Date sent:              Fri, 21 Jul 2000 14:18:04 -0700
From:                   "Anthony J. Buffa" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: MAAC Recommended for Automatic Bid to 2001 NCAA Ice Hockey

> Logically, I would want to think the autobid would go to the REGULAR
> season champ, having proved itself over many games, rather than a
> end-of-season tourney champ who wins 4 or 5 games, but then again, what
> has logic had to do with a lot of NCAA decisions?

When you look at it from that perspective, you're right, it makes more
sense to send the regular season champion.  How about if I change the
perspective a little?  Let's try taking this from the point of view of
the heritage of the tournament.  I'll use squeakball instead because
I'm more familiar with how it was run years ago.  There, years ago, the
NCAA tournament was something akin to the World Cup, where rather than
a "best of the best" tournament it was more a continuation of
tournaments that were started at the conference level.  In that light,
it makes sense that you would take the team that wins the conference
tournament.  I think that attitude also colors other tournaments.

Now, I'll grant, with all the at-large bids that are offered, it's
really more like a "best of the best" these days, so I'm not sure how
much the idea of the older setup is worth.  So ultimately, I'm agreeing
with you, but presenting a viewpoint where taking the tournament winner
is a little less illogical.

--
 Craig Powers                   NU ChE class of '98
 [log in to unmask]       http://lynx.neu.edu/home/httpd/c/cpowers
 [log in to unmask]              http://www.hal-pc.org/~enigma

"Good..bad....I'm the guy with the gun." -- "Ash" in *Army of Darkness*