They are NEVER going to put MSU/MI in a first round matchup.
2024-25 Gopher Hockey Season
- Thread starter bonin21
- Start date
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
Then they're sending us to Allentown (which I don't see them doing for attendance reasons as the Fargo regional becomes a dead regional plus you're sending Maine away from home).
I think it will be a very intriguing spot for the committee if it falls that way with 1 outside the rankings autobid, a clear #1 team in BC, and 2 teams on the 1 seed line and 4 seed line from the rankings. They've been pretty firm they want bracket integrity for the 1 overall seed when the worst team is a big outlier comparably in the PWR with it being very clearly written/addressed in the guidelines that conference h2hs are allowed if 5 or more from a conf and for bracket integrity. Unless you're going to get rid of that, one of us or MSU has to play a B10 team and the bracket integrity would argue the easier game is Kato though I totally agree with KRACH in that I'd much rather play Kato than MI.
If things hold they are going to put MSU AND OSU in Toledo for attendance reasons. It’s about a 2 hr drive for each to get here. They won’t have two Big Ten teams play each other in the first round and certainly not MSU and MI. MI is squarely on the bubble and is going to go somewhere but most likely not here in Toledo. If they sat in the top ten I could see it but because of their position they are going to be sent somewhere. I will admit though that there are a lot and I do mean a lot of Michigan fans in this area.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
this right here is exactly why i would see them doing it if they have this option given the supposed goal of bracket integrity regarding BC/HC. Would be a very in demand ticket so you sell out Toledo. MN carries Fargo. PSU carries Allentown. BC and Prov carry Manchester. plus your seedings are pretty close, you have minimized travel for your one seed and, you have some good regional matchups (MN-Kato, Maine-PSU) on top of the big ticket of MSU-MI which is supported by bracket integrity (MI is the 15, MSU the 2) and the right to put same conf teams together with there being 5.
has never happened in the modern era from my recollection, but never have we had as perfect of a storm as this would be and there are actually quite a few ways to get there with what's left for options
it gets interesting from a Gopher angle as well if it ends up being UND who makes it and bounces MI. In that case, we may head to Toledo and get Kato there (Kato will be higher ranked than UND if they win) with MSU coming here if they want bracket integrity. But would envision they keep us here and dont focus as much on integrity with UND vs Kato as they'll be close in RPI
USCHO has this issue making BC play UM in the first round. Oh my...
No matter how you spin it and even if the Gophers are 5, this would be the one of the most favorable draws I can ever remember for the U. DU and BU are IMO the two "lower ranked" teams best avoided in a regional.
Manchester Region
1. Boston College
8. Providence
10. Denver
14. Michigan
Toledo Region
2. Michigan State
7. Connecticut
9. Ohio State
16. Holy Cross
Allentown Region
3. Maine
6. Boston University
12. Quinnipiac
13. Penn State
Fargo Region
4. Minnesota
5. Western Michigan
11. Massachusetts
15. Minnesota State
Manchester Region
1. Boston College
8. Providence
10. Denver
14. Michigan
Toledo Region
2. Michigan State
7. Connecticut
9. Ohio State
16. Holy Cross
Allentown Region
3. Maine
6. Boston University
12. Quinnipiac
13. Penn State
Fargo Region
4. Minnesota
5. Western Michigan
11. Massachusetts
15. Minnesota State
Gophers1992
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
- Messages
- 4,507
- Reaction score
- 6,552
- Points
- 113
Agreed.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
Yep I’d take this regional in a heartbeat and actually like the draw as the 5 even better.
As I said before, I’ll be super curious to what the committee does in this case as bc is getting screwed big time. Michigan State also gets a joke of a draw in this one
Crosby
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2016
- Messages
- 925
- Reaction score
- 1,300
- Points
- 93
100 percent would love this. Western is good though. Still... couldn't ask for anything better than that.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
BU loses handily to UConn. UConn tight to MN in the rpi so will surely pass us tomorrow. Maine will drop below with loss to NE. If they win, it’s going to be tight on if both would stay ahead if UConn beats Maine tomorrow but envision they will without running the numbers yet
Another night of nothing going well for Gophers. That's what happens when you choke and sit at home.
Top seeds win out = Gophers 5
#2 seeds/Uconn win out = Gophers 5
#2 seeds win out and UND beats WMU = Gophers 4
Favorites win out except UND beats WMU = Gophers 4
Favorites win our except DU over UND in final = Gophers 4
Looking like UND over WMU is the biggest hope for 4 seed
Top seeds win out = Gophers 5
#2 seeds/Uconn win out = Gophers 5
#2 seeds win out and UND beats WMU = Gophers 4
Favorites win out except UND beats WMU = Gophers 4
Favorites win our except DU over UND in final = Gophers 4
Looking like UND over WMU is the biggest hope for 4 seed
Last edited:
Gophers1992
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
- Messages
- 4,507
- Reaction score
- 6,552
- Points
- 113
Not worth it IMO
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
It’s cheer for Maine and anyone who’s not wmu. If that’s und though, means a first round matchup with them. Still a decent chance at the 1, it’s just maybe not the matchup you comparatively want if that’s what you get
Who cares, just get in and win baby! No matter what, you are going thru a gauntlet to win it. Just win and all will be good. 4 or 5 doesn’t make that big a difference, mostly for the fans where they are located.
This is pretty true, but there are real chances of getting down to 6. 6 may get a significantly harder first round opponent than 4 based on how they need to move things around sometimes.
RIP to the best annual college hockey weekend/location there ever was. St. Paul, MN in mid-late March.
Nothing will ever touch the WCHA Final Five. The Blake Wheeler goal is the best Gopher hockey moment since 2003. I know Holl was nice but they didn't finish the job after that. I was at both moments.
The NCHC carried the torch and did a decent job at that, but it wasn't the same.
College hockey has not been as special since the Big Ten was reborn. Go, ummmm, I guess go ASU this weekend. Anyone but the green pukes.
Nothing will ever touch the WCHA Final Five. The Blake Wheeler goal is the best Gopher hockey moment since 2003. I know Holl was nice but they didn't finish the job after that. I was at both moments.
The NCHC carried the torch and did a decent job at that, but it wasn't the same.
College hockey has not been as special since the Big Ten was reborn. Go, ummmm, I guess go ASU this weekend. Anyone but the green pukes.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
Based on seeding, we know actually pretty well who we could play given so much isn't going to change things for us in any meaningful way and many of the seeds already "locked" in terms of the band they will be in for options for us to play given we can only be a 1 or a 2.
Locked 4s: AHA winner, Mankato
Remaining options: NCHC autobid (ASU, UND), ECAC autobid (Cornell, Clarkson, Dartmouth) with QU also an option if they lose (they're only out if they lose tonight plus NCHC is an autobid) in the semis, PSU, Mich.
No way we play the AHA team. If we end up at the 4, means its MSU, Maine and BC.
Bracket integrity version: we end up with a B10 team or NCHC/ECAC autobid, or QU
Avoid intraconf matchups: Mankato, NCHC/ECAC, QU
Options as a 2 seed: the 9-12 band is actually pretty well locked. OSU and UMass for sure. Highly likely QU and DU. Other options are Prov, PSU and ASU (requires QU to lose tonight). Can't play OSU/PSU if they're a 3 seed (there are easily other options). Based on where seeds fall it's going to be QU or Umass with a very rare chance of DU or ASU. Would be surprised if they throw DU or ASU in the same regional as WMU given how few NCHC teams will be in and wanting to keep HE teams away from each other where they can.
In short, I expect we're playing UMass or QU just with how the games shake out, with an outside chance of the weirdness of us remaining at 1 and we get to see if they go bracket integrity or avoid 1st round matchups. Things will get really closed to locked after tonight in terms of our opponent.
I don't spend much time with the simulators when it's so much easier to just wait for all the Friday games to be done (with a lot of them being conf finals this year interestingly)
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
fun year for bubble watching/conference tourney fans for sure with so many teams still alive playing for their postseason hopes and not just teams locked in in every conference.
First game of the day, I think if QPac loses, the ugly helmets are in MAJOR trouble. Will be cheering for that one.
Crosby
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2016
- Messages
- 925
- Reaction score
- 1,300
- Points
- 93
Cheer for the ND Chicken Hawks? I'm sorry. I just don't think I can do it. Even if it means we're seeded 14th.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
Michigan is out if Qpac loses. Q stays ahead of them and the 3 autos (AHA, ECAC, CCHA) knock them out
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
oh im absolutely cheering for und to lose every game from here to eternity. more for those who really want aq 1 seed, which matters less now if its the 4 overall
Bump would have been the best Gopher forward on this roster if they didn't miss on him. absolutely sick.
You think for a second you might like WMU to lose to help the Gophers, but once you see those UND fans on the TV you want them to lose and lose badly.
You think for a second you might like WMU to lose to help the Gophers, but once you see those UND fans on the TV you want them to lose and lose badly.
upnorthkid
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 11,017
- Reaction score
- 6,224
- Points
- 113
Any time und loses is a wonderful time
Amazing so many people missed on Bump, but yeah he’s become a hell of a player. I’ll be curious if Philly wants him to come in after the season
Ya he's NHL ready. Gophers missed on him twice.