The Sicatoka

Here's the MVC this morning: Take Creighton out of that picture and I see Wichita State feeling lonely. Adding Oral Bob's School of Basketball and Baseball (Tulsa, OK) would give them a nice travel partner. Alternatively, adding Belmont (Nashville, TN) would allow for reasonable travel partners as well (Mizzou St/Wichita St; SUI/Belmont). Either way, I don't think the MVC will look north; I don't think they'll look to a public school; and I don't think they'll go above ten, ... for now.

I guess I'm in the court that says, at this point, when you can define and run all 300-plus-thousand scenarios and then look at the statistical outcomes, why not do it that way. And right now, things like KRACH may be undervaluing Michigan's current play and overvaluing Quinnipiac's recent play. I was never a fan of the "Last 16 Games" criteria when the Committee used that in selections, but I'd argue it makes some sense in doing analysis like Jim is doing here. As Tommy Lasorda used to say, "You're only as good as your last at bat." Michigan's last at bats are pretty good but KRACH really doesn't show that. Knowing all the scenarios (inputs) and outcomes (outputs) makes it pretty clear who needs what to happen. I like that when it's a defined possible set.

Ah yes, outdoor practices ... the joys of your hair freezing to the back of your helmet. Nothing better.

I've heard of delirium tremens from coke withdrawal, but never from Diet coke withdrawal.

... unless you're jonesing for a Diet Coke in a building where all the machines are out of Diet Coke.

While in full acknowledgement of your medical training and credentials, I still feel obliged to point out that if the same injury happens to two people a decade apart in age, the younger one should statistically heal more quickly. It's that terrible part of life: youth is wasted on the young.

Ames may have something to say about that.

The "skunks" are from Madison, not Ann Arbor. Here's one dressed in a popcorn box.

I'd say Niagara fans are UND and Mankato fans on Thursday. If those two win, Niagara goes to 96%+ chance of being in even if they don't win in their conference tourney. So, the Purple Eagles are fans of the Purple Cows on Thursday afternoon.

Ah, but your since-deleted post inferred that SCSU does not represent "Minnesota". As a member of MnSCU, the minute SCSU steps outside of the Minnesota borders, yes, they represent Minnesota. I have less problem with a Minnesota outline on SCSU's jersey than I do with a partial outline of Michigan on MTU's jersey. Michigan Tech is MICHIGAN Tech, not just Upper Michigan Tech.

I'd put Parks with the MacMacs before that. MarkMac needs someone with speed to keep up with him. MitchMac seems the trailer/garbage collector/shooter that trails. Remember my theory: Getter - Setter - Shooter O'D - Knight - Kristo Parks - MarkMac - MitchMac Rowney - Rocco - Caggiula and a grind-line.

Snake said the "arm of the STATE university system." St. Cloud State is part of the MnSCU System, not to be confused with the U of Minnesota System. So, Snake is right. SCSU is a Minnesota state university. They had the choice to go by "Minnesota State University - St. Cloud" but didn't. Having to explain to a Minnesotan their own system of colleges and universities reminds me of ten years ago on USCHO when I had to explain to a Boston College graduate that they were a Catholic university (and the other person kept saying, "No, BC is a Jesuit university" and I'd keep saying, "But who are the Jesuits?").

<ding!> Winner.

I'm wondering if Hak let loose the reins and let the horses run.

$15 for a ticket? That's Robert Morris or Holy Cross at UND.

You noticed that too, eh? I was really surprised when it was Simpson. He took quite a few pucks this weekend and yet he still went down in front of what would be a meaningless shot (goal) late in a blow-out. Note on that same play that three other guys were looking to get in front of that shot also. That's madness. But that's playing as a team.

So that Penn State loss took Wisconsin from "win two and be pretty safe, a 70% chance" to "win two to even have a chance, and just a 7% chance". Now, with that data point in hand, I heretofore retain the unabridged right complain about any loss to any team at any point in any future season. Ha-rumph .... </crabby old guy>

Xenophobia?

I suspect Jim had a transcription problem. If you go to his main article things seem to add up to 1 (or to at least "rounding tenth" of it). http://blog.siouxspo...013/03/18/2143/ 3 2.4% 4 6.5% 5 9.5% 6 13.4% 7 22.4% 8 18.9% 9 15.7% 10 9.0% 11 2.2% 12 0.1% Tournament invites: 393216 (100.0%) 5 2.4% 6 7.5% 7 22.3% 8 22.8% 9 25.0% 10 15.9% 11 3.9% 12 0.1% 3 19.0% 4 46.3% 5 32.8% 6 1.9%

I'm just a guy who sits in the attic at REA for home games, but I've figured out that little red light at the scorer's table comes on at the first stop in play under 15, under 10, and under 5 minutes remaining in a period. That red light signals a TV timeout. Maris came in with 4:40 left in the third. That'd be the first stop in play under 5 minutes to play. That's the normal TV timeout. Midco was going to take their normal break even if Jesus Christ* was coming out to play the last 4:40. *He's a goalie. Jesus Saves.

I suspect it'll also take a couple "surprise" (not currently in top 16 PWR) conference tournament winners.

After three games in three days, and now the information that UND seems to be a lock for the NCAA tournament, I guess I'd have no problem with UND taking the "Duluth path" to a title. PS - Jim, what scenario would keep Denver out? Not wishing ill, but wishin'.

Slot 16 is not safe. That'll go to an autobid team not in the top 16.

Uh, even if all you did is warm up and wear the gear to run the gate, if that's the gear you wore all week in practice, you shower. #hockeygearstink