Justin Meram didn't just score
Fort Wayne!
Wow. After years of screwing one and two-seeded Michigan teams, the committee went off the reservation and gave Michigan the kindest possible draw in the history of draws:
Fort Wayne
1. Miami vs. 4. Alabama-Huntsville
2. Bemidji State vs 3. Michigan
That bracket is crazy better than going to Massachusetts to play WCHA champion North Dakota and facing a probable road game against BC if you survive that. Michigan gets to play virtual home games against Bemidji, the #8 overall seed—North Dakota is #5—and probably Miami, a team they just beat handily. I have no idea why the committee would do this except the big one: attendance. Fort Wayne is now going to be packed and Michigan's chances of making it to Detroit probably just doubled. This is totally unfair for the rest of the field.
UPDATE: Just to emphasize what a favor the committee just did Michigan, everyone thinks KRACH is a much better rating system than the Pairwise. KRACH has North Dakota 4th and Bemidji 13th. In its world, Michigan is 10th and actually a favorite in the first round game. Of course, then Michigan has to take on #2 Miami instead of #5 BC, but I'll take it.
UPDATE II: Tickets here.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:05 PM | 
totally unfair? maybe
totally unfair? maybe
March 21st, 2010 at 1:06 PM |
No, we probably got the
No, we probably got the
No, we probably got the kindest possible draw in the history of draws last season, and left without a goal scored.
If you can't get into college go to State.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:10 PM |
There was a comment by Paula Weston
There was a comment by Paula Weston
on uscho's live blog of the bracket announcement that up til this weekend, Ft Wayne had only sold 1000 ticket packages or so. Looking at the way the rest of the brackets shook out, it seems that not going bankrupt (i.e. "attendance issues") took center stage after the seeds were grouped. If this is this big of an issue, then I think the tourney comittee really needs to look again at placing regionals at the top seed's home rink.
Funny, there was also a bunch of Miami fans bitching about how Mich's in their bracket, but then the moderators taking them behind the woodshed for not traveling. "If you want to be a top team, you're going to have to find a way to go to games farther than Cincinnati". Oooh snap!
Although, I have to say, I was really looking forward to a possible "Molly game" rematch with SCSU.
Thank you Michigan Attendance Loving God.
"So I come out of Ohio Stadium after we beat the Buckeyes, and right there on the hood of my friend's car, some one took a dump, in the shape of an 'O'. no shit. Oh, sorry, bad pun."
March 21st, 2010 at 1:14 PM |
I agree about the attendance.
I agree about the attendance.
I agree about the attendance. If it's such a big issue that you have to rejigger the whole seeding dynamic, then just have teams host at campus sites.
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:13 PM |
Oh yes... I was thinking
Oh yes... I was thinking
Oh yes... I was thinking about Molly and O'Malley while looking at the Pairwise yesterday.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:10 PM |
I, for one, welcome our new
I, for one, welcome our new
I, for one, welcome our new NCAA Hockey Selection Committee Overlords.
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:17 PM |
Aww
Aww
you just fixed your avatar.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:26 PM |
holy crap, i did
holy crap, i did
i did it last night after 3-4 people mentioned it. weird how it takes like 12hrs to update.
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:12 PM |
I have only one request.
I have only one request.
I have only one request. Whenever the powers that be start the open thread, I humbly submit that it be title the "Bemidji is Not a State Open Thread". Anything after that is just gravy. With the exception of winning of course.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:20 PM |
So, how do you feel about joining my
So, how do you feel about joining my
"Bemidji (not that Bemidji)" campaign?
Taking it one week at a time
March 21st, 2010 at 1:17 PM |
"This is totally unfair for the rest of the field."
"This is totally unfair for the rest of the field."
I'll take it.
And if we make it to Detroit... holy hell that would be amazing.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:21 PM |
think back to a month ago. if
think back to a month ago. if
think back to a month ago. if you told me that we'd have just swept the ccha tournament behind louie's 7 goals and 4 assists with HUNWICK backstopping us (with 10000+ people chanting his name) I would've give you exactly a 0.00% chance of that happening.
it's been an incredible month of hockey
Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 PM |
Absolutely,
Absolutely,
truth is stranger than fiction.
Hunwick is CCHA Tourney MVP!
Taking it one week at a time
March 21st, 2010 at 1:22 PM |
REPARATIONS FOR SHEGOS!
REPARATIONS FOR SHEGOS!
REPARATIONS FOR SHEGOS! Except watch him call at both games in Fort Wayne...
March 21st, 2010 at 1:24 PM |
It is
It is
the CCHA's regional... So this isn't out of the question.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:43 PM |
As far as I know
As far as I know
you will never get a CCHA ref officiating a game in which even one CCHA team is present. So I hope that goes double for games with two CCHA teams, even though conference favoritism becomes a moot point. I thought the refs at the Air Force game were decent, aside from throwing about 11 people out of EVERY faceoff (drop the FREAKING puck!) and the "embellishment" call on Wohlberg, when he was hauled down just inside AF's zone, from behind with nobody in front of him but the goalie, without getting a shot off. By definition, I'm pretty that's a penalty shot and I'm pretty sure that you don't embellish something like that where you have the clear advantage and the penalty would be less beneficial than play continuing. But what happened happened.
YAY FOR NO MORE CCHA REFS UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2010 at 1:45 PM |
Excellent
Excellent
I didn't know that this was the case; it is always funny to me how different refs can really have an impact on the flow / style of the game.
I'm sure Red and the staff will know what to expect depending on who we are assigned.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 5:18 PM |
Be careful what you wish for.
Be careful what you wish for.
Be careful what you wish for. We think (and know) CCHA officiating is bad, but then you watch other conferences and you see just how much worse it is elsewhere.
I mean, think back to TJ Hensick's 10-minute misconduct in Denver for offending a thin-skinned minor-conference official... I would have taken Shegos in a heartbeat that day.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:43 PM |
So true. I don't know if
So true. I don't know if
So true. I don't know if anyone else watched the WCHA championship game last night, but (believe it or not) their officials were worse than Shegos.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:20 PM |
WCHA officials are
WCHA officials are
WCHA officials are notoriously clueless. Some legitimately wacky stuff goes on out there.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:24 PM |
Will this be on TV anywhere?
Will this be on TV anywhere?
Will this be on TV anywhere? ESPN.com just lists ESPN360.com for coverage
March 21st, 2010 at 1:59 PM |
ESPN
ESPN
Has the rights to all games, so it is unlikely that they would syndicate through a non-ESPN partner (BTN, FSN, Comcast, etc)... meaning we might have to just watch online.
Or attempt to wage a letter-writing campaign to somehow get it aired other than on ESPN360.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:32 PM |
TV as it currently shakes out on uscho.com
TV as it currently shakes out on uscho.com
http://www.uscho.com/news/id,18499/MiamiDenverWisconsinBostonCollegeGetT...
Looks like tape delay is an option. What's the point of tape-delaying games like these? Would you even dream of tape-delaying March Madness? Or any other playoff game?
Hopefully that's just an option and they are on live.
March 21st, 2010 at 4:26 PM |
Too many games for one channel
Too many games for one channel
ESPNU's schedule, broken down by day: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?page=10frozenfoursked
ESPN is only dedicating ESPNU for regional games. On Friday, there's only one game (of 4) they can't fit live. On Saturday, they have only 3 of 6 live (although it's arguable they could get BC-Alaska if they bumped up the start to closer to 12). Given that we're the 7:30 game, I totally agree with having the regional finals live instead of us. At least there will still be an HD feed, even if it's at 11:30 at night. Comcast agreed to stream ESPN360 last August, so at least we have that going for us.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:51 AM |
I generally don't mind 360,
I generally don't mind 360,
I generally don't mind 360, but I'd love to watch it with a crowd at Duffy's if that is what syndication means.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:33 PM |
Fort Wayne sucks, but this is
Fort Wayne sucks, but this is
March 21st, 2010 at 1:35 PM |
Ticket prices
Ticket prices
I can't believe how expensive these tickets are. Or, rather, I can believe it, but I think it's highway robbery. I don't even want to think about what the Ticketmaster fees are going to add to the total. I paid 60 bucks for 3 $12 tickets to yesterday's game.
Anybody know if season ticket holders will get access to cheaper tickets through the school?
March 21st, 2010 at 1:40 PM |
3 NCAA Tournament games for $72-$87?
3 NCAA Tournament games for $72-$87?
I don't know what your definition of highway robbery is, but to me, that isn't it.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
Exactly. Compare that to the
Exactly. Compare that to the
Exactly. Compare that to the tickets for one bowl game or a session of tickets for the basketball tournament. No comparison. This is a much better deal.
If you can't get into college go to State.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:44 PM |
OR
OR
compare it to $40 for the 3 FROZEN FOUR games...
March 21st, 2010 at 1:52 PM |
Different
Different
Filling Ford Field given the capacity they've opened up for the frozen four isn't exactly apples to apples with a regional.
Those $40 weekend seats are going to require binoculars... (and they are subject to the same fees as this weekend's...)
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:14 PM |
Still though
Still though
40 bucks is a tremdous option for people who can't afford to drop a couple hundred or more.
Michigan Stadium UTL 9/10/11 -- Greatest moment of my sports life.
March 21st, 2010 at 4:17 PM |
FYI
FYI
It appears by the way the rink will be positioned at Ford Field, only half of the stadium will be used.
But really, just buy tickets outside the stadium 5 mins before the drop. Scalpers will not be able to give them away. Did the same for the CCHA this weekend.
I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge
March 21st, 2010 at 5:24 PM |
NCAA tournament tickets are
NCAA tournament tickets are
NCAA tournament tickets are ALWAYS easy to procure, especially for day 2 of any given weekend. I remember people picking up tickets for day two of the Grand Forks regional in 2006 from soul-crushed Minnesota fans for free/5 bucks. And perhaps one of the easiest tickets of the bunch to get (especially this year with such a large arena) is the final game of the Frozen Four. Just stand outside the arena after the semifinals and pounce, always disgruntled fans looking to unload. Scalpers abounding, too, with tons of tickets they can't unload at full price.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:56 PM |
or a session of tickets
or a session of tickets
to the Big Ten basketball tournament. $40 per two-game session on Friday, $48 after Ticketmaster extortion.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:47 PM |
If you're interested in all the games, it's fine
If you're interested in all the games, it's fine
But those prices are also before the Ticketmaster fees of around 10 bucks per ticket. And the single game prices just strike me as being a bit steep. I'm not planning on heading down early to watch the early game and won't stay to watch the championship game if Michigan isn't in it.
I'm not outraged or anything, but I just don't get why there's not a cheaper option like there was at the CCHA tournament. I guess the arena's considerably smaller, but still.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:40 PM |
I didn't even know Bemidji
I didn't even know Bemidji
I didn't even know Bemidji St. was a team.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:40 PM |
you obviously didn't watch a
you obviously didn't watch a
you obviously didn't watch a second of non-Michigan NCAA hockey last year then...
~Sean
March 21st, 2010 at 1:45 PM |
Yeah, they had quite a
Yeah, they had quite a
Yeah, they had quite a Cinderella run last year, should be an interesting matchup.
Then again, I think we've redefined 'Cinderella' in regards to this team.
A rich tradition from the past and potential for future glory where anything but the best is unacceptable. To uphold the greatness and excellence that Michigan Hockey represents by becoming a part of something greater than ourselves.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:53 PM |
Is it possible to buy single
Is it possible to buy single
Is it possible to buy single game tickets right now or just weekend passes?
i only respect other superfans
March 21st, 2010 at 1:55 PM |
Single Game Tickets
Single Game Tickets
On sale tomorrow morning, if available.
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 1:56 PM |
The way it looked from the
The way it looked from the
The way it looked from the other sites, single game tickets are going to be around 50 each.
I'm hoping the University will do something for students and alumni that is magically cheaper
So you're telling me there's a chance
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:38 AM |
Unless they have a group discount, it's unlikely
Unless they have a group discount, it's unlikely
NCAA regulates ticketing, so any of the deals schools offer during the regular season to students/alums/children under 6 don't apply during tournaments.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:23 PM |
Maybe they rewarded us for
Maybe they rewarded us for
Maybe they rewarded us for being probably the hottest team going into the tourney. I'm sure no one wants to face us right now.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:36 PM |
We're so hot right now
We're so hot right now
Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!
March 21st, 2010 at 2:32 PM |
espn 360
espn 360
Does anybody know how safe it is to download the espn360 media player (I think it is called MoveMediaPlayer or something like that)? Has anyone used it had any related spyware problems?
michelin
March 21st, 2010 at 5:20 PM |
I've used it and never had any problems
I've used it and never had any problems
I've used it and never had any problems but I do have anti spyware software installed on my computer so I can't guarantee nothing bad happens. IMHO though, it is safe to use.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:05 PM |
i've used it
i've used it
and know many many others who have as well with no reported problems.
you've got to think espn vets their stuff at least to some extent...
This is Michigan.
March 21st, 2010 at 9:47 PM |
thanks
thanks
to both you and France below.
I am very cautious about downloads these days but could not find anything on the net about this program.
michelin
March 21st, 2010 at 3:00 PM |
Am I the only one who is not
Am I the only one who is not
Am I the only one who is not feeling good about this draw? Yes, Bemidji State is a favorable first round draw, but unless Alabama-Hunstville pulls off an epic upset (go Alabama-Huntsville!), we'll be facing an elite team that he a massive score to settle against us. I am really, really worried about the possibility of facing Miami again so soon.
Now with 100% less South Bend, 100% more Washington DC.
totally awesome? yes