Has UND lost in conference realignment?

[dggoddard]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

What it might actually accomplish is the slowing of the same, slow slide into mediocrity that it's football conference took.

From 1988 until 2008 (21 seasons) when there were at first 12, and later 16 teams in the NCAA field, there were always either 3 or 4 Big 10 teams in the NCAAs, except for 2004 when all 5 made it.

The last four seasons, not so much. 2 in 2009, 2 in 2010, 1 in 2011, and finally 3 again last year, when Michigan St. snuck into the at-large field. You put all 6 teams into the same conference, you're pretty much guaranteed at least 2 make the big dance. But anyone who thinks the halcyon days of 12-15 years ago with 4 or even 5 of the teams making it, will return with a 6 team conference, forget it.

Past performance is no indicator of future results especially in this case.

With only 20 conference games and even minor future tweeks to the Pairwise Formula will impact participation in the tourney. I'd be shocked if the B1G didn't average slightly over 3 teams a year over the next 10 years.

[SJHovey]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

I won't be. I'm guessing the mainstream media is itching to start covering more "traditional" BIG opponents that casual hockey fans and non-hockey fans in the area can relate to.

I guess what I meant by my post was that I don't see any coverage of college hockey at all in the Twin Cities media, even the gophers. You might get a game day article, or a short summary of the previous night's game. Unless the hockey team happens to be doing a joint fundraiser with the Vikings, you won't hear about it. Unfortunately, the Twin Cities are not alone in this regard, but it's a pretty clear indication of the status of hockey as a niche sport.

[SJHovey]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

Past performance is no indicator of future results especially in this case.

With only 20 conference games and even minor future tweeks to the Pairwise Formula will impact participation in the tourney. I'd be shocked if the B1G didn't average slightly over 3 teams a year over the next 10 years.

Sure. And my post was at least partially in jest.

I fully expect the BTHC to average about 3 teams, or slightly more than 3 teams in the tournament each year. Why wouldn't it? If the WCHA as an 8 and 10 team league could get 4 in quite regularily, the BTHC should be no different.

[JDUBBS1280]

I guess what I meant by my post was that I don't see any coverage of college hockey at all in the Twin Cities media, even the gophers. You might get a game day article, or a short summary of the previous night's game. Unless the hockey team happens to be doing a joint fundraiser with the Vikings, you won't hear about it. Unfortunately, the Twin Cities are not alone in this regard, but it's a pretty clear indication of the status of hockey as a niche sport.

I guess I don't understand. The Gophers get plenty of coverage in the Twin Cities right now. Why would that change?

All but one game is televised this year. They are talked about a good deal on 1500 ESPN and KFAN (Lou Nanne, Kevin Gorg, Tom Chorske, Beyond the Pond, ect...). They get more newspaper coverage than most teams in the country too.

Playing traditional Big Ten opponents that casual fans can relate to will likely only increase interest and coverage in my opinion.

[mnstate0fhockey]

Sure. And my post was at least partially in jest.

I fully expect the BTHC to average about 3 teams, or slightly more than 3 teams in the tournament each year. Why wouldn't it? If the WCHA as an 8 and 10 team league could get 4 in quite regularily, the BTHC should be no different.

I think both the B1G and NCHC will have top teams that make it regularly and door mats that don't as often.

[Dirty]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

The Big Ten HC has far more resources, far better name recognition nationally, and a far better TV deal (which translates into far more national exposure). You're fooling yourself if you don't think this will translate into recruiting advantages long-term.

If I were the Gophers, I'd stop playing UND regularly indefinitely. Would almost completely eliminate UND's visibility in the Twin Cities. Hard to imagine all this would be good for UND's recruiting foot print in the Twin Cities.

Spiteful fellow, aren't you? What did UND do to you that makes you want to stop playing them so adamantly? Nonetheless, assuming the Gophers followed your philosophy and began ducking UND, it would not almost completely eliminate UND's visibility in the Twins Cities. This isn't the 1980's, kids have other avenues of following teams besides the Star Tribune.

[cross cheque]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

The Big Ten HC has far more resources, far better name recognition nationally, and a far better TV deal (which translates into far more national exposure). You're fooling yourself if you don't think this will translate into recruiting advantages long-term.

If I were the Gophers, I'd stop playing UND regularly indefinitely. Would almost completely eliminate UND's visibility in the Twin Cities. Hard to imagine all this would be good for UND's recruiting foot print in the Twin Cities.

Are we still talking about the most highly followed hockey team in North America right now? I'm sure it will be awful for UND

[JDUBBS1280]

Are we still talking about the most highly followed hockey team in North America right now? I'm sure it will be awful for UND

To answer your question, I'll refer you to the words of Puck Swami:

Minnesota is, in my opinion, the important college hockey program in America. While other college hockey programs are important to their state or area, Minnesota has the largest fan base, the largest TV impact, and most importantly, is vital cog for the culture of hockey in America – financing the WCHA through the hosting of the Final Five, maintaining a Big 10 presence of credibility, and enabling the growth of American hockey by setting the bar for the development of hockey in other states.

Link

So, no. We're talking about UND, not the Gophers.

[Pump It Up]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

To answer your question, I'll refer you to the words of Puck Swami:



Link

So, no. We're talking about UND, not the Gophers.

Oh god. Why don't you start a thread about it Doug?

[JDUBBS1280]

Oh god. Why don't you start a thread about it Doug?

Take it up with cross dress. He was the one boasting that UND is "the most followed team". I just pointed out that he was wrong

[Dirty]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

Take it up with cross dress. He was the one boasting that UND is "the most followed team". I just pointed out that he was wrong

Whether cross cheque is correct or not, you did not prove he was wrong by posting a blog entry from Puck Swami.

[JDUBBS1280]

Spiteful fellow, aren't you? What did UND do to you that makes you want to stop playing them so adamantly? Nonetheless, assuming the Gophers followed your philosophy and began ducking UND, it would not almost completely eliminate UND's visibility in the Twins Cities. This isn't the 1980's, kids have other avenues of following teams besides the Star Tribune.

The UND rivalry is fine and dandy, but I'd like to play a diverse NC schedule. And getting your program off of our *** and back on to Canada's would be a pleasant side effect. And keep telling yourself it won't nearly eliminate UND's visibility in the Twin Cities.

Sure, the handful of games UND plays on CBS Sports will be viewable here, but the most of the rest of your games no longer will be because of the crappy TV deal you signed.

And yes, you'll make a weekend appearance to play at the crappy Target Center (Thank God your fans won't have a chance to punch more holes in our beautiful XCel Energy Center) in a conference tournament our local media may not cover (and if it does it will be as an afterthought).

So you're right, UND's visibility in the Twin Cities won't completely disappear, but it will diminish to the point that I'd categorize it as insignificant.

[JDUBBS1280]

Whether cross cheque is correct or not, you did not prove he was wrong by posting a blog entry from Puck Swami.

Well, I have more of a consensus than you do among reputable fans of other teams. And I'll add, I supported my premise far better than he did

[Dirty]

Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?

Well, I have more of a consensus than you do among reputable fans of other teams. And I'll add, I supported my premise far better than he did

But you didn't prove him wrong.

And by a diverse NC schedule you mean all the teams in Minnesota. I must admit that is rather diverse.

[JDUBBS1280]

But you didn't prove him wrong.

And by a diverse NC schedule you mean all the teams in Minnesota. I must admit that is rather diverse.

If you're just going to repeat yourself, I will too

Well, I have more of a consensus than you do among reputable fans of other teams. And I'll add, I supported my premise far better than he did.

And by diverse I mean the likes of BC, Notre Dame, BU, Northeastern (already have scheduling agreements) and various other high profile teams around the country. UND can be part of the rotation.

And supporting the other MN schools means more to me than supporting UND, so that's an easy choice.