enough to send most UML fans into fits.

Glad we know how to **** you off now