Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?
Responding to svf from the series thread (made more sense to post it here):
Take away the run to save face at the end of last season, forget about 2009-2010, and one could say that we've been on a REALLY long down period since the title.
Having not paid as much attention to the late-Sauer era (not quite old enough), I can't really compare post-title Eaves to late-era Sauer. Were those late Sauer teams burdened with unmet expectations and underperforming talent like most of the post-title Eaves teams (again, 2010 notwithstanding)?
Obviously, there were high hopes for the 1999-2000 Badgers that weren't entirely met, but although they didn't go to the FF, they at least got a MacNaughton and a fantastic regular season. Aside from that team, were the low points of late Sauer expected or did they feel a lot like what Eaves' teams feel like? Were they seasons where we knew we weren't that good or were they teams that never played to their talent level?
yeah, think of how from 2007 forward this team has been average at best. In 2010 they made the title game but I never during that season had the feeling they could make a run, I was surprised they made the championship game, for whatever reason (probably the lackluster prior 2 years) I just didn't think they were 06 great. Back in 2003 I had a feeling about the teams frosh and the incoming players for the following season that felt much different than anything Eaves has done since and I posted in my sig in 03 (Wisconsin Hockey 2006 National Champions). I haven't felt that confident since.
to compare to Sauer...Jeff Sauer's problem was two-fold. One, the 1992 NCAA title game debacle really hurt them in recruiting they had one more very solid class in 1993 (who were already in the fold) and then they fell off the table. Sauer also suffered one major set-back (in retrospect) the year prior in that he didn't land Brian Holzinger but to be fair UW was so stacked Holzinger was worried about playing time. But post 1992 Title game the meltdown was used against UW in recruiting and it worked. This coincided with Denver, Colorado College and St. Cloud becoming powers and beating UW for recruits. Geno Parrish, Matt Cullen, Matt Pettinger, Darren Clark... there had to be about 1/2 dozen to 10 players that ended up at Denver,, CC or St. Cloud between 94-00 that in years prior would have landed at UW. Doesn't sound like much but those lost recruiting battles were likely the difference between a team with 17-20 losses and one with maybe 12 losses.
Once he lost several recruiting battles in 94-98ish it was tough to come back. He had the legacy players in Winchester and Heatley and a nice pick-up in Reinprecht (brought to the staff's attention by one Maco Balcovec IIRC), but by and large he was down in recruiting and playing an up-tempo game like Sauer's teams did meant that if you didn't have the horses you'd get smoked. I still vividly recall a game against CC in Colorado Springs where I think CC won 8-4 and it was Mike Strobel's final year (1995), listened to it on the radio...It was the first time in forever (it seemed) where UW didn't have a chance right from the puck drop. Later that season Michigan did the same **** thing and won by a similar score. Berenson called off the dogs and Michigan was still stomping on UW with their 3rd-4th liners...
This thing w/Eaves is really a mystery to me in comparison. He's lost a few recruiting battles recently (Ryan Walters and one-two others I'm forgetting) but nothing that could explain this maddening up and down up and down crap.
I'm really at a loss to explain it...When Gwoz and Lucia took their teams to NCAA Titles they may have had a year or two drop-off as they re-loaded but they DID re-load and were playoff threats almost annually. Why Eaves hasn't produced the same is in part (imo) his decision to not recruit one and dones after 06. I think he's finally retreated from that sentiment but man 07 to 13 not a lot happening for UW hockey save for 1 season.
Taken as a whole from 1995-2013 UW has NOT been a national power year in and year out. So any kids playing in the NCAA's now and being recruited today really don't know UW as a power, anything referencing that has to be historical in nature...I mean Heatley was 13 years ago and that was a 1-line team. So UW's been an interloper on the national stage for almost 20 years and to be brutally honest I'm ****ing tired of it.
Bob Johnson's legacy needs to be lived up to and the University should treat UW Men's Hockey like Alabama/Notre Dame/tOSU treat their football or IU in Basketball. Win, that's it. No other answer can or will be accepted.
Not to belabor the point but for the past 2 years as I've raised red flags I've had a couple of posters rip me and trot out what I feel are excuses. HOWEVER they thought last year and this year would be THE YEARS.
welp, so far let's look at the records
Minnesota 11-2-1
Wisconsin 4-5-1
that Wisconsin record is more indicative of where they've actually been over the past 18 years and that's depressing.
