March 29, 2009
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8 Comments:
His injury is kind of perplexing, no? Has it just been a reaction to medication all along? Wuss or not, we need him in the lineup, so I hope he decides to "man up" pretty soon.
Also, not sure if you guys heard, but UVA hired Washinton State's coach, so everyone in the Twin Cities can exhale - for now.
Great Pitt-Nova game, by the way. I managed to go 0-for-4 in picking this year's final four.
Finally, is Tom Izzo an awesome tournament coach, or what? Can you imagine what he could have done with some of Roy Williams' teams over the years?
March 30, 2009 at 5:25 PM
I filled out 28 online brackets and did not have 'Nova in the final four on of any of them.
You know what I would like to see a picture of on this blog? Jan's beard.
If Maurer can't go for a while, can we bring back the chief, Mark Salas?
March 31, 2009 at 8:07 AM
Did anyone have Nova?
My beard is 3 months old, haven't trimmed it. Look like Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman. Comes off this Friday (I think.)
March 31, 2009 at 8:41 AM
I'd rather have Mauer miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season than the last 2-3 months by stressing the back now, I guess. He's actually been pretty durable the last couple years (caught as many games as anyone last season), but catchers break down. We're fairly deep at the position in the minors, too, so this could give someone a chance to show themselves.
We host the M's for four starting next Monday. I like the idea of starting off with a bad opponent, but a bad opponent in a four game series at home is putting a lot of pressure on the team. If they don't take 3 of 4 it will feel like a letdown to start the season.
What tournament?
You mean the one where BEMIDJI STATE is still in it? They drilled Notre Dame, who was No. 1 in the polls half the season. 5-1. Then won another one to make the Frozen Four. This would be like Harvard winning it back in '89 or whenever they beat the Gophers, if it keeps going.
Also, Air Force ripped Michigan, another top seed, 2-0 in the first round. Denver, yet another one seed, lost to Miami, who made it two No. 4 seeds in the championships next weekend by also beating UMD. So, we can worry a little less now about losing to Holy Cross in overtime a few years ago, I guess.
BU and Vermont join BSU and Miami. You know who to root for in each game, of course: Bemidji over Miami (no huge problems with Miami's program or anything, but their alums can be annoying and, c'mon, there are probably at least 8-10 'Sotans on the Beavers); Vermont (first ever Frozen Four) over BU; Bemidji over Vermont. Which of course means BU will beat Miami for the title. They're clearly the best team there.
March 31, 2009 at 12:56 PM
What is this College Hockey America conference that Bemidji State is in? who else is in it?
I just looked at the brackets. Didn't realize that 3 of the 4 top seeds went down! That is awesome.
March 31, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Yes, it was total carnage in the hockey tourney. Two 4 seeds in the Frozen Four is probably a first, Bemidji's the first ever team from outside Hockey East, ECAC, CCHA or WCHA to make it this far, and Vermont's a newcomer that was a 3 seed. Although they were helped by Air Force beating Michigan as well as getting untested Yale themselves in the first round.
The CHA has been at risk of dissolution for a couple years now, even though it's probably only a decade or so old. It's only got 4 teams left. Air Force and Army used to be in it but left for the Atlantic Hockey Association. Which makes no geographic sense for Air Force, but is a clear indication that that was probably a better organized league with more quality. Both of those conferences are pretty loose affiliations of newly D-I and small school programs that were formerly independent. A lotof these programs are constantly on the verge of disbanding or dropping themselves back to D-II, so a big, 14 or 16 team conference might lead to some stability.
Bemidji's petitioned to join the WCHA, as they're sort of screwed if the CHA disbands. The WCHA just this year lifted a moratorium on expansion, so it's possible they'll be invited in. This would effectively kill the CHA, as well as make the WCHA 11 teams instead of a nice round ten (although it already has an unbalanced schedule).
Personally, I think the best solution would be for the AHA to take on the remaining CHA teams, most of which are toward the eastern seaboard, anyway, and then split into two divisions. Strength in numbers.
March 31, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Oh, also, to answer your question, BG, the other CHA teams are (I think) Alabama-Huntsville (no, seriously), Niagara and I can't remember the other. Travel costs have to be ridiculously out of line.
Good news about Tony Bennett, by the way. Always interesting watching the carousel turn for college hoops coaches this time of year. Calipari to UK, apparently. That leaves Memphis open, which in turn likely leaves either Mizzou or UTEP open to go along with VCU now that Grant went to Alabama. Georgia still in play too, I think.
March 31, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Don't knock that Alabama-Huntsville team, well go ahead I don't care. They made the tournament a couple of years ago with a losing record. They played Notre Dame in the first round and lost, which gave ND their first ever tournament win.
April 1, 2009 at 8:43 AM
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