It isn't too hard to figure out who is already in the NC$$ tournament.  You can staan
start by the four teams who are already in, having won the regular season title.
 
1. Colorado
2. LSSU
3. Vermont
4. BU
 
The next group are those that are virtual shoo-ins.
 
5. Michigan
6. Minnesota
7. Michigan State
8. Western Michigan
 
So the remaining four will come from the following possibles.  The ECAC and HE
will take at least two of these spots.
 
9. Clarkson  (likely even if they don't win the ECAC tournament.
10. UMass Lowell (even more likely since Maine will not be going)
11. Wisconsin (need WCHA Tournament)
12. Cornell (need ECAC tournament
13. Colgate (need ECAC Tournament)
14. St. Lawrence (probably need ECAC Tournament)
15. Bowling Green (need statistician to evaluate or CCHA tournament)
 
The next group would include all the teams still in their respective tournaments
including:
 
16. RPI--must win tonight :-)
17. Dartmouth  :-)
18. Brown :-)
19. Princeton :-)
 
In summary, I totally unscientific method of evaluating bids says that there are
probably only two bids that are really up for grabs.  Now the question of the
number 2 East seed, that's another story.
********************************************************************************
Brian Morris                    RPI Engineers--Beat Dartmouth
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