OK, here are Mike's picks for the 1991 NCAAs. Keep in mind that I
have correctly called the champion the last four years. I will
be coming out with my new 900 number shortly, but for now these
prognostications are yours free.
FIRST ROUND
5E PROVIDENCE (20-10-2) at 4W MINNESOTA (27-7-5): Minnesota leads the
all-time series, 8-3-1, and is 7-1-0 vs the Friars at home. Minnesota
won the last meeting, 7-1, 11/12/88 at home. Friars will have a week's
rest while Gophers have to play again Friday after playing Sunday and
Monday. Minnesota looked very tough in the WCHA Championship Game (a
great game, as all four league title matches were), especially on
defense. Providence's firepower comes from Rob Gaudreau (32-25--57),
Mike Boback and Bob Cowan. Brad Mullahy will probably play all games
in net. PC has the potential to get blown out here although they
usually surprise you. Minnesota seemed to be pretty similar to PC
up front although they are deeper; Gaudreau is PC's only player in the
top 20 HE scorers (overall). PC is inexperienced, playing at times
eight freshmen and a handful of sophomores. Chris Therien is a good
one on defense, but he's only a rookie. Friars' inexperience will
hurt them here along with playing on the road. 20-10-2 record masks
fact that PC struggled against top teams. Should be a low-scoring
series, at least on the Friars part. :-)
PICK: Minnesota in two games, though emotional PC team could push to 3.
6W ALASKA-ANCHORAGE (17-15-4) at 3E BOSTON COLLEGE (27-10-0): Teams
have never played. UAA lost close games to HE teams Maine, UNH, PC,
and tied Maine & swept Lowell. BC 17-1 at home. Key UAA players are
guns Dean Larson and Rob Conn, and goalie Paul Krake. BC is known for
sleeping against teams they should beat, but I don't think they will
do it twice this weekend. This should be a good tuneup for BC, as
they get to get back into the swing of things and face a team that has
played tough against several of the nation's best this season.
PICK: BC in two games.
6E CORNELL (17-9-3) at 3W MICHIGAN (32-7-3): All-time series is 1-1-0.
In 1964-65, Cornell lost at home, 7-1. In 1987-88, Cornell won at Yale
Hockey Classic, 6-3. First meeting in Yost Arena. Cornell is 7-6-1 away
from home, and Michigan is 14-2-2 at Yost. Wolverines are 20-2 since
Christmas with both losses coming at the Joe, to LSSU in the CCHA
Championship and to MSU on 2/16. Cornell is 3-4-1 since 2/9. Cornell
has two quality netminders in D'Alessio and Crozier, but Michigan's
Steve Shields would probably have been the CCHA's best if not for
Darrin Madeley of LSSU. The edge on offense has to go to the Wolverines
with Denny Felsner, David Roberts, and Brian Wiseman. Rookie Aaron Ward
anchors a solid defense along with Patrick Neaton. Cornell is led by
Ryan Hughes, Doug Derraugh, Trent Andison, and All-World blueliner
Dan Ratushny. Cornell has a tendency to take dumb penalties at the wrong
time in games, and they need to stay out of the box. A key should be
Michigan's tough schedule which has prepared them for the NCAAs; the
Wolverines hung tough with LSSU in the CCHA final.
PICK: Michigan in two low-scoring games.
5W WISCONSIN (26-13-3) at 4E CLARKSON (24-7-2): Clarkson has never beaten
the Badgers, who are 4-0-2 in the all-time series. The last meeting was
in 1980-81 at Clarkson in the NCAAs, when Wisconsin won a total goals
series 3-2, 6-6. Wisconsin is the defending national champion. The
Knights were given two tough battles this weekend by Harvard and St
Lawrence, but they really haven't run up against an opponent of the caliber
of Wisconsin since 1/12 when they lost at BC, 8-5. The Badgers are an
experienced playoff club who lost a tough WCHA semifinal to Minnesota,
3-2, before losing to North Dakota in the consolation. They aren't the
same powerful team they were last year, but they are always dangerous. The
key will be Clarkson goalie Chris Rogles and the rest of the Golden
Knights' defense, but I just think Wisconsin will be too much for them.
PICK: Wisconsin in two games, though if it goes to three I think Clarkson
will pull it out at home.
So, I've picked three Western teams to win in the four first round series.
But never fear, Eastern fans; previews to come later, but here are my
early picks for the rest of the tourney:
QUARTERFINALS
MINNESOTA at MAINE: Maine in three games.
BOSTON COLLEGE at NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Boston College in three games.
MICHIGAN at BOSTON UNIVERSITY: Boston University in three games.
WISCONSIN at LAKE SUPERIOR: Lake Superior in two games.
SEMIFINALS
MAINE vs BOSTON COLLEGE: Boston College.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY vs LAKE SUPERIOR: Boston University.
CHAMPIONSHIP
BOSTON COLLEGE vs BOSTON UNIVERSITY: Boston University.
(Rematch of the 1978 NCAA Championship Game)
I had no intention of picking BU to win it all when I first set out, but
looking at each matchup, they appear to have teams in their bracket
that they can beat - though not easily. It will be a tough road and I
would give anything to be able to see a BU-LSSU semifinal. I think the
teams that are playing the very best in the country right now are LSSU,
Michigan, BU, and NMU, and I see BU having to face two of those clubs
along the way. It should be an interesting tourney.
- mike
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