(Steve suggests Maine might accept a bid to the NCAAs...) Steve must think this is April Fools Day :-( The President of the University and the Athletic Director call a press conference, announce they've spent $400,000+ on an investigation, and declare a number of "penalties" including Maine declining participation in this year's NCAA tournament. It ain't gonna happen. End of facts; start of conjecture ... As other have speculated, there is some question about how games with Maine will be handled. My guess is that Maine will be treated as a TUC (team under consideration) for purposes of selection. What happens after selection ... the actual seedings to the regionals is the trick question for this year. Unlike Greg who suggests that Vermont will get an East Region bye, I suspect the committee may decide that the top 4 ranked teams will get byes ... thus sending someone (Michigan as things currently stand) to an East Regional bye. I'd love to be a fly on the wall, as they say, during this year's selection committee conference calls and meeting. cheers, Wayne T. Smith Systems Group -- CAPS internet: [log in to unmask] University of Maine System BITNET/CREN: WTS@MAINE HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.