>I just don't get it. Clarkson, is ahead of Yale in all the polls and >got the nod from several of the *seeders* for a seed in the tournament yet >Yale is in second place in the ECAC. Don't conference standings count for >anything? (I guess not seeing as Michigan has been ranked ahead of Miami >all season yet Miami is leading that conference as well.) This brings me >to my main question: Will preseason hype of Clarkson outweigh the conference >standings and get them a bid (of course if they don't win the ECAC's outright)? Don't forget that conference standings are not law. They count a lot but not everything. OVERALL, Clarkson and Yale both have 30 pts with Clarkson having played one more game. I don't think it's so much a great faith in Clarkson that everyone has but rather a great skepticism of Yale. I still don't think they are truly a top 10 nationally team. Apparently, many agree with me. Their offense is good but their defense and goaltending have not shown much. I think the goal differential might have a lot to do with it as well. Clarkson is +31 in the ECAC and +47 overall while Yale is only +13 ECAC and +14 overall. I think that may have a lot to do with it. Clarkson's GAA is (accd to CHODR) like in the top 5 in the country and offense is top ten (I think). Yale's results have not been enough better to outweigh stuff like that. Finally, conference records mean a lot (because they acct for most of the games) but non-conference games mean something as well. Clarkson's tie with Maine in Maine certainly helped their cause. I think the same analogy could be made with Michigan and Miami. Michigan actually has a better overall record and a better goal differential (+86 in CCHA to +52). Similarly, people don't think Miami is the real thing yet. They are going to have to prove it in the postseason before people start believing. Same thing with Yale. -------------------- Bri Farenell LET'S GO TECH! Clarkson '95 GO USA HOCKEY! [log in to unmask] U OF ARIZONA HOOPS! AHL and ECAC contact for rec.sport.hockey PHOENIX SUNS ROCK! Join the AHL mailing list: [log in to unmask] or email me Adirondack Red Wings, Calder Cup Champs: '81 '86 '89 '92 PS- Friday's Yale at Clarkson matchup will have a big effect on things too.