Hi -
Just an observation re: our earlier discussion on the relative merits of
offense vs. defense. Despite the preponderance of replies that argued for
the "Defense First" philosophy, note the latest CCHP ratings from Eric C.
(way up Alaska way):
On Mon, 16 Dec 1996, Eric Carlson wrote:
> ------- OVERALL ------- HOME ROAD
> TEAM OFF DEF TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL SCHED
> -------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
> 1 Michigan (15-1-1) 2.96 4 .78 4 2.18 2.98 1.27 -.56
> 2 New Hampshire (13-2-0) 3.46 1 1.47 15 1.99 1.30 3.87 -.41
> 3 Miami (14-4-0) 2.79 5 .82 5 1.97 1.37 2.52 -.28
> 4 Minnesota (10-6-0) 2.31 10 .52 2 1.79 2.06 1.25 .73
> 5 Boston University (10-3-2) 2.73 6 .95 7 1.78 2.75 .75 -.34
> 6 North Dakota (11-4-1) 3.31 2 1.60 20 1.72 1.99 .77 .47
> 7 St Cloud (10-4-2) 2.15 15 .70 3 1.45 .36 1.31 .45
> 8 Vermont (9-4-0) 2.42 8 1.12 9 1.30 1.83 1.36 .57
> 9 Colorado College (10-5-1) 3.03 3 1.75 22 1.28 1.59 1.24 .47
> 10 Michigan State (11-5-0) 2.52 7 1.52 17 1.00 1.50 .82 .03
> 11 Clarkson (8-5-0) 2.40 9 1.40 13 .99 .56 1.35 -.28
.....
> 19 Union (5-6-1) .42 43 .33 1 .09 -1.31 .98 .18
All of the Top Ten Offensive teams are ranked in the Top 11 overall,
but Union, as Defensive Team #1, falls all the way to 19th; its anemic
offense (#43) can't overcome a stellar defense. As you might expect, the
balanced teams like Miami (#5 Off, #5 Def), Michigan (#4 Off, #4 Def),
BU (#6 Off, #7 Def) and Vermont (#8 Off, #9 Def) are highly ranked, but
so are teams thriving as somewhat one-dimensional squads: UNH (#1 Off,
#15 Def), Minnesota (#10 Off, #2 Def), St. Cloud (#15 Off, #3 Def), and
Unbalanced Supremo North Dakota (#2 Off, #20 Def). St. Cloud and Minn.
just concluded a battle of defensively oriented teams (each winning low
scoring games at the other's home rink), but the match-up I'd *love* to
see - UNH vs N. Dakota (16 goals over/under :-) will have to wait until
(perhaps) the NC$$ Tournament. That would be something to see <grin>
Cheers from Maryland - Jim
Go Blue !!!!
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