M Hockey picked 3rd in B1G, Bennett & Guptill on first B1G watch list
This was missed last week, but last week was the first B1G Hockey media day.
Michigan was shockingly picked to finish 3rd in the B1G preseason coaches poll. Mac Bennett and Alex Guptill were named to the first ever B1G Preseason watch list.
B1G Coaches Poll
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/091913aab.html
September 23rd, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
I don't know why it's "shocking" that we would be picked 3rd. Minnesota and Wisconsin are both tournament teams from last year. OSU, MSU, and PSU aren't going to be very good. I think we're right where we should be, especially since we're losing both Merrill and Trouba, and still have serious question marks in net.
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
The Big Ten poll exactly followed the CHN poll released a couple weeks ago and I think some other poll as well. Michigan has (way overblown) questions in the crease and a legitimate lack of proven defense both on the blueline and from the forwards.
Maybe that gets shored up, or maybe Michigan will be able to score four times a game, but I can't see anyone picking M over Wisconsin or Minnesota right now.
September 23rd, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
I think we're right where we should be, especially since we're losing both Merrill and Trouba, and still have serious question marks in net.You point is well taken with the loss of Merrill and Trouba, but Racine was pretty solid in net during Michigan's stretch run last season and was a major reason we almost snuck into the tournament last season. Michigan's netminding is going to be just fine if we can get competent defensive play.
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
I thought it was weird that they voted Wisconsin to finish first. They've been fairly pathetic in recent years and I was almost certain Minnesota would get a unanimous #1 vote. If I had a vote I'd go
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Michigan State
- Penn State
- Ohio State
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
Shocking because 3rd is too low or too high? Based on how we played last year, 3rd sounds about right to me.
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
Michigan didn't make the tournament but still may be preseason top-10.
Loaded class coming in. Plus a team that was white hot at the end of the season and almost pulled of the unthinkable, again.
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
If Michigan is the sixth best team in the nation and five Big Ten teams are better than them, shouldn't they be picked sixth in coference?
Michigan had some pretty terrible team defense last year and lost Merrill and Trouba, both honest-to-goodness NHL defenseman. Third certainly isn't an unreasonable preseason ranking.
September 23rd, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
Justingoblue already said it, but the team last year has no bearing on this year. Especially given that Trouba and Merrill are both playing in the NHL
September 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Not a shock at all. Wisconsin, though they didn't set the world on fire last year, do return almost their entire team. Minnesota is still very talented. We had a pretty bad season last year. Played well for a little over a month. But played terribly for about 3 months.
I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up on top, but that's just because we have some good potential on this squad and we could end up outscoring everybody. If the blue line gets sorted out and is consistent and Racine's second half of the season was not an aberration, we could have a good squad. But right now, we are definitely a bubble team.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
I agree with Gordon Berenson, I'd rank Minnesota first. Otherwise I'm not terribly surprised Michigan's ranked third. The forwards should be even better than last year, both offensively and (most importantly) defensively. The defense, however, makes me really uneasy; you have a team that played poor team defense last year and then lost their two best d-men to the NHL. Also, I think Racine is more than an abberation. He's the real deal and I think that will be very evident early this season, especially since he isn't recovering from offseason surgery like he was at the beginning of last year.