Steve wrote: > my two comments/concerns/questions would be > over the last 10 years, how many times has the big trophy been won by one > of > the top 3 or 4 seeded teams. My guess would be all 10 years. You can put > as > many teams in as you want to, but I think that the cream has always risen > to > the top. Let it be exciting for a bubble team to make it, but one of the > top > 4 is "always" going to win. At least that's what I have found over the > last > 10 years. > Good point. But also note that for a bottom seed to win, they have to knock off not only a top seed the first game(s) but also what are both seeded and currently-playing-well team(s) later. And if someone takes you too lightly the opening round, you can bet that won't be the case in round two. Now add in the extra handicap of the top 4 getting a first round bye, and its small wonder the eventual winner is out of that top 4 group. Consider pro football - only one wild-card team (Oakland) has ever won the Super Bowl. But doesn't it add excitement to have an Arizona in the mix, even if they did lose badly to Minnesota? Tom Rowe [log in to unmask] ==================================== Home of Division 3 National Champion Pointers 89, 90, 91 & 93 and National Runners Up 92 & 98 ==================================== HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.