John H. and Erik B. have given their analyses of Wisconsin and the
NCAA's.  Let me add a little more info.
 
Duane Derksen had the stitches removed and a new lightweight cast
put on his injured wrist.  He will not play this weekend.  He might
play next weekend assuming Wisc. makes it to the WCHA Phinal Phour.
The assumption is that he will definitely be ready to play by the
time the NCAA tourney starts.
 
Will Wisc. get an NCAA invite?
If some team not among the top three in the regular season standings
of the WCHA or CCHA wins their tourney, both Wisc. and NMU are in trouble.
Otherwise IMHO all Wisc and NMU have to do is advance this weekend.
I don't think there is any chance Western Michigan will leapfrog
ahead of these two teams even if one them finishes 4th.  Western
needs to win the CCHA tourney!  Check out the latest RPICH courtesy
of Erik.
 
                                                 Opp     OppOpp
                         G    W  L  T    Win%    Win%    Win%   RPICH
 8  Wisconsin           34   21-11- 2   .6471   .5177   .5121   .5413
...
11  Northern Michigan   36   20-13- 3   .5972   .5190   .5140   .5326
...
13  Western Michigan    34   16-12- 6   .5588   .5122   .5183   .5240
 
 
From: Dave 'Louie' LaPlant, concerning the Derksen injury and Wisc,
 
>Come on guys, do you really believe this? or are you speculating what the
>committe is going to think.
 
>If any team was not chosen because (or even slightly impacted by) an injury it
>would be a crime.
 
Remember Louie, this is the NCAA we are talking about.  I am fairly
certain that Mike Machnik told a story about team on the bubble that
was left behind for this very reason.  I completely agree that this is among
the most asinine things I have ever heard.  Maybe we should start a
top ten dumbest things the NCAA has ever done, seperate lists for every sport.
 
-------
mark grassl			[log in to unmask]
 
ya'sure ya'betcha