Here is an idea for a 12-team NCAA hockey tournament.  Give all 12 teams
a first round game, leaving 6 survivors when the final scores are in.
In the second round, play 3 games, with three teams emerging for the
Final 3.  Re-seed the survivors and give the top seeded team a bye into
the finals.  The semi-final game would be like it is now, 2 days before
the Final, giving everybody their appropriate rest.  Maybe this would
solve the dilemma we have now where all the teams saddled with a first
round game in the present format are coming up continuous losers.  Just
a though from someone whose never been there.
 
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