Bracketology

[Dafatone]

This week's edition.

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This week's brackets

West Regional (St. Paul):
13 Minnesota-Duluth vs. 2 Minnesota
12 Vermont vs. 7 Wisconsin

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati):
[b][u]14 Colgate vs. 4 Ferris State[/u][/b]
10 Michigan vs. 8 St. Cloud State

Northeast Regional (Worcester):
16 Mercyhurst vs. 1 Boston College
[b][u]9 Cornell vs. 6 Massachusetts-Lowell[/u][/b]

East Regional (Bridgeport):
[b][u]15 Providence vs. 3 Union
11 Northeastern vs. 5 Quinnipiac[/u][/b]
Conference breakdowns

Hockey East — 5
[b][u]ECAC Hockey — 4[/u][/b]
Big Ten — 3
NCHC — 2
Atlantic Hockey — 1
WCHA — 1
On the move

In: Vermont, [b][u]Colgate[/u][/b]

Out: New Hampshire, North Dakota

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/bracketology/2014/02/12/five-weeks-out-and-a-lot-of-moves-make-for-good-story-lines/#ixzz2t9JXDgTm



I know there's all the mixing for various reasons, but weird to see the lowest 1 seed have the (presumably) easiest bracket.

[Jim Hyla]

You'll like this week.

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This week's brackets

West Regional (St. Paul):
[b][u]14 Cornell vs. 2 Minnesota[/u][/b]
9 Northeastern vs. 7 Wisconsin

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati):
15 Notre Dame vs. 4 St. Cloud State
12 North Dakota vs. 8 Ferris State

Northeast Regional (Worcester):
16 Mercyhurst vs. 1 Boston College
10 Michigan vs. 8 Massachusetts-Lowell

East Regional (Bridgeport):
[b][u]13 Vermont vs. 3 Union
11 Maine vs. 6 Quinnipiac[/u][/b]
Conference breakdowns

Hockey East — 6
[b][u]ECAC Hockey — 3[/u][/b]
Big Ten — 3
NCHC — 2
Atlantic Hockey — 1
WCHA — 1
On the move

In: North Dakota, Notre Dame, Maine

Out: Minnesota-Duluth, [b][u]Colgate[/u][/b], Providence

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/bracketology/2014/02/19/four-weeks-out-and-either-michigan-or-north-dakota-has-to-move-east/#ixzz2to7X90OZ

The only good thing, not for us, is that it gives the ECAC a relatively easy path for a FF team.

[nyc94]

Minnesota was inevitable.

[Trotsky]

While we wait for Jason, I gave this week a shot:

This week's brackets

West Regional (St. Paul):
15 Notre Dame vs. 2 Minnesota
10 North Dakota vs. 6 Wisconsin

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati):
13 Colgate vs. 4 Ferris State
12 Vermont vs. 5 St. Cloud

Northeast Regional (Worcester):
16 AHA vs. 1 Boston College
11 Cornell vs. 8 Massachusetts-Lowell

East Regional (Bridgeport):
14 Michigan vs. 3 Union
9 Northeastern vs. 7 Quinnipiac

Reasoning:

The regional distribution of 1-seeds is obvious.

The natural pattern of the 2-seeds (1/8, 2/7...) has a regional attendance problem which is solved by swapping 6 Wisconsin and 7 Quinnipiac.

The natural pattern of the 3-seeds (8/9, 7/10...) is illegal since 9 Northeastern is not allowed to face Lowell in the Northeast.  Surveying the entire 3-seed pool for the best fit, I keep the only western team (10 North Dakota) in the West.  This leaves one of the 2 HE teams to be screwed to the Midwest (Cornell can't be since they have to take the Northeast slot), so I screw the worst seed (12 Vermont).

The natural pattern of the 4-seeds (1/16, 2/15..) is legal.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

While we wait for Jason, I gave this week a shot:

This week's brackets

West Regional (St. Paul):
15 Notre Dame vs. 2 Minnesota
10 North Dakota vs. 6 Wisconsin

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati):
13 Colgate vs. 4 Ferris State
12 Vermont vs. 5 St. Cloud

Northeast Regional (Worcester):
16 AHA vs. 1 Boston College
11 Cornell vs. 8 Massachusetts-Lowell

East Regional (Bridgeport):
14 Michigan vs. 3 Union
9 Northeastern vs. 7 Quinnipiac

Reasoning:

The regional distribution of 1-seeds is obvious.

The natural pattern of the 2-seeds (1/8, 2/7...) has a regional attendance problem which is solved by swapping 6 Wisconsin and 7 Quinnipiac.

The natural pattern of the 3-seeds (8/9, 7/10...) is illegal since 9 Northeastern is not allowed to face Lowell in the Northeast.  Surveying the entire 3-seed pool for the best fit, I keep the only western team (10 North Dakota) in the West.  This leaves one of the 2 HE teams to be screwed to the Midwest (Cornell can't be since they have to take the Northeast slot), so I screw the worst seed (12 Vermont).

The natural pattern of the 4-seeds (1/16, 2/15..) is legal.

I came up with about the same thing.  I left Wisconsin and Quiny where they were but moved us to Worcester to fix the Hockey East matchup problem.

[Jim Hyla]

Here we are:

Definately an eastern flavor and it's nice to see someone else have to make the Minny trip.

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This week's brackets

West Regional (St. Paul):
[b][u]13 Colgate vs. 2 Minnesota[/u][/b]
10 North Dakota vs. 6 Wisconsin

Midwest Regional (Cincinnati):
14 Michigan vs. 4 Ferris State
12 Vermont vs. 5 St. Cloud State

Northeast Regional (Worcester):
16 Mercyhurst vs. 1 Boston College
[b][u]11 Cornell vs. 8 Massachusetts-Lowell[/u][/b]

East Regional (Bridgeport):
[b][u]15 Notre Dame vs. 3 Union
9 Northeastern vs. 7 Quinnipiac[/u][/b]
Conference breakdowns

Hockey East — 5
[b][u]ECAC Hockey — 4[/u][/b]
Big Ten — 3
NCHC — 2
Atlantic Hockey — 1
WCHA — 1
On the move

[b][u]In: Colgate[/u][/b]

Out: Maine
Attendance woes?

No issues for me.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/bracketology/2014/02/26/three-weeks-out-and-we-can-build-a-better-west-regional/#ixzz2uSyVx799



[billhoward]

Humble in victory. Skilled in building a spreadsheet.

For the past three years, I am the only prognosticator to have correctly predicted the exact brackets for the NCAA tournament, meaning that I have predicted how the committee thought when putting together the brackets.

Or his cousin works for NSA

[ugarte]

No issues for me.

Oh, good, a road game in the first round too. That's a new one.

[Jim Hyla]

No issues for me.

Oh, good, a road game in the first round too. That's a new one.

Please explain, I don't know what you mean.

[ugarte]

No issues for me.

Oh, good, a road game in the first round too. That's a new one.

Please explain, I don't know what you mean.

Usually we get stuck playing Minnesota in Minneapolis or Wisconsin in Green Bay, but it isn't until the second round. This projects us in Worcester, where we've got Lowell in the first round and if we get past them, BC.

[billhoward]

No issues for me.

Oh, good, a road game in the first round too. That's a new one.

Please explain, I don't know what you mean.

Usually we get stuck playing Minnesota in Minneapolis or Wisconsin in Green Bay, but it isn't until the second round. This projects us in Worcester, where we've got Lowell in the first round and if we get past them, BC.

Based on our string of 2 wins on the road, we're peaking. The glass is half full and there's a pony nearby. With Dustin Mowrey up.

But seriously, if playoff atmosphere is worth seeding and regional points, then Cornell stays East unless there's a horrible conflict out west that can't be resolved without putting Cornell on a plane.

[Jim Hyla]

No issues for me.

Oh, good, a road game in the first round too. That's a new one.

Please explain, I don't know what you mean.

Usually we get stuck playing Minnesota in Minneapolis or Wisconsin in Green Bay, but it isn't until the second round. This projects us in Worcester, where we've got Lowell in the first round and if we get past them, BC.

You got me with the "No issues for me." quote. Although I didn't make it clear, that's Jason Moy's quote, not mine. That's why it's before the USCHO link. I don't look at the Worcester pick the same as out west, as our fan base can travel there, if they want to. Sure it's easier for the New England teams, but if we went to Bridgeport, it's marginally easier for Q. The only non-home team road trip is Cincy, and while that's better than St. Paul, I'd be happy with either eastern site.

[adamw]

Adam, at some point will you state how you figured the bonus? For those who are wondering what I'm referring to, I'd ask them to read your article on the subject.

Our new Bracket ABCs article is here:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/02/25_bracket_abcs_late_regular.php

Jim - I didn't think the bonus wasn't publicly stated. The committee itself released how it was done, in English - and we reference it in our Primer. http://www.collegehockeynews.com/info/?d=pwcrpi  ... What are you looking to know?

[billhoward]

Adam, at some point will you state how you figured the bonus? For those who are wondering what I'm referring to, I'd ask them to read your article on the subject.

Our new Bracket ABCs article is here:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/02/25_bracket_abcs_late_regular.php
Jim - I didn't think the bonus wasn't publicly stated. The committee itself released how it was done, in English - and we reference it in our Primer. http://www.collegehockeynews.com/info/?d=pwcrpi  ... What are you looking to know?

With all respect to all the hockey writers/fanatics who publish their bracket predictions, Adam's is easier to read, the boilerplate is at the end, and there's more about each team, which is what fans of those teams want. And it makes the point that the If The Season Ended Today pairings are pointless because it changes so much, but what the heck we'll publish it anyway because that's what being a fan is about.

Fans are curious to see how much emphasis the seeding committee places on good of the game, competitive atmosphere, or whatever euphemism there is for reducing empty seats in the regionals by placing teams closer to their fans. For many teams in the East / Northeaast, what matters is not getting sent to Cincinnati or St Paul (9 hours and 16 hours from Ithaca). Bridgeport and Worcester, the two eastern sites, are 115 miles apart. Cincinnati and St Paul, the two midwest/west sites, are 700 miles apart.

[adamw]

With all respect to all the hockey writers/fanatics who publish their bracket predictions, Adam's is easier to read, the boilerplate is at the end, and there's more about each team, which is what fans of those teams want. And it makes the point that the If The Season Ended Today pairings are pointless because it changes so much, but what the heck we'll publish it anyway because that's what being a fan is about.

Thanks Bill.  I've been making that point for about 15 years - that it's pointless - and I've been doing those Bracket articles for CHN since we started in 2006 ... but that is the first time I gave in a little and showed a "bracket as it currently stands" just as a launching point for discussion of it. Which is often what I do in the text of the article even if not showing an actual bracket.  I cannot for the life of me see the allure of dissecting a bracket as of today, since it won't be that way. But to each their own.