NCAA Tourney itself

[archerystud]

More importantly the West Regional, here's how I'd rate them:

1. I'd give Notre Dame the nod to come out of the Region. They are 8-2-1 coming down the stretch which included 3 games with BC and BU, 2 with Providence and 1 with UMass-Lowell. I know they have talent and I always like the teams that are playing good at the right time. Also will be motivated to knock SCSU out who ended their season last year.

2. Gophers don't need to play great to win the first one so they do only need to play good one night. Worry about a Freshman laden team running out of gas down the stretch but Rau can create at any time and Wilcox can win the game by himself.

3. SCSU can play and score with anyone, when they want. Defense has kind of lapsed down the stretch but they do get one of their top D-men in Prochno back from injury which will help. PK MUST improve!!! Benefits being a team in which most of the players went to the FF last year, so hopefully this is the start to their real season.

4. Robert Morris...... it's a battle between the other 3.

Interesting that WI and ND meet in the first round. Not sure what to make of ND as in their loss to Miami last weekend, I thought Miami looked great.

Great weekend if you are a college hockey junkie like myself!!!

[Bear55]

Can't really argue with any of that, Gophs haven't been as sharp. Hoping two losses in a row lights a fire under their butts but I could also seen another NCAA collapse coming. Very hard to tell this time of year, someone always surprises you with a big win or two.

[hoppe56307]

Can't really argue with any of that, Gophs haven't been as sharp. Hoping two losses in a row lights a fire under their butts but I could also seen another NCAA collapse coming. Very hard to tell this time of year, someone always surprises you with a big win or two.

Same could be said for SCSU after loosing to Miami in the first round of the NCHC tourny.

[PierBridge]

And Boston College who was swept by Notre Dame ..

It's another wide open tourney.

[Bear55]

Yup, I think we are in the wide open tourney era. use to feel like I knew how to pick a bracket, not I am lost.

[archerystud]

True. I don't give RM a chance here, Yale was a low seed last year but had more firepower and played a tougher schedule IMO. If one of the other 3 can get their A game together they could walk through the region/entire tournament.

I only give ND the edge because they seem the hottest. But it was only a few years ago in the old WCHA that Denver lost their opening round WCHA to a low seed, missed the Final Five and came out guns a blazing to win it all that year.

I'll be pretty much glued to the TV this weekend no matter what.

[Hester]

I have been looking forward to watching the north Dakota vs Wisconsin game tonight.

Just to find out my wife rented movies for us to watch!

Not cool.....

[cbrooks]

Sioux got their region

[cbrooks]

Holy cr@p this place is dead or what. Big game today between SCSU and Gophers. I got a feeling SCSU is gonna win. Gophers just didn't seem into the game yesterday after their 4-0 lead.

[Bear55]

Brooks is back! Not sure what to expect this game, gophs haven't been as sharp lately but they are certainly capable of putting a beat down on anyone. Should be a fun game.

[cbrooks]

Good to see you Bear. It should be a fun game to watch. Its a rivalry game in St paul

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I don't think the gophs or st cloud are going to have any trouble getting it up for this game.... Gonna be a huge lively crowd and the frozen four is at stake between two rivals.

Gonna be fun to watch!

And better yet- the winner gets the sioux!!!!!!

[Bryce]

Rodent fans generally pretty quiet until after the fact. No faith?

[Bear55]

Rodent fans generally pretty quiet until after the fact. No faith?

We both lost to Yale last year, I'm confident but anything can happen.

[Bear55]

And better yet- the winner gets the sioux!!!!!!

Its almost like we get to see a Final Five, Sioux over WI, MN/St Cloud. We're just playing in different rinks and playing a few throw ins like Robert Morris, Farris Sate and Notre Dame. It has certainly setup for some old WCHA bragging rights.

[cbrooks]

We both lost to Yale last year, I'm confident but anything can happen.

[Bear55]

Gophers vs Sioux - Perfect!

[cbrooks]

The rivalry is back. We should meet like this every year

[Bear55]

Sig bets Gophers vs Sioux, who is in? Loser must post a sig of the other teams choice for a week after the game.

[solbes]

That semifinal game is going to be a blast! Even though its do or die time, I expect some shenanigans. Maybe not until after the outcome is set. Knockout punch in the handshake line?

On the other side, go Union. Sooooo sick of seeing BC in the frozen four every year.

[cbrooks]

Obviously I'm a Sioux fan. I think they way over achieve this year. Hopefully continue to over achieve. I'm just really hoping for a great Gopher/Sioux game. The best rivalry in college hockey. I'm sorry Bear, i can't put a bet on this game. every time I pulled a Pete Rose my team loses.

[PierBridge]

I got a feeling SCSU is gonna win.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

Obviously I'm a Sioux fan. I think they way over achieve this year

Umm the Sioux have the most drafted NHL players "14" in ALL of college hockey.

Over achieve? I think not.

[cbrooks]

They have one of the youngest teams. No one thought the freshman D men would turn out the way they did. It's a different typical Sioux team. Not as physical as in the past

[yakfisher]

The Sioux make me nervous, but the way Wilcox has been up and down the last few games I think we have a chance. UW, UM, BC most of our biggest rivalries I hope they pull it off. We have been a little inconsistent the past few weeks.