MafiaMan

My bad. I knew that DU was the one seed on the basis of head-to-head goals results. I need some caffeine I guess...

Wow. Far and away the most impressive weekend the Sioux have had all season. Good power play last night, excellent scoring opportunities, and big-time goals (has there been a prettier individual move all season than Rory McMahon's do-it-myself'er after the face-off?). Plus, the Sioux managed to stay out of the penalty box, which is always a good thing. Nice work last night boys and nice work by Dave Hakstol and the coaching staff in getting the team prepared. I think the Sioux could potentially do some damage at the Final Five. They will play either Wisconsin or Alaska-Anchorage coming off of a three-game weekend and playing on four days' rest. That could bode well for the men in green (or white if the Seawolves pull off the upset again). Plus I like their chances against CC in the afternoon bracket as opposed to playing DU. The Sioux definitely outplayed CC this season but have little to show for it. Maybe this weekend will change that. First things first though...get that play-in game out of the way. I sure had fun at Joe Senser's last night. UMDDogz and Runninwiththedogs...thanks for inviting me to sit at your table. I had a lot more fun there than I would have by the door without the crowd. It's too bad the Bulldogs had such a disappointing season, but I'm sure Sandelin with have them back next year. 01grad and Reformed Gphr Fan, nice to meet you both as well. My apologies to the guys waiting for the girl in my avatar to show up. See you at the Final Five!

Bloomington Senser's again tonite? Apparently, Runninwiththedogs isn't happy that I wasn't there last night passing out my softball team's handcuff key chains. Redemption will be mine tonite, dogs!

What media is that, sioux7?

SDSioux, I have to disagree w/you on some points. Go back a few years to when UND played Denver in the Final Five title game at Target Center. I believe it was 1998 or 1999. There were MAYBE 10,000 fans at that game and that's being generous. I'd say attendance was closer to 8,000. The fact is that Xcel has done so well because the Gophers have been in the building. Take them out of the equation and you'd see maybe 10,000 fans there for any game. That's a fact, not fiction. Now TinyTimmay, I disagree with you about putting Minnesota in the Friday night game to let the locals work during the day and hit the game at night. Wouldn't you think the majority of Gopher fans would drive 10-12 miles to see their team play at 2:00 AM if they had to? How about the thousands of fans coming from Madison, Milwaukee, Duluth, Colorado, or Grand Forks? Don't they work? Playing the Friday afternoon game means an entire day off of work for them. I kid you not, back in 1997, the WCHA did the last-minute "switch-a-roo" and my then-roommmate's Sioux fan friends didn't catch wind of it. They showed up on Friday night for the 7:00 pm game and were stunned when Minnesota skates out against St Cloud State. The Sioux had played CC that afternoon. They drove from Bemidji and didn't hear any announcement in that area regarding the game-switch. Just my two cents.

Good grief, Virg. What's next, comparing Jordan Parise to the Great Wall of China?

Unless the #1 seed is Minnesota, TinyTimmay, in which case the play-in winner would play them on Friday night.

Rick, I may have missed your point on Parise, but it gets old listening to people rant that if the Sioux had beaten Denver, that 8th title was a slam-dunk. Let's not forget how hot UMD was at the end of the season last year and that Maine was no slouch either. Had UND beaten Denver, I'd hardly say that 8th banner was in the bag. Just my two cents.

If, if, if...get over it already. Denver 1, UND 0.

Bloomington Senser's it is! I'll be there...passing out Libery Bail Bonds handcuff key chains.

Here we go again...FSN not televising the 2:00 pm game Friday. Why would they? If the Gophers are alive, they'll be playing at 7:00 pm. I love how some people defend this just because Minnesota is the "local" team. Here's a news flash, people. While high school kids are busy at class at 2:00 pm while a North Dakota, UMD, St Cloud, AA, or any other school is playing, those same kids are watching TV at 7:00 pm when Minny comes on. Thnk that's not a huge recruiting tool for the Gophers? The Gophers want that 7:00 pm game? They should win the *#^% MacNaughton Cup or have the seeding fall where it may so they play the #1 seed in that game. If the idea is to get out-of-towners to the X to watch some hockey, the way to do it is to let them get there for a 7:00 pm Friday night game, not have them take a day off of work to get there shortly after lunch.

Thanks for adding your comments, mikejm. I am amazed by some people on the board who thought "Lose Zach, lose Bochenski, that's ok, good teams just re-load." Sometimes, it's just not that easy.

Possibly. I hate saying it, but I wouldn't bet against Minny in Mariucci.

I still say the biggest joke is the regional set-up. I've said it before and I'll say it again... All Minnesota has to do is limp into the tournament, even as a #16 seed. Is there any question that even a top notch opponent as a #1 seed faces a tough battle against the Gophers at Mariucci? What the he** is the NCAA thinking?

Considering how the Sioux have played recently, if I'm BC, I'm licking my chops!

Further proving that coaching isn't an exact science, check out George Gwod's record at Miami before moving onto Denver: 83-94-19 That's a .423 winning percentage.

Words of wisdom, Coteau. My thinking is that since the Sioux were pre-season #2 and Wisconsin was the pre-season #3 team, that the Sioux will easily sweep this weekend.

For those curious, the two other finalists for Sioux head coach after Gino Gasparini resigned were then-Gopher assistant coach Mark Mazzoleni and then-Lake Superior State assistant coach Paul Pooley.

I'm chuckling, Coteau.

Wow...over-analyzers today. I just thought of three numbers and typed them...I wasn't even necessarily thinking REA. Let it go!

I don't know a specific fan in section 214, lol. I was just picking Joe Public in the arena yelling, that's all. Don't get all riled up if you sit in section 214.

You're right, skateshattrick, we need to run David Hakstol out of town as soon as possible. And look as foolish as Notre Dame football in the process. That way, we can bring in the next guy, put a loaded gun to his head, and say "win NOW or get fired" and he'll say "sure, when can I start?". You know what I'm sick of? Fans that take personal cheap shots at the coach and who arm-chair coach from section 214. Why don't you apply for a job somewhere? I'm sure all that experience would help.

One more comment, skateshattrick, that shiny new arena isn't a guarantee of ANYTHING. If you think it is, you are sadly mistaken. Have you ever seen Yost Arena? I've attended games there several times. It's a dump. However, it's also a cherished relic. It just depends on what type of fan you are and what your idea of a hockey arena is. There is a lot more to a hockey program than thinking that having the spiffiest arena means you'll get the best players. Is that so? I challenge you to show me a sports franchise in ANY sport that has never had a bad year. 49'ers? Try again. Steelers? Nope. Lakers? Buzz. Yankees? Check the 1980's. Keep looking...and good luck.

Wow, a fan for 40 years and a season ticket holder for 18+ years? You're right, you should have received a phone call from Dean Blais himself asking your opinion on who you thought should be the new coach. Again, we're back to the topic of "this team was picked to finish 2nd in the conference!" and now we're moaning about it. Pre-season polls mean nothing...will people ever get that thru their heads? Hell, I have a better idea...why don't we take the pre-season national poll, then cancel all the games and give the title trophy to the pre-season "winner"? Ever seen Playboy's pre-season All-Americans in college football, then take a look at who actually IS an All-American at the end of the season? Big difference. Then again, nevermind, I probably couldn't tell you the name of a recent All-American, but I could tell you the name of the playmate he was posing with. By the way, I'd hardly think I'm ranting or villifying anyone who disagrees with me. I think you'll find I'm one of the more open-minded fans on siouxsports.com. Has this Sioux team under-achieved? I think so. Do you want to set the precedent that you win OR ELSE at UND? I would hope not. Am I disappointed in this season's team? Yes. I'm obviously not the only one. The process is what it is and Hakstol is the head coach. Now give him another year or two, will you? Since you're so upset about Hakstol, are you also thinking UMD should consider canning Scott Sandelin? After all, they were the pre-season #1 in the conference, right?

Dam Strait, You mentioned Dean's SECOND year of coaching when they came to the Final Five and almost upset a heavily favored Gopher team (1995 - I was there). You didn't mention Dean's FIRST year, when the Sioux were a .500 team. Now is that because they were expected to suck and exceeded expectations that season and therefore Dean is a hero or is it because the gods of the science of expectations and polls thought an NCAA title should be on the horizon this season and a failure to get close to one should result in lopping off Hakstol's head? Let's look at some past favorites in the NCAA tournament, shall we? 1997...Michigan...a sure-fire pick to repeat. Did not. Down with Red Berenson! 1998...Sioux heavily favored to repeat. Didn't even make it out of the regional, losing to Michigan. 1999...Again, UND expected to win it....embarrassed in Madison regional by BC. Dean Blais...has he lost it? He should have won 3 straight NCAA titles! Fire him! 2000...Not expected to do much, Sioux win it all. Think BC is feeling frustrated by now? They have now lost three straight NCAA title games...time to fire Jerry York? Sioux fans now ask pope to petition Dean Blais for sainthood. 2001...Sioux over-achieve and make NCAA title game. Honestly, I think this was Dean's best coaching year at UND. 2002 and 2003...every Sioux fan's nightmare. Enough said. Oh I wish Lucia had stayed at CC. 2004...Goldy Gopher getting cocky about three-peat. Thanks, Bulldogs, for snuffing out that dream. Bottom line is the favorite rarely wins. Pre-season polls and pre-season fan expectations mean nothing. That's my whole point. Now another mediocre season by the Sioux next season, and I'll start agreeing with you, but until then, ease up on the hair triggers calling for a canning of Hakstol, will you?