NCAA 2012 Tourney

[Murray Chadwick]

The brackets are set:

Northeast (Worcester)

No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Air Force
No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth vs. No. 3 Maine

West (St. Paul)

No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Western Michigan
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Boston U.

East (Bridgeport)

No. 1 Union vs. No. 4 Michigan State
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 UMass-Lowell

Midwest (Green Bay)

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Cornell
No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Denver

First round


Friday, March 23

Michigan State vs. No. 3 Union (ESPNU/ESPN3, 3 p.m.)
Denver vs. Ferris State (ESPN3, 5:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Friday at 11:30 p.m.*)
UMass Lowell vs. Miami (Ohio) (ESPNU/ESPN3, 6:30 p.m.)
Cornell vs. No. 2 Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3, 9 p.m.)

Saturday, March 24

Western Michigan vs. No. 4 North Dakota (ESPN3, 1:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.*)
Air Force vs. No. 1 Boston College (ESPNU/ESPN3, 4 p.m.)
Boston University vs. Minnesota (ESPN3, 5 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 3 p.m.*)
Maine vs. Minnesota-Duluth (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Saturday at 11:30 p.m.*)
*Denotes tape delayed on ESPNU

Gophers could get another crack at North Dakota in the West Regional Final. Should be interesting....

[BodyShots]

The brackets are set:

Northeast (Worcester)

No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Air Force
No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth vs. No. 3 Maine

West (St. Paul)

No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Western Michigan
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Boston U.

East (Bridgeport)

No. 1 Union vs. No. 4 Michigan State
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 UMass-Lowell

Midwest (Green Bay)

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Cornell
No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Denver

First round


Friday, March 23

Michigan State vs. No. 3 Union (ESPNU/ESPN3, 3 p.m.)
Denver vs. Ferris State (ESPN3, 5:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Friday at 11:30 p.m.*)
UMass Lowell vs. Miami (Ohio) (ESPNU/ESPN3, 6:30 p.m.)
Cornell vs. No. 2 Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3, 9 p.m.)

Saturday, March 24

Western Michigan vs. No. 4 North Dakota (ESPN3, 1:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.*)
Air Force vs. No. 1 Boston College (ESPNU/ESPN3, 4 p.m.)
Boston University vs. Minnesota (ESPN3, 5 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 3 p.m.*) Maine vs. Minnesota-Duluth (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Saturday at 11:30 p.m.*)
*Denotes tape delayed on ESPNU

Gophers could get another crack at North Dakota in the West Regional Final. Should be interesting....

Great. No FRIDAY night game.....

[Sats81]

The brackets are set:

Northeast (Worcester)

No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Air Force
No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth vs. No. 3 Maine

West (St. Paul)

No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Western Michigan
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Boston U.

East (Bridgeport)

No. 1 Union vs. No. 4 Michigan State
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 UMass-Lowell

Midwest (Green Bay)

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Cornell
No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Denver

First round


Friday, March 23

Michigan State vs. No. 3 Union (ESPNU/ESPN3, 3 p.m.)
Denver vs. Ferris State (ESPN3, 5:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Friday at 11:30 p.m.*)
UMass Lowell vs. Miami (Ohio) (ESPNU/ESPN3, 6:30 p.m.)
Cornell vs. No. 2 Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3, 9 p.m.)

Saturday, March 24

Western Michigan vs. No. 4 North Dakota (ESPN3, 1:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.*)
Air Force vs. No. 1 Boston College (ESPNU/ESPN3, 4 p.m.)
Boston University vs. Minnesota (ESPN3, 5 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Sunday at 3 p.m.*)
Maine vs. Minnesota-Duluth (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m. -- Airs on ESPNU on Saturday at 11:30 p.m.*)
*Denotes tape delayed on ESPNU

Gophers could get another crack at North Dakota in the West Regional Final. Should be interesting....

I hope they do. Would be interesting. I remember '07 I believe? When gophs took Sioux down in a tough, physical 1 goal game in WCHA final five then had to play em again in the regional with a trip to the frozen four on the line and believe they lost another similar 1 goal game..hopefully they can reverse their fortunes this time if they meet again.

[MNHockeyFan]

UMD vs. Maine should be a good game out East. Here's a preview from Maine's perspective:

Maine hockey defenseman to face off against close friend

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/20/s ... se-friend/

The Bulldogs could catch a big break if the nation's leading scorer, Spencer Abbott, is not cleared to play in Saturday's game. It's listed as a "head injury" which makes it very unpredictable.

[Sats81]

UMD vs. Maine should be a good game out East. Here's a preview from Maine's perspective:

Maine hockey defenseman to face off against close friend

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/20/s ... se-friend/

The Bulldogs could catch a big break if the nation's leading scorer, Spencer Abbott, is not cleared to play in Saturday's game. It's listed as a "head injury" which makes it very unpredictable.

Should be a great game. UMD catches a major break if Spencer doesn't play.

[MNHockeyFan]

2012 NCAA Tournament Preview

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/1 ... t_preview/

[MNHockeyFan]

Puck Daddy’s Guide to the 2012 NCAA Hockey Tournament: Can anyone stop Boston College?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck- ... 46712.html

[MNHockeyFan]

NCAA West Regional Preview

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2 ... review.php

[DmanDad1980]

Watched some of the games last night...

Lowell/Miami game had the feel of the Gopher/Sioux Final Five game... Miami was getting killed for two periods, then score three to tie, and Lowell can't do a thing, then put a Don Adam called 5 Minute major on top of that at the end of the game...

Lowell kills the 5 min, kid steps on the ice in OT, puck hits his stick, and he is off on a 3-1... Goodnight Miami...

Nice to see the Maze & Blue go down as well, as Cornell snuck an OT win as well...

Union appears to have an easy road to Final Four. I think Ferris St will also beat Lowell. That could put two realitive unknowns onto Tampa... Does that bode well for NCAA wishes of well attended Final Four... probably not... Provides opportunity for a team from the West Regional...

Speaking of attendance, both the OT games last night, looked to have about 1000-2000 people in Green Bay & Worchester... Not good... Compared to raucous crowd in St Paul for our regional...

Go Gophers!

[east hockey]

Watched some of the games last night...

Lowell/Miami game had the feel of the Gopher/Sioux Final Five game... Miami was getting killed for two periods, then score three to tie, and Lowell can't do a thing, then put a Don Adam called 5 Minute major on top of that at the end of the game...

Lowell kills the 5 min, kid steps on the ice in OT, puck hits his stick, and he is off on a 3-1... Goodnight Miami...

Nice to see the Maze & Blue go down as well, as Cornell snuck an OT win as well...

Union appears to have an easy road to Final Four. I think Ferris St will also beat Lowell. That could put two realitive unknowns onto Tampa... Does that bode well for NCAA wishes of well attended Final Four... probably not... Provides opportunity for a team from the West Regional...

Speaking of attendance, both the OT games last night, looked to have about 1000-2000 people in Green Bay & Worchester... Not good... Compared to raucous crowd in St Paul for our regional...

Go Gophers!

After Michigan tied it up, I just didn't see Cornell pulling it out in OT, but they found a new energy. Great outcome!

Lee

[BodyShots]

Congratulations to the Gophers for moving on the the Final Four. Got to say, I'm not surprised. I thought they outplayed ND in 5 of the 6 periods of hockey over the last two weekends.

[Tigers33]

Not surprised? That group was picked to finish like 5th or 6th in the WCHA. It just shows what hard work does. The Gophers finally have a group that works hard out there. Hard work and talent is a tough thing to stop.

Maybe Schroeder should have watched this group play

[2legit2quitguy]

Says alot about the impact Coach Hill had on the program and what Guentzel's involement means. The switch of coaches needed to happen and glad Lucia "agreed" to the move.

[mulefarm]

Not surprised? That group was picked to finish like 5th or 6th in the WCHA. It just shows what hard work does. The Gophers finally have a group that works hard out there. Hard work and talent is a tough thing to stop.

Maybe Schroeder should have watched this group play

Agree with how Schroeder played his 2nd yr. My question is, why didn't Lucia see this and make him a healthy scratch? I would think that would send a message? It's Schroeder's responsibilty to play hard, and Lucia's responsibilty to make sure he does.

[Sats81]

Not surprised? That group was picked to finish like 5th or 6th in the WCHA. It just shows what hard work does. The Gophers finally have a group that works hard out there. Hard work and talent is a tough thing to stop.

Maybe Schroeder should have watched this group play

You serious? He's tearing the 'A' up! Lol.

[Sats81]

Not surprised? That group was picked to finish like 5th or 6th in the WCHA. It just shows what hard work does. The Gophers finally have a group that works hard out there. Hard work and talent is a tough thing to stop.

Maybe Schroeder should have watched this group play

Agree with how Schroeder played his 2nd yr. My question is, why didn't Lucia see this and make him a healthy scratch? I would think that would send a message? It's Schroeder's responsibilty to play hard, and Lucia's responsibilty to make sure he does.

I think it was a lot of factors that came into play with this one. An inflated ego on his behalf and a lot of chirping from his old man didn't help the situation. IMO, one of the biggest wastes of talent in recent memory. Lets be honest, if he hasn't produced in the AHL by now at 21 he probably never will. Nearly every excuse in his defense why he hasn't lived up to his potential has been exhausted from: "he wasn't used to a long 60-80 game season," "he hasn't matured physically yet," "his high ankle sprain last year inhibited his ability to play his game," "he came back from the high ankle sprain too early," "his natural position is center, you can't move him to a wing and expect him to produce like he did," "he doesn't shoot the puck enough and passes too much," The bottom line is he jumped the gun way too quick leaving the U (Huge break for the Gophs on that), he should have stayed an developed at least one more year and he had the wrong people in his ear telling him the opposite.

[JSR]

Not surprised? That group was picked to finish like 5th or 6th in the WCHA. It just shows what hard work does. The Gophers finally have a group that works hard out there. Hard work and talent is a tough thing to stop.

Maybe Schroeder should have watched this group play

Agree with how Schroeder played his 2nd yr. My question is, why didn't Lucia see this and make him a healthy scratch? I would think that would send a message? It's Schroeder's responsibilty to play hard, and Lucia's responsibilty to make sure he does.

I think it was a lot of factors that came into play with this one. An inflated ego on his behalf and a lot of chirping from his old man didn't help the situation. IMO, one of the biggest wastes of talent in recent memory. Lets be honest, if he hasn't produced in the AHL by now at 21 he probably never will. Nearly every excuse in his defense why he hasn't lived up to his potential has been exhausted from: "he wasn't used to a long 60-80 game season," "he hasn't matured physically yet," "his high ankle sprain last year inhibited his ability to play his game," "he came back from the high ankle sprain too early," "his natural position is center, you can't move him to a wing and expect him to produce like he did," "he doesn't shoot the puck enough and passes too much," The bottom line is he jumped the gun way too quick leaving the U (Huge break for the Gophs on that), he should have stayed an developed at least one more year and he had the wrong people in his ear telling him the opposite.

Sounds alot like Skille from the Badgers.... it took Skille the better part of 4+ seasons in the AHL to finally breakthrough and become a regular in the NHL. I'd say Kyle Turris is another example of this.