2021 hockey tournament
With David Nasternak and Alex Drain
This Podcast Has a Sponsor: Michigan Law Grad Jonathan Paul is the guy with the C you want skating next to the ref and pleading your case. He's also a good guy to sit next to at the hockey games.
[Writeup and player after THE JUMP]
The committee didn't leave Michigan out, inexplicably. Instead they get a potential North Dakota matchup in Fargo:
Fargo (N.D.) Regional
— College Hockey News (@chnews) March 21, 2021
Friday, March 26, 2 p.m./7:30 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, March 27, 4:30 p.m. (CT)
1. North Dakota vs. 4. AIC
2. Michigan vs. 3. Minn.-Duluth
This probably isn't a years-long conspiracy based on some people being mad Yost hosted a couple regionals.
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Also happening: WBB in the first round of March Madness at 3PM on ESPN2.
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The hockey field gets announced at 7. I've already explained why I don't think this going to be particularly nerve-wracking for Michigan, but to recap:
- The Big Ten is almost certain to get at least three bids.
- Michigan is clearly the #3 team in line.
- But it's the NCAA hockey tournament so maybe they'll just put all of Atlantic Hockey in because they can.
Hockey bracketology folks are usually spending this moment in time debating which swaps will happen to reduce travel and intraconference matchups; this year they're gesturing at schedules that interlock not at all and making giant question marks appear above their heads. But, for what it's worth:
College Hockey News has Michigan as the two seed in Bridgeport:
Bridgeport
1. Boston College vs. 4. American International
2. Michigan vs. 3. Quinnipiac
SBN's college hockey site spends its energy talking about bubble teams and slots Michigan in as a lock.
USCHO had a tournament selection discussion a few days ago that was loony enough to advocate for Army's inclusion. Even that had an aside about the possibility of a fourth Big Ten team, thus assuming Michigan is in as #3. Their official bracketology column also assumes Michigan is a lock, albeit on the three line. Both brackets have Michigan in Loveland, Colorado. Here's one:
Loveland Regional:
Lake Superior vs. Minnesota
St. Cloud State vs. Michigan
There seems to be no way to reasonably exclude Michigan, and so we're talking about location and seeding. Michigan is likely to go east because they have to fly since 1% of NCAA regionals since 2005 have been in busing distance—great tourney you've got there, NCAA—and the tourney is heavy on western teams, and it seems like everyone expects them to be a 2 or 3. The exact placement doesn't seem to matter. They'll be playing the same team in the same place, probably, and will either have last change or not.
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