Well, let's see, we've had talk about what teams SHOULD or SHOULD NOT get
an NCAA bid, what teams WILL get a bid if specific teams win their
conference tourney, and about Clarkson getting a #2 East seed where they
really shouldn't get anything higher than a #3 seed.
 
I'm in no way attempting to justify that Clarkson "deserves" a #2 seed. Yes,
they won the ECAC regular season. Yes, they are a talented, experienced, and
well-coached (IMO) hockey-team. Yes, they are one of the top 6 or 7 teams
in the country. But, I had never imagined, in my wildest fantasies, that
Clarkson would get a #2 east seed this year. Maine and BU are clearly the
top 2 teams in the east, with UNH coming in a close third.
 
HOWEVER, none of us (well, maybe a select few! :-) ) are able to control or
influence what happens in the selection process. Unfortunately, the
committee has the final word. I'm sure we'd get a legitimate NCAA tourney
field if we, the fans, were to give out the bids. :-)
 
Seriously, we are going to have to accept what the committee decides. I'm
not saying we all have to like it, just accept it. I was disappointed that
Colorado College didn't get their "deserved" bid last year, but who am I
to say who does or doesn't get a bid. Sure, we all have our opinions as to
who should get into the tourney.
 
But, I think what the selection committee is trying to do is to make everybody
happy, which is virtually impossible. It sounds to me as if they are strictly
going by numbers and not who are the top 12 teams in the country. Then
again, what determines the top teams? What selection committees need, be them
for hockey, basketball, etc., is a solid foundation from which to pick their
tourney teams. The only way (in my mind) to obtain that is through numbers.
The RPI is the best method for getting those numbers. Unless somebody
comes up with something new and better, the selection committee will have to
use the RPI as their criteria.
 
I noticed several teams that "deserved" a bid to the NCAA hoop tourney, IMO.
But, selection of the "top teams in the country" is probably the hardest
thing to do. Giving out automatic bids for conference tournament
champions is one way to start, even if UMass-Amherst had won the HE!
 
My point is, the committee is trying to make everybody happy, so they keep
trying to develop some algorithm that functionally determines who should
go and who shouldn't. Not everybody will be satisfied with the selections on
Sunday. I can guarantee that. Regardless, we have to accept them, since
they are the only selections we will have.
 
Besides, at least we don't have to play bowl games at the end of the year! :-)
 
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+  Andy Weise                 Let's Go Tech!!     [log in to unmask]  +
=  SUNY Potsdam '93                                                       =
+  Union College '95?         Let's Go U!!        [log in to unmask] +
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