Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

[Innova]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

One thing that certainly needs to change is the configuration and coaching for the Power play. In the last ten games, the Badgers had 34 opportunities over a duration of 59 minutes and 57 seconds, but only had 35 shots and 2 goals. 6% effectiveness on the PP isn't going to help you win many games.

There was a span earlier in the season that was similar. I remember thinking, "That is a whole ****ing game on the power play, and you only managed 1 or two goals?".

 

[UWisco]

we will most likely be weaker in goal, going from a senior to a freshman. So talent may be up, but scoring by the other team will as well.

Opilka is expected to be drafted in the first few rounds in the draft...

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Nice article to wrap up the season.

It's always sad to see a Badger hockey season end, but at times like these it's hard as a fan to see positives for the future (outside of the obvious want for major changes.) Still, those kids worked hard last night when they were clearly outmatched by the Wolverines last night.

One thing that certainly needs to change is the configuration and coaching for the Power play. In the last ten games, the Badgers had 34 opportunities over a duration of 59 minutes and 57 seconds, but only had 35 shots and 2 goals. 6% effectiveness on the PP isn't going to help you win many games.

Eaves PP ONLY works when he has the talent to run his "system." He is apparently incapable of creating a PP to maximize the talent on the team, instead continues on working to fit a square peg into a round hole. This has frustrated me for 10 years. Sure the PP looked good in 06, 10 and 14, but inbetween there was a lot of pathetic years of PP. The PK has always been a staple of Eaves no matter what and they sucked this year too.

I think Eaves would be a great coach at the pro level where he could find players and pay them to fit his system, here he and his staff have clearly failed, not at identifying the talent needed, but getting the talent needed for the past several years. That being said I wish him well on his next job and hope that he exits quickly from this one.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

The MVP of the off season will be the strength and conditioning coach. And that will probably be the biggest reason these guys will be much improved next year. Throughout much of the year guys like Hughes and Linhart were just getting manhandled out there, but as the season drew to a close you could easily see the improvement in their individual games and their ability to compete with older players as they grew stronger. Hughes at 145#'s just bounced off people early on, at 185-190#'s it's going to be a whole different story and his talent will show a lot more. Same goes for Rockwood and most all of the other young guys.

Scoring goals is sometimes a nebulous thing-- the more you score the easier it gets, and conversely the less you score the harder it gets. In last night's game the Badgers hit a pipe, a crossbar, fanned on a couple open nets... and Michigan benefited from some crazy bounces that landed in the back of the net... it's the way it goes when things are going that way (for both sides), and it's often as much or more a psychological thing as it is a talent thing. Besse probably handles that rebound 9 times out of 10 and buries it, but grip the stick just a little too hard...

But the Badger's definitely didn't get manhandled like they did earlier in the season. They couldn't finish but they've been physically much more competitive down the stretch. And if you're looking for some hope for next year, it starts there. A bunch of these guys were and are physically just now growing into their bodies as we watch, and that's going to be one big difference going forward.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Opilka is expected to be drafted in the first few rounds in the draft...

I understand, but you are taking one of the better goalies in UW history as a senior, and replacing him with a freshman that has potential, but is untested and unproven at the collegiate level.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I understand, but you are taking one of the better goalies in UW history as a senior, and replacing him with a freshman that has potential, but is untested and unproven at the collegiate level.

Didn't Opilka shutout the Badgers in an exhibition game? Oh wait, you said at the collegiate level....never mind.

Kidding aside, he has played several college teams this year and represented himself quite well.

 

[D2D]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Besse probably handles that rebound 9 times out of 10 and buries it, but grip the stick just a little too hard...

To me it looked like the puck bounced over his stick. If it did, there's not much he could have done.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I haven't seen a post season thread yet, so let's go here. (When somebody does start an off season thread, let a veteran do it; somebody who can come up with a decent thread title. )

What should happen? MCR Jr, follows from 1000 miles away and wants to know what we think, or hope, will happen.

My opinion is an entirely new coaching staff. The damage is done. It's very obvious top players don't want to play here. Players are jumping ship, considering other options, and NOT considering Wisconsin at all. The drop off has been quick and disturbing to me. I will welcome a new staff and have some patience.

My patience has run out with the current staff.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I've been told that the auto-thread closer is turned back on, so this one will close at or around 1000.


If someone makes a cheesy thread title, someone else can just make another that better reflects our current collective mood.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I haven't seen a post season thread yet, so let's go here. (When somebody does start an off season thread, let a veteran do it; somebody who can come up with a decent thread title. )

What should happen? MCR Jr, follows from 1000 miles away and wants to know what we think, or hope, will happen.

My opinion is an entirely new coaching staff. The damage is done. It's very obvious top players don't want to play here. Players are jumping ship, considering other options, and NOT considering Wisconsin at all. The drop off has been quick and disturbing to me. I will welcome a new staff and have some patience.

My patience has run out with the current staff.

I think there is a collective agreement with you, except for a couple of Eaves sympathizers.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Let's get this thread closed as soon as possible. You creative minded folks better have something ready to go for a new thread title. We need a new coach and thread.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

"The average scanned attendance for the 19 home men's hockey games was 7,507, down 451 from last season and down over 4,000 from the high-water mark in 2009-10, when the team was the national runner-up.

The average actual attendance was the second-lowest in the nine years available, while the percentage of no-shows (30.7 percent) was the second-highest in that time." -Milewski, Cap Times


Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/...e54-11e4-b8a8-3b52468ab36e.html#ixzz3UxUKF0ZH

I know some have mentioned Eaves having a significant buyout as an impediment to replacing him, and I will repeat that the athletic department has collected 2 buyouts for football coaches that have gone elsewhere in the last few years and Eaves is costing significantly more running the program into the ground then replacing him and getting someone in here to reverse the attrition.

If Barry thinks the 30%+ that didn't use their tickets (and worse yet couldn't find anyone to take them for FREE so they went unused) are renewing their season tickets....he is awfully naive and in for a big surprise in a few months.

4000 tickets/game X $24 each X 20 home games = $1,920,000 that Eaves is costing the school by staying in only ticket revenue. Add in the lost revenue from parking, concessions, merchandise sales, etc and it better be time for a change.

Half of our games this season had fewer then 6500 butts in seats for them.

On a sidebar, the exhibition game against the USDT had announced attendance of 9096 and actual attendance of 3933. Pretty sure that is a strong message that season ticketholders are not interested in exhibition games. This "idiot" is done paying for exhibition games at full price in a season ticket package. Instead of rewarding season ticketholders with a reduced cost per game, at Wisconsin you get to pay more through the seat licensing fees/Badger Fund donations and get the privilege of getting forced into buying an exhibition game.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

"The average scanned attendance for the 19 home men's hockey games was 7,507, down 451 from last season and down over 4,000 from the high-water mark in 2009-10, when the team was the national runner-up.

The average actual attendance was the second-lowest in the nine years available, while the percentage of no-shows (30.7 percent) was the second-highest in that time." -Milewski, Cap Times


Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/...e54-11e4-b8a8-3b52468ab36e.html#ixzz3UxUKF0ZH

I know some have mentioned Eaves having a significant buyout as an impediment to replacing him, and I will repeat that the athletic department has collected 2 buyouts for football coaches that have gone elsewhere in the last few years and Eaves is costing significantly more running the program into the ground then replacing him and getting someone in here to reverse the attrition.

If Barry thinks the 30%+ that didn't use their tickets (and worse yet couldn't find anyone to take them for FREE so they went unused) are renewing their season tickets....he is awfully naive and in for a big surprise in a few months.

4000 tickets/game X $24 each X 20 home games = $1,920,000 that Eaves is costing the school by staying in only ticket revenue. Add in the lost revenue from parking, concessions, merchandise sales, etc and it better be time for a change.

Half of our games this season had fewer then 6500 butts in seats for them.

On a sidebar, the exhibition game against the USDT had announced attendance of 9096 and actual attendance of 3933. Pretty sure that is a strong message that season ticketholders are not interested in exhibition games. This "idiot" is done paying for exhibition games at full price in a season ticket package. Instead of rewarding season ticketholders with a reduced cost per game, at Wisconsin you get to pay more through the seat licensing fees/Badger Fund donations and get the privilege of getting forced into buying an exhibition game.

pretty clear when the team sucks - Women's BB and Men's Hockey, people don't come.

And I agree with you on that I hate paying for exhibition games and the discount for season ticket holders should be more.

Thanks for sharing the link.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

pretty clear when the team sucks - Women's BB and Men's Hockey, people don't come.

And I agree with you on that I hate paying for exhibition games and the discount for season ticket holders should be more.

Thanks for sharing the link.

That article is fascinating on many levels. It amazes me how many people eat/can't give away tickets that cost $20+.

If the athletic department is dead set on playing the USDT, they should consider moving it LaBahn and charge $10 general admission. Still going to generate some revenue, the arena will probably be close to full and it doesn't p-ss off the season ticket holders that don't have a choice but to pay full price for a game they probably don't want to go in the first place.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I haven't seen a post season thread yet, so let's go here. (When somebody does start an off season thread, let a veteran do it; somebody who can come up with a decent thread title. )

1.) There aren't post season and in-season threads. They just (normally) run to a thousand and then the next one starts.

B.) A "veteran" suggested the thread title. It says so in the first post of this thread.

and 3.) You've had like 20 posts in the last year. Who are you to complain? Should we have just waited around a month for you to drop in with one of your snappy ideas?

 

[oldicecoach]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Like to suggest that "idiot fans" be incorporated in a new thread title

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Puppies ****ting too.

 

[Almington]

1.) There aren't post season and in-season threads. They just (normally) run to a thousand and then the next one starts.

B.) A "veteran" suggested the thread title. It says so in the first post of this thread.

and 3.) You've had like 20 posts in the last year. Who are you to complain? Should we have just waited around a month for you to drop in with one of your snappy ideas?

When I suggested the thread title, I really did think that things were at rock bottom. Little did I know that Eaves recruited rock miners instead of hockey players. Although, maybe some dog trainers or mountain climbers would have also helped.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

When I suggested the thread title, I really did think that things were at rock bottom. Little did I know that Eaves recruited rock miners instead of hockey players. Although, maybe some dog trainers or mountain climbers would have also helped.

Wisconsin Hockey: Digging our way to the top!

 

[burd]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Sioux lose in first game of the conference tourney. Can we join torch and pitchfork brigades for one big roast?