While it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, I have found yet
another reason that I simply do not like the priority that the NCAA
gives to the various factors in seeded the tournament.  We have a
situation where the performance in the conference tournament of the top
three teams in the west is pretty much irrelevant to their position in
the NCAA field.
 
I don't think that anyone, even Michigan, can catch Michigan State or
North Dakota for one of the two byes.  With just the right break, maybe
the Wolverines could catch the Sioux, but they'll never overcome the 0-4
head-to-head record with Michigan State for that comparison.  Granted,
this factor doesn't really make my point; it simply means that by the
seeding criteria, the top two spots in the west are fixed.  That rest of
the factors, though, still play a role.
 
Michgan is a lock for the tournament; they've played that well this
season.  However, they can not play so poorly that they fall out of the
West Regional.  Why not?  They're the host.  Once they make the
tournament, they'll be in Ann Arbor.
 
But thanks to the conference match-up rules, no matter how Michigan,
Michigan State or North Dakota do in the tournament, it will have
absolutely no affect on who they play in the regional. Regardless of who
finishes with the better ranking, MSU and ND will have the same
seeding.  Why?  The NCAA will not put Michigan in MSU's bracket.
Whether North Dakota is #1 West or #2, whether Michigan is #3 West or
#4, they will have a quarterfinal match-up, assuming Michigan wins its
first-round game.
 
So, Michigan fans, as it pertains to the NCAAs, you might as well go
ahead and lose to Notre Dame tonight.  The only thing you're playing for
is whether you wear your white (sorry, maize) jerseys or the blue ones
in the first round.
 
What a ridiculous, pathetic sytem.
 
J. Michael Neal
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.