U-M Hockey vs NoDak NCAAT in Maryland Hts Regional - Selection Show
Sioux Falls Regional
BU vs RIT, MN vs UNO
BU should be pissed about this. Sioux Falls is only a 2.5 hour drive from UNO and 3.5 from the Twin Cities. Regardless of who they get assuming they beat RIT, they'll be a functional road team.
March 24th, 2024 at 11:14 PM ^
Oh yeah, if there are hockey teams I feel bad for its teams from the northeast.
The arena there is very small. Not sure on why it was even considered? NCAA do you even want to survive?
Don't have any insight on why the location was chosen, but a small arena is much better than a large one. You're getting a couple thousand fans tops. Do you want them in a 4,000 seat arena or a 20,000 seat arena? And both those options or worse than higher seeds hosting, so yes the NCAA still sucks.
Not sure what you're talking about. A 2500 seat arena for these games with these schools ridiculous for the fans. I have refereed Pee Wee and Bantam Tournament games in buildings that are this size.
This is what I am talking about. Neutral site NCAA regionals simply do not draw that many fans. Hosting them in a bigger arena won't change that fact and makes for a far inferior environment for the fans that do attend.
These 4 schools warrant a larger venue than 2500 seats. Tickets are already SOLD OUT, and Stub Hub has standing room starting at $250.00, and seating all the way up to $2900.00. Your point and picture are not wrong, but also not applicable here.
I think the point is that one of the NCAAs arguments for not having the regionals at home sites is because they want the cachet of playing in larger buildings. If they're fine putting a neutral regional in a 2500-seat arena, it completely invalidates that argument. So not only in the NCAA incompetent at creating an exciting regional environment, they're also incompetent at defending their stance against it.
The Sanford center is a 12,000 seat state of the art arena. Sioux Falls is actually a fun little city with a pretty good hockey culture - not a horrible choice for a regional - better that some of the depressing northeast regulars ie allentown, worcester, etc...
Springfield Regional
Denver vs UMass
Maine vs Cornell
I like how Buccigross asked the dude about putting the playoff in a 2500 seat arena. Like, what are we even doing, NCAA?
He just said "... playing in that (high voice) little tiny rink" before commercial.
March 25th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
The Shrinky-Dink Rink!
hey maybe we’ll sell out a regional for once that isnt a de facto home game for someone
I’d love to have a rematch with Sparty with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line.
Are you assuming better officiating?
It can’t be any worse.
Thats bulletin board material for Big Ten refs
Sadly, probably a “hold my beer” moment for the officiating mafia.
Won’t be a big ten crew, so almost certainly
The only glimmer of hope for me when it comes to the idea of a rematch against them is no Big Ten refs. Aside from that, going 1-5 against them on the season if we lose the rematch would be just fantastic for in-state recruiting momentum (/s). State would also be playing with less to lose, they've already exceeded expectations, can fall back on winning both big ten titles, would have a winning record against us regardless of losing, and have a bright future if Augustine stays (I can't stress it enough how huge it would be for that kid to declare for the league after this season, he is their game changer) and Nightingale at the helm. We on the other hand would be playing with the monkey on our back of going 1-4 against them so far and the pressure of making the Frozen Four to come away from the season with a positive. God dammit I wish I could enjoy watching Michigan hockey, stress level was already at 100 from last night's game and will stay that way if we get past NoDak and they get past WMU. Just beat NoDak first.
Sorry, I think there would be huge pressure on FYS in a hypothetical rematch, as the BTRS & BTT champs, and #1 seed in the region. We're the ones with nothing to lose.
No preseason poll had them being this good, nobody thought they'd be a one seed. It's the complete opposite of MSU basketball starting the season ranked so high and trying to save face in the tournament to make up for letting down expectations. If I'm a senior for State about to have another rematch with Michigan, I'd be thinking about how I was part of something they hadn't done in years. Both Big Ten titles, made the tournament, won a tournament game, won the Duel in the D, and swept my arch rival on their home ice. If I'm their freshman goalie Trey Augustine there'd be even less pressure. I've had this team's number four times this year already and I can come back next year if I want. If I'm a Michigan player, I've got a losing record on the season vs my rival, just lost the Big Ten Tournament title to them, my team has a reputation for blowing leads despite how talented we are, and the national media is saying we should be better given the caliber of guys on our roster.
March 24th, 2024 at 11:09 PM ^
Pressure is all on MSU. Think of it this way - if we had just beaten them 4 out of 5, including an OT game that we were lucky to have won, and then we get rewarded with a 1 seed but with them as our potential second round opponent, I’d be pissed and also scared to death that they’d ruin our season. I was at Michigan in 1994 when we broke through and finally won the CCHA playoff against Lake Superior State (behind Brian Wiseman, David Oliver, Mike Knuble, freshman Brendan Morrison, Steve Shields) - they had our number for many years before that breakthrough. It was our first CCHA tournament title. We beat LSSU all 3 regular season meetings and shut them out in the title game to move to 4-0 against them on the season. We got a #1 seed and a first round bye (back when the NCAA tourney was just 12 teams) and we ended up playing Lake State at Munn when they won their first round game. They beat us in OT and they got the trip to the Frozen 4. Then they ended up winning it all. Trust me, all the pressure would be on MSU.
In that case you'd better hope for no CCHA refs, too.
I’ll channel my inner Alex Drain here — college hockey is run by deeply, deeply unserious people. With just a bit of imagination it could be so very much better.
But you don’t understand. If we played at campus sites, maybe some 15 seed atlantic hockey school might be sad
Yeah, who are a bid-stealing 25th in Pairwise.
Soooo, 3 teams from the state of Michigan are having to ante-up lots of dollars to go to Maryland Heights, MO (where everyone loves hockey) to play in a 4-team tournament? In front of the few family and friends that want to spend 5 minutes in the StL arch (it's not really worth much more)?
Among the list of terrible NCAA decisions, hockey tournament locations may be #1, and that's saying something for this org.
Also, 4 big teams in the tournament and they couldn't get 1 into each region? smh.
Yeah, I mean where does one even start? Locations, seeding “rules,” single game elimination, bid-stealers from bad conferences, etc., etc.
And how did I possibly miss #1 — officiating. Mea maxima culpa
It's even worse, IMO. I'm looking at all their terrible decisions across all sports, and still their hockey decisions may be the worst.
MBB officiating, bungling of football playoffs, uneven "jurisprudence"...these people could screw up a 2-car funeral procession.
March 24th, 2024 at 10:20 PM ^
It's such a fun sport that fills me with so much excitement and anticipation that I just cant get into because of the absolute horseshit format.
Skip the Arch and go to Side Project Brewing instead. Best brewery in the country for dark beers. You can thank me later.
There was a story in the STL Post-Dispatch today about what a financial mess the Maryland Heights arena is in.
I had no idea where Maryland Heights is, so googled it. Looks like it's right next to Earth City, MO which is one of the central distribution and warehouse hubs for carriers and online businesses.
Weird choice, man.
That said, the St Louis City Museum is absolutely amazing and should not be missed. STL Science Museum is free admission and it's also pretty fun. The zoo is also free!
And if you're into UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Cahokia Mounds are just about 15 minutes east of STL in Illinois. They were created by the mound-building native Americans and are the largest of its kind remaining in North America.
I totally would've gone if it weren't Good Friday.
Just to clarify for those who aren't avid followers of college hockey:
Maryland Heights is in suburban St Louis, not the state of Maryland.
Oops, I didn't mention that, and also used "MD Hts" in OP.
No problem, it was just easier to post it in the thread than to edit your OP. And I'm guessing 90% of the folks who pay attention to hockey probably already knew what cities are the hosts this season.
WTF are we playing college hockey championships in the state of Missouri???
Was disappointed to find this out. Being in Philly, I probably would have gone if it was in Maryland (or even Allentown tbh)
March 25th, 2024 at 12:22 AM ^
Im still trying to figure out who For Your Sake University is?
Fountain (of) Youth State?
Maybe they are in Ohio for Fuck Your State?
Google told me it was First Year Seminar?
I dunno.
Please someone, anyone knock out FYS.
WMU gets first crack.
Huh huh, you said "crack."
4th line D to channel their inner Probert?
Deleted post because I screwed up, looking for State in the wrong place. Sorry about that.
My bad. They have them there after all. Forgot they were a 1 seed. (Aberration, to be sure)
I know that's state. but what's the acronym stand for?
March 25th, 2024 at 12:23 AM ^
Beats me.