Although obviously the basketball tournament dominates everything right now, another very exciting college sport had its 16-team bracket announced.
Of course I speak of college hockey.
While people will often criticize the selections in the basketball tourney, there is room for some in this one as well, as controversy exists. Wisconsin earned a 3 seed, yet they didn’t even go .500, and their division rival Minnesota State had a better record and won every game against Wisconsin, and yet they didn’t even make the tourney. And to make things better for the Badgers, their playing at THEIR home ice. That’s nutty.
As for the rest of the field, only 1 conference champion (6 conferences) got a #1 seed, and that is Michigan, ranked #1 in the nation. Miami, who lost to Michigan in the CCHA conference final, also is a 1 seed. The other number one seeds are New Hampshire and North Dakota. (Neither made their conference tournament game)
The other conference champions are Air Force, Niagara, Princeton (Each are 4-seeds), Boston College, and Denver. (Both are 2-seeds)
6 teams from the WCHA made the field. Conference champion Denver, Colorado College (2), North Dakota (1), Wisconsin (3), St. Cloud State (2), and Minnesota (3). 4 teams are CCHA; number one seeds Michigan and Miami, along with defending national champion Michigan State (3) and Notre Dame (4).
For the bracket, go here. (PDF file) Most of the games will be on ESPNU, with the Frozen Four semi-finals on ESPN2 and the final on ESPN.
ESPN: NCAA hockey tourney's at-large selections include a number of surprises
USCHO: Bracket Analysis
more
