WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

[manurespreader]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Thomas at UAA let go. I guess that was foreseeable, but I wonder how much the almost shut down hurt them.

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Is it possible the WCHA gets three teams in. the conference winner, the playoff winner, and one at large?

Haven't messed around with the simulator on this one, but 4 straight wins by Northern would have to put them in the mix. But it might turn out that them losing in the final would take away their at-large position.

The Saturday loss to Tech might end up being the difference.

[manurespreader]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Haven't messed around with the simulator on this one, but 4 straight wins by Northern would have to put them in the mix. But it might turn out that them losing in the final would take away their at-large position.

The Saturday loss to Tech might end up being the difference.

shoot or the loss to Huntsville.

[davyd83]

Haven't messed around with the simulator on this one, but 4 straight wins by Northern would have to put them in the mix. But it might turn out that them losing in the final would take away their at-large position.

The Saturday loss to Tech might end up being the difference.

How does that make any more difference than the loss at Fairbanks or Omaha in November?

[aparch]

shoot or the loss to Huntsville.

Losses. 'Cats went 2-2-0 against Huntsville.



Yes, the debacle in Omaha didn't help our PWR, but the strength of the NCHC helps mitigate the sweep UNO did. Flirting with an at-large bid in the final week makes the loss to MTU loom larger.

If hindsight is 20/20, the are plenty of missed opportunity.

[davyd83]

Losses. 'Cats went 2-2-0 against Huntsville.



Yes, the debacle in Omaha didn't help our PWR, but the strength of the NCHC helps mitigate the sweep UNO did. Flirting with an at-large bid in the final week makes the loss to MTU loom larger.

If hindsight is 20/20, the are plenty of missed opportunity.

People often like to focus on a specific game or two. But not on the fact that the team won 10 of 11 prior to that game just to get to the position they are in now.

[Lost_Husky]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

People often like to focus on a specific game or two. But not on the fact that the team won 10 of 11 prior to that game just to get to the position they are in now.

The number of wins and losses don't matter, the quality of wins and losses matter. Pairwise doesn't care about streaks. Cases and points PSU at 16-13-5, NDakota 14-11-9, and mentioned UNO 16-14-2. Northern and BGSU have more wins and less losses* than the mentioned teams, but those teams have better opponent quality.

The nWCHA's biggest issue is non-conference record. If we could be closer to .500 that would let us put more teams in. Having 4 teams with Pairwise rankings of less than 50 kill almost of any hope of getting multiple teams in.

*Note NDakota has fewer losses than NMU.

[davyd83]

The number of wins and losses don't matter, the quality of wins and losses matter. Pairwise doesn't care about streaks. Cases and points PSU at 16-13-5, NDakota 14-11-9, and mentioned UNO 16-14-2. Northern and BGSU have more wins and less losses* than the mentioned teams, but those teams have better opponent quality.

The nWCHA's biggest issue is non-conference record. If we could be closer to .500 that would let us put more teams in. Having 4 teams with Pairwise rankings of less than 50 kill almost of any hope of getting multiple teams in.

*Note NDakota has fewer losses than NMU.

You’re absolutely right. But winning 10 of 11 did move NMU from the 30’s in the rankings to the bubble.

[UAHStatman]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Coach at Colorado College (NCHC) and Wisconsin (B1G), so the WCHA names its championship trophy after him? Huh?

It doesn't change the fact that Sauer's entire college coaching career was in the WCHA, and that he continued to consult and advise the WCHA even after realignment.

Sauer was critical of the Big Ten forming and the league fracturing that came with it, so a postseason trophy named after him by either the Big Ten or NCHC probably wouldn't look right.

[Bale]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

It doesn't change the fact that Sauer's entire college coaching career was in the WCHA, and that he continued to consult and advise the WCHA even after realignment.

Sauer was critical of the Big Ten forming and the league fracturing that came with it, so a postseason trophy named after him by either the Big Ten or NCHC probably wouldn't look right.

I think most people weren't aware that he was involved in the WCHA even after the re-alignment. I know I wasn't and judging by the response on other message boards, most other people aren't either. It seems weird to most people simply due to the fact that most people think CC or Wisconsin when it comes to Sauer in college hockey.

[pbr]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

The number of wins and losses don't matter, the quality of wins and losses matter. Pairwise doesn't care about streaks. Cases and points PSU at 16-13-5, NDakota 14-11-9, and mentioned UNO 16-14-2. Northern and BGSU have more wins and less losses* than the mentioned teams, but those teams have better opponent quality.

The nWCHA's biggest issue is non-conference record. If we could be closer to .500 that would let us put more teams in. Having 4 teams with Pairwise rankings of less than 50 kill almost of any hope of getting multiple teams in.

*Note NDakota has fewer losses than NMU.

For the most part, the WCHA schools play considerably more road non-conference games than home, which in some ways would explain the poor non-conference record. It shouldn't matter who you play and where you play them, but there's definitely some data to back it up.

[MaizeRage]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

For the most part, the WCHA schools play considerably more road non-conference games than home, which in some ways would explain the poor non-conference record. It shouldn't matter who you play and where you play them, but there's definitely some data to back it up.

RPI factors that in by weighting home and road games though. If the WCHA was playing every non-con game on the road, they'd only need a .400 winning percentage to achieve the same net effect of a .500 record with no home/road weighting.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

RPI factors that in by weighting home and road games though. If the WCHA was playing every non-con game on the road, they'd only need a .400 winning percentage to achieve the same net effect of a .500 record with no home/road weighting.

The WCHA has been dismal in NC, there is no doubt about that...but WCHA's biggest issue is that the vast majority of their NC games are against the "best" conference in the country.

[Lost_Husky]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

The WCHA has been dismal in NC, there is no doubt about that...but WCHA's biggest issue is that the vast majority of their NC games are against the "best" conference in the country.

More than one, there is the NCHC and B1G.

[manurespreader]

Re: WCHA Season Thread 2017-18: In Which We Try For Two Bids

Whitten gets a 4 yr extension. wow.