siouxfan512

Obviously the focus is to get a win this week. But I am just curious, what determines where the next round is played? I assume if JMU wins, we would play there, but if VMI were to pull the upset, would we host again?

Agreed, but I would just love to play them with a better game plan.

This all makes way more sense than when I read your initial comment. I didn't realize how many cancellations there had been outside of The Valley. For conversational purposes, lets say JMU and SHSU both lose. Weber does not play this weekend. Either NDSU or SDSU will drop to 2 losses. Could UND be bumped as high as 2?

You clearly have watched more closely than I have. I didn't realize they played ISU twice, but I did read Herder's comments that their wins hadn't been overly impressive. Sunday should be interesting.

Not sure how you are so confident UND would be a 4 seed; I would be surprised. Maybe that comes from years of UND not being ranked up near the top, maybe its because this Spring season is so strange. UND (not by their own choice) has done nothing in the last month. We had a nice start to the season, got beat by NDSU and have been practicing ever since. -NDSU or SDSU get a spot -Weber will likely get one, though from what I have read they have been less than impressive as a 5-0 team and could easily get bounced in the playoffs. -Sam Houston will get one. -JMU and Delaware are both undefeated, but have a combined 1 win against a ranked opponent. This is the only spot you could make the argument for UND, is we have beat multiple ranked opponents, and our only loss is to the Bison. As I am typing this, I also see that both of those team currently only have 4 wins as well, but Delaware still plays Villanova this weekend and James Madison plays Richmond. I would think UND would need both JMU and Delaware to lose, but maybe that doesn't matter based on strength of schedule. Would it help us if the Bison won this weekend? Maybe, in the eyes of the committee. Could it not make a difference in getting a seed; again, maybe, in the eyes of the committee. Tough to know what they will do or think given how strange this year is. I would be ecstatic if we were a seed, purely to solidify home field advantage, but I won't count on it either. Maybe a little of that MVFC love could finally play in our favor. Regardless of what happens, we are in! Time to put in a strong showing and get some playoff wins. I don't want to add any more memories to the Richmond/Nicholls St category.

So, I doubt we get a seed here, but I'll be interested to see if we are able to get a home game. We have seen just how important this is for UND. I'm definitely pulling for the Jacks this weekend, but not sure how that will impact home field advantage through the playoffs. In other words, if we had to play the Bison again, it would be nice to see them have to go to GF. What would need to happen for this? Are bids only for the first round? Is that being done differently this year because of Covid? I assume the top 4 seeds automatically get home field advantage throughout.

Very bizarre. Hoping the benefit of rest and recovery outweighs being rusty.

Based on who they have beat I believe they would still be in.

Purely from a fan standpoint I would be ok with swapping Mankato for Miami. As stated this doesn't necessarily benefit the conference as a whole in terms of size of schools/programs/budgets. But they have done a tremendous job building that program and are fun to watch. I like watching Western play. They are always physical and tough to play against.

Why not us? Why not now? Go UND!

Great write up. I had forgotten that the fall games played into this as well. Just glad to be talking football again after a long month!

fair point! I wasn't even thinking about the fall. In my mind, it shouldn't count, nor should the Bison win again Central Arkansas, but I'm not the committee. I get it is all considered the same season, but it sure doesn't seem like it, or play like it. I have a feeling someone is going to get screwed with the playoffs, I just hope it isn't us. UND just needs to win, and preferably win big!

I was being facetious, just want to know what this team is going to look like heading into the fall. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm already anxious for some college hockey.

I'll make an edit to this. NDSU would likely be in with a loss because they are the Bison. If SDSU wins, and UND wins, then you could potentially have 4 valley teams in. If NDSU wins, and UND wins, that could push SDSU out altogether.

It has been a fun Spring, but this is what it comes down to. Win and we are in. Lose and we are starting offseason training. It will be tough coming off of a month break, but this team came out of the gate flying in February too. If there was ever a time or an opportunity for a statement win, it is now! Nobody has put more than 30 point on this team, and while they have only won 1 game, they have had some really close losses including SDSU by 2 and Western by 3 ... pretty close again SIU too. They allow about 150 on the ground and about 160 through the air; we need to beat those averages. While their defense doesn't seem too bad, their offense has had plenty of struggles, 166 rushing and about 100 passing. If we can get a lead early they will have trouble catching back up. Should be interesting and I hope the boys are ready to go! Like I said, needs to be a statement win here. 35-7 or 35-10 ... something to that effect. A 24-21 win will get us in, but will look much different in the eyes of the committee. Anyone know how are team is doing regarding injuries? There has certainly been some time to heal up, just hope they are staying fresh. Thoughts?!?! .... And winning a share of The Valley would be pretty cool too!

Well, like it or not, a good spring season and some of the best D1 football we have seen at UND comes down to this weekend. Can't just eek out a win. This is an opportunity to make a statement going into the playoffs. Lose, and this is Idaho State all over again. We will almost definitely be out of the field at 4-2 with a Youngstown loss. Show up to play unprepared on the road like we were at Nicholls and the season is over. I still can't believe how unmotivated the team looked in this game. Playoffs, and nobody looked like they wanted to be there. No energy, no emotion. Can't happen again. Despite being on the road, we need the team that beat SIU and SDSU. Hard nosed and resilient. I hope Schuster has been working on his deep connections to open up some more running room for Otis. I hope the coaches plan to use Otis more effectively than they did against NDSU. I hope Maag finally steps up and plays to his size to take over a game. The tools are there, but this team needs to show up prepared and use them. The way I see it: Missouri State is in UND is in with a win and out with a loss. NDSU is out with a loss, in with a win SDSU will likely be in either way, which seems ridiculous, but as has been pointed out on twitter the committee will not look at SDSU having lost to UND. They will look at the records were both UND and SDSU lost to NDSU, then they will look at SDSU losing to UND, vs UND losing to Youngstown. Seems stupid, but it is what it is. UND controls their own destiny. Don't just win .... stomp them!

What is Cruikshank waiting for? You can go to basically any program you want. Why wouldn’t you want to go to the best? Get to GF and get your UND jersey on dude! Bring home #9!!!

Doesn't this still heavily impact seedings?

Reading Izzo's tweet, per Mike Kern, they are already making the NDSU/SDSU game the title game for the auto bid. UND will not receive it ... even with 1 loss and a head to head win over SDSU. If SDSU wins, they get it because they would be considered to have a better win against a common opponent; not sure how that is more important than head to head. What a joke!

Makes St Thomas fairly competitive as well. Will be interesting to see what they can do right away, but Thome is a solid piece.

Good for him! I'll definitely be pulling for him and St Thomas to have a good first season at this level.

Well I'm pretty pumped Duluth lost yesterday. I don't need any more chirping from that obnoxious fan base. Plus it takes away the issue of a 3 win champ. I'll pull for SCSU now. Keep the NCHC streak going, and keep it out of the East.

Not sure where else to put this and it has nothing to do with college hockey from this year, but still an interesting tidbit. Some of you may have been aware that Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's son used to be a goalie for Alabama-Huntsville. What I didn't know was that he is also Captain America in the new "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" series.

I believe so

Yes, obviously UND needs to win, but then it is either NDSU or SDSU, I don't think both can get in unless the game is cancelled and the committee screws us. I get that this bracket it based on a strange season, but a 1 loss team (against NDSU), and they have us listed as the 16th and final team in? I don't get it. Now if we drop a bad loss to Youngstown then we don't deserve to be in anyway.