> ps: Not to sound like I'm flaming... but does Colorado College
> really deserve the #1 spot? I'm a BU grad who's now living out here
> in Colorado. I've gone to see two CC games in person, and a couple
> of others on TV (as well as Denver games in person and on tube).
> I've also seen BU play in person and on TV. Both teams look quite
> impressive, and have some DAMN fine players. Could I really give an
> edge to one team over the other based on 12-14 game performance? No.
>
> I'm sure I'm heavily biased, but it seems that with the pressure of
> being number 1 and a defending champion, BU gets a slight nod in the
> tough-schedule department (although I think that on the whole both
> HE and WCHA are somewhat weak this year). On the other hand, CC *is*
> undefeated. Not having a loss is fairly important, IMHO. But are
> three ties better than a tie and a loss?
 
Geeze, haven't you learned?!?  NEVER EVER FLAME THE WCHA!!!  Ok,
sorry about that, had to get it out of my system.  Rough day at work
and I need a laugh, however dumb it might be.
 
From what I have seen of the polls (not just hockey) that most voters
just glance at the records when they go to vote.  I don't think that
this is at all right, but that's what I've always heard.  So, with
this being the case, I would assume that someone that loses is not as
good as someone that can get the tie as opposed to the loss.  I think
that you have a unique perspective in having seen both teams play
this year.  I would be surprised if more than a handful of voters in
any of the polls have seen both CC and BU play, especially coaches
since they have their own team to worry about.
 
The nice thing about hockey is that by the end of the season enough
games get played by the time the tourney rolls around that the top
teams are usually clear by the win/loss records and any discrepencies
between the top teams can usually be played out on the ice.
 
IMO Polls are great to look at and say "Hey, we're number x" for
most of the season.  I don't think that they should mean much more
than that.
--------------------------------------------------------
Rob Zielinski
Systems Administration
The REP Company, Bloomington, MN
 
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