Bracket Reax (Re-Updated)

[USCHO Newsbot]

The field of 16 for the NCAA tournament has been announced, and although the pairings will — as they always do — provoke some consternation, the important thing is to make it. "The anticipation of the national tournament, the opponent, the site you're going to play, it's a special day," said Boston College head coach Jerry York, whose Eagles start by taking on Minnesota in the Northeast Regional. "You ...

Read more at uscho.com ...

[kingc]

I understand what Coach Eaves says. Yes, according to the pairwise formula the Badgers belong in the tournament, but I still have a hard time with it based on their record (sub .500 and 6th in the WCHA). I guess we will find out Saturday.

[madtownfan]

Lets play a little game where you pick 2 of 3 schools to make the tournament:

Team 1: Best wins after Jan 1
W @ Denver
W Minnesota
W Minnesota State
T @ Minnesota
W @ St. Cloud

Worst result after Jan 1
T @ Alaska-Anchorage

Team 2: Best wins after Jan 1
W @ Coll College
W Denver
W Denver
W @ St. Cloud
W @ Wisconsin

Worst result after Jan 1
L Nebraska-Omaha

Team 3: Best wins after Jan 1
T Michigan State
W Ferris State
W Ferris State
W @ Northern Michigan
W @ Bowling Green

Worst result after Jan 1
L @ Western Michigan

To me, the obvious pick is Team 2, who happens to be Minnesota State.

Between Team 1 and Team 3, for Team 3 the best result against a team in the tournament is a tie at home. Team 1 has a much better resume and actually beat Team 3 very early in the year. It should not be surprising that Team 1 is Wisconsin and Team 3 is Notre Dame.

My point: Mankato should feel jobbed, but not by the inclusion of Wisconsin, but by the inclusion of Notre Dame. Although Wisconsin was 12 in the PWR and 6th in the WCHA, Minnesota was 11 in the PWR and 7th in the WCHA. The top 7 teams all deserved to make it, and unfortunately, Mankato was left out.