Dustin

I've seen different times (and network) for this. This is from the SAME website.

Just has to be managed right. I don't think Hakstol ever really grasped this.

Well, we don't really have any one superstar. Just a load of solid depth.

I'd say dream scenario for UND. Now, no excuses, just go take it. See you Saturday night in Vegas.

So, the only chance to play Michigan, UMD, Denver, or Western Michigan is in the National Championship game? I think ANYONE cheering for UND would take that in a heartbeat.

They shouldn't be, as they have the #1 and #2 overall seeds.

It used to be.

2 pm

"Lead" college hockey analyst for ESPN. Most people on this site don't care for him.

Wow, for some reason I just assumed they were at least a little more successful, like the other Ivy League hockey teams. Last time they made it, UND won the championship. That would be history worth repeating.

When the bracket comes out later today, we can see what adjustments were made and then determine whether they were fair. Until then, we are only speculating what they will do. Certain swaps, if they do indeed get made, make sense to me. We'll just have to see how the committee uses the NPI. This is their first shot at it.

A) It's not my logic, it's system's. But an education and career heavy in the math helps me understand the system, flaws and all. B) Those teams knew that the requirements were, and they didn't do them. I would have no hard feelings explaining to them why they didn't make the tournament. In fact, they would be silly to ask, because they should already know.

They don't claim that it is precise enough to do either of those things, but what they do claim is that it is objective. So basically, the qualifying teams have objectively met the requirements, either by winning a conference tournament or through the NPI, and there's no dispute or backroom bargaining of who qualifies (i.e. right now, no one is arguing who is in the tournament, just who they play and where). After the qualifying teams are determined, it does appear that they are willing to allow some subjectivity when it comes to regional assignments/matchups for the sake of impreciseness due to small sample size (i.e. not enough games, teams mostly playing only conference opponents, etc.).

From CHN: "The NPI -- and KRACH, for that matter -- is not precise enough for the committee to confine itself so strictly to a 1-16 ordering of the teams based upon it. It's a good method for selecting teams -- because at least an objective system, even if flawed, eliminates the problems with subjectivity. But in seeding, there's no need to be so locked into the numbers when they are so close."

Correct.

And all four Big Ten teams in 2 regionals.

The qualifying teams, in order. #1 Seeds: Michigan, North Dakota, Michigan State, Western Michigan #2 Seeds: Denver, Dartmouth, Providence, Minnesota-Duluth #3 Seeds: Penn State, Quinnipiac, Cornell, Wisconsin #4 Seeds: Minnesota State, Connecticut, Merrimack, Bentley In perfectly true seeding, Dartmouth and Cornell would be paired for a regional semi-final, so there will be at least one swap. I think committee likes that Western Michigan and Denver pair for a regional, so only one NCHC team can make it out. I think they also swap Providence and Minn-Duluth for the same reason, plus that would be a natural attendance/travel swap. I think the committee pair Big Ten teams so only few can make it out of the regionals. That said, here's the way I see the bracket. Worcester: Michigan vs. Bentley, Providence vs. Penn State Sioux Falls: North Dakota vs. Merrimack, Minn-Duluth vs. Quinnipiac Albany: Michigan State vs. UConn, Dartmouth vs. Wisconsin Loveland: Western Michigan vs. Minnesota State, Denver vs. Cornell

Very much so. But, you have to beat good teams to win it all. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Bulldogs or someone else.

Was going to say something similar in that I hope they both wear themselves out for the NCAA tournament.

Trading a close regional assignment for a banner? I feel like there’s only so many opportunities to hang a banner, so I would doubt it.

I’ve got NCHC on my computer and Big ten on TV, so updates from Hockey East, et al are appreciated.

Also: "If Denver beats Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC championship game, it increases Minnesota Duluth's odds of being in the Sioux Falls Regional. If the Bulldogs win the playoff title, there's still a chance the NCAA sends the Bulldogs to Sioux Falls, but odds increase that the Bulldogs will be in Worcester or Albany."

What to know entering the final day before NCAA tournament bracket selection - Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, East Grand Forks news, weather & sports "If Augustana does not make it, Minnesota State would become UND's most likely first-round opponent (but not guaranteed)."

You'd think. I was even thinking Mike Hastings, as he would be familiar recruiting for a Minnesota team. But if you can make Big Ten money at Wisconsin without the pressure of the "Pride on Ice" maybe you ride that gig into retirement.

That's true.