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