G.M. Finniss writes:
 
>It would be nice if your season was judged on one game, but it isn't.  While
>the loss to Northern was a key factor, it wasn't the only reason that MSU
>wasn't invited last year.  12 losses, being swept by Miami, losing 2 of 3
>to UM and Western, and losing to Ferris State in the CCHA quarterfinals
>didn't help the Spartans' chances at an NC$$ bid.  They were playing flat
>at the end of the season while others (Brown, Northern) made it to the
>finals of their respective conference playoffs.
 
All of this is true, but MSU and NMU were tied in the RPI ratings at
selection time.  NMU got the bid over MSU because of NMU's edge in
head-to-head competition.
 
>Plus, it would have been difficult for the NC$$ to give four bids to the >CCHA.
 
Not necessarily so:  four WCHA teams got bids last year.  The committee
appears not to take conference membership into consideration.
 
-- Erik