>
> Well, for some unGodly reason, i was up at 4am this morn analyzing what could
> becoe the NCAA pairings. Here[s my 4am logic...
>
> WEST
> 1) Michigan
> 2) Colorado College
> 3) Denver
> 4) Michigan State
> 5) Minnesota
> 6) Lake Superior
>
> EAST
> 1) Maine
> 2) Boston U.
> 3) New hampshire
> 4) Bowling Green
> 5) Clarkson
> 6) Brown
>
>
> I think LSSU will make it because they are playign, in my opiinon, some of the
> best hockey in teh CCHA right now. This is all contingent on outcomes of the
> playoffs and all that jazz (ya know, season not over, all subject to change)
>
> CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
>
> ECAC -- (2) Brown, Clarkson
> Hockey East (3) Maine, BU, New Hampshire
> CCHA -- (4) Michigan, Bowling Green, MSU, LSSU
> WCHA -- (3) CC, Denver, Minnesota
>
>
> BUBBLE TEAMS (including ones mentioned) - IN ORDER OF BEST CHANCE
>
> MSU -- has to make CCHA final 4
> LSSU -- ditto
> Minnesota -- depends on rest of season
> Wisconsin -- ditto MN
> Miami (Ohio) -- needs a miraculous playoff
>
>
> These are just my opinions and subject to criticism
>
>
> Chris Solari
> State News
> MSU
>
I completely agree that UW is on the bubble. So is LSSU and MN. But
why do think Denver isn't on the bubble. After CC, the WCHA
is up for grabs. Check this scenario: WI sweeps MTU, CC and Denver
split and SCSU and MN split. This isn't improbable. This leaves UW in
second place. A second or third place showing in the conference
tourney would then seem to lock in Bucky into the NCAA.
Now, to play devil's advocate things could go the other way and
MN or DU could fininsh 2-3 with UW in 4th. Then the tourney
holds the cards again. So ,what I'm driving at is this: Why is
Minn and DU seen as better teams than WI?
HTH gives UW the edge over DU but not MN. WI beat LSSU and BGSU while
only losing by one to MSU in tourney action. Except for a stumble
at SCSU a few weeks ago, UW has played good hockey, yet hasn't
moved up in any polls. The RPICH shows them at 9th (I think) yet
others show them behind NE, LSSU and one other (I forget which
one-this was the WMEB poll). Yet Denver remains curiously in
7th and MN in 9th to 10th. People rewarded DU with a good showing
in the polls because they split at MN. Yet, after UW split at DU
nothing! Remember, SAT.'s loss only becaome 5-2 in the last
2.5 minutes of the game.
These are things I've been wondering about for sometime. I decided
to keep my big mouth shut until after theDenver series. I have
an opinion as to why UW has been shown little respect in the polls:
1)Nobody on the team stands out as an outstanding player, with the'
exception of Brian Ralfalski.
2)Earlier in the year UW started out hot and was ranked high (top five
or six I think) but was then demolished by MINN (darn!). I think
pollsters were feeling betrayed.
Hey, it's all I can think of. Well, this is all really moot. If
Bucky can pull off the sweep and finish in the top three things should
change. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
later
jd
on wisCAHNsin
class of '90
ps I welcome all comments
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