2008 Woodie Awards
Complicated PairWise Rankings will decide MSU Hockey's NCAA Tournament fate
by Pat Ottum
Issue date: 3/20/08
Section: Mens Sports
March is one of the most exciting times of the year. "March Madness" usually comes to mind during this crazy month, but it is also the time when the madness tangles itself in college hockey.
The Minnesota State men's hockey team lost a heartbreaking series to Minnesota last weekend, and now must sit and hope the NCAA selection committee doesn't forget them come this Selection Sunday, for the field of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Mavericks are tied for 13th in the PairWise Rankings, and understanding and sorting this ranking system is difficult and confusing, but with the way things stand, there are things Maverick fans should be watching to make sure MSU isn't left on the outside looking in.
Since the winner of each conference tournament gets an automatic bid, that only leaves 10 at-large bids left for teams like MSU. Whenever there is an upset in another conference tournament, that means one team not accounted for in the PairWise could get an automatic bid, making less at-large spots for MSU.
Maverick fans should root for the top seeds to win their respective conference tournaments.
Secondly, MSU would benefit from the team directly ahead of them in the PairWise (Notre Dame) losing, and teams right behind them - Harvard and Princeton - losing as well.
The more Notre Dame loses, the better.
Harvard (15th PairWise) and Princeton (16th PairWise) losing would also help MSU. They are both on opposite sides of the bracket in the ECAC Tournament, and both of them losing would be ideal for the Mavericks.
The ECAC has already had an effect on MSU, as top-seeded Clarkson was upset by Colgate. Being an upset, that means there was an at-large bid taken away from the field because Clarkson was already a lock for the NCAA Tournament, so losing didn't hurt their NCAA hopes, but gave the automatic bid for that conference to a team that otherwise wouldn't have made the field of 16.
As far as the WCHA Final Five is concerned, the Mavericks have little interest in that. It looks good if teams the Mavericks have had success against (Colorado College, Denver and St. Cloud State) do well, but the Final Five games don't necessarily impact MSU's NCAA tournament hopes.
If fifth-seeded Minnesota does well, however, that means a low seed would be upsetting teams locked for the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota isn't a lock for the NCAA Tournament yet, and that means that it is possible its success could move them up and the Mavericks out.
The selection process is complicated, and endless scenarios would put the Mavericks in or out of the tournament. To put it more simply, Maverick fans need to closely watch Minnesota, Notre Dame, Harvard and Princeton, cheer for Cornell, and hope for no major upsets.
It promises to be an entertaining weekend of college hockey.
Pat Ottum is a Reporter staff writer
The Minnesota State men's hockey team lost a heartbreaking series to Minnesota last weekend, and now must sit and hope the NCAA selection committee doesn't forget them come this Selection Sunday, for the field of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Mavericks are tied for 13th in the PairWise Rankings, and understanding and sorting this ranking system is difficult and confusing, but with the way things stand, there are things Maverick fans should be watching to make sure MSU isn't left on the outside looking in.
Since the winner of each conference tournament gets an automatic bid, that only leaves 10 at-large bids left for teams like MSU. Whenever there is an upset in another conference tournament, that means one team not accounted for in the PairWise could get an automatic bid, making less at-large spots for MSU.
Maverick fans should root for the top seeds to win their respective conference tournaments.
Secondly, MSU would benefit from the team directly ahead of them in the PairWise (Notre Dame) losing, and teams right behind them - Harvard and Princeton - losing as well.
The more Notre Dame loses, the better.
Harvard (15th PairWise) and Princeton (16th PairWise) losing would also help MSU. They are both on opposite sides of the bracket in the ECAC Tournament, and both of them losing would be ideal for the Mavericks.
The ECAC has already had an effect on MSU, as top-seeded Clarkson was upset by Colgate. Being an upset, that means there was an at-large bid taken away from the field because Clarkson was already a lock for the NCAA Tournament, so losing didn't hurt their NCAA hopes, but gave the automatic bid for that conference to a team that otherwise wouldn't have made the field of 16.
As far as the WCHA Final Five is concerned, the Mavericks have little interest in that. It looks good if teams the Mavericks have had success against (Colorado College, Denver and St. Cloud State) do well, but the Final Five games don't necessarily impact MSU's NCAA tournament hopes.
If fifth-seeded Minnesota does well, however, that means a low seed would be upsetting teams locked for the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota isn't a lock for the NCAA Tournament yet, and that means that it is possible its success could move them up and the Mavericks out.
The selection process is complicated, and endless scenarios would put the Mavericks in or out of the tournament. To put it more simply, Maverick fans need to closely watch Minnesota, Notre Dame, Harvard and Princeton, cheer for Cornell, and hope for no major upsets.
It promises to be an entertaining weekend of college hockey.
Pat Ottum is a Reporter staff writer
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