Cornell-BU

[BearLover]

I believe this is our first NCAA postseason matchup vs. BU since the 1972 national title game. BU has the best talent in the country. They have three first-round draft picks and another player (Brady Tkachuk) who is a projected top-5 overall pick in this year's draft. They have more drafted defensemen (7) than they can fit in a lineup. They also have tournament experience, having made it to the NCAAs the past three seasons. They are missing Patrick Harper, who suffered a season-ending injury in January and was at the time their leading scorer, but I believe the rest of their team is healthy.

Cornell played them evenly at MSG this year, hanging on for a 4-3 win. At the time, BU was struggling and was discombobulated at forward. They have since turned things around and now play a more Cornell-style physical puck possession/get pucks deep/grind you down game. Cornell is deeper than nearly every team in the country, but BU is deep too, especially at D. And despite what the stats say, (first-round pick) Oettinger is probably at least as good a goalie as Galajda. Cornell played one fewer game this past weekend and have an extra day of rest. If BU spent the night of their Hockey East championship win partying, make that two extra days of rest. It should be noted too that BU, despite beating BC and Providence to win the automatic bid, hasn't looked like juggernauts, having won their last four games by 1 goal, discounting the empty-netter last night.

This is a pseudo-home game for BU because the selection committee doesn't care about bracket integrity. A home game against what is probably the most talented team in the country isn't the "prize" we were thinking of when we clinched the 1-seed, but I'd probably rather play BU than a high-flying offensive team like Penn State or Northeastern (we can worry about the latter if we get past BU). Overall, Cornell is the underdog.

[BMac]

It sucks that we're playing BU are essentially an away game... but on the other hand, that's what BU gets for traveling well.

Allentown would have been worse, and obviously Sioux Falls too. Really, only Bridgeport would have been "neutral"...

[Swampy]

It sucks that we're playing BU are essentially an away game... but on the other hand, that's what BU gets for traveling well.

Allentown would have been worse, and obviously Sioux Falls too. Really, only Bridgeport would have been "neutral"...

The NC$$ cares about the money. The best way to run up the cash register in Worcester was to schedule two home teams there. With only 4 #1s to choose from, their interests took second fiddle to putting local teams in Worcester.

McGinnis said. "We got three eastern teams in Worcester. Hopefully, that will create that environment that we're looking for."

The Cornell-BU matchup could be defended on several grounds, not the least of which were the losses to Princeton, Union and RPI down the stretch.

Hopefully our guys will remember the UML loss last year and bring their A game. Wins by Cornell & Michigan on Saturday will serve the committee right.

[marty]

It sucks that we're playing BU are essentially an away game... but on the other hand, that's what BU gets for traveling well.

Allentown would have been worse, and obviously Sioux Falls too. Really, only Bridgeport would have been "neutral"...

The NC$$ cares about the money. The best way to run up the cash register in Worcester was to schedule two home teams there. With only 4 #1s to choose from, their interests took second fiddle to putting local teams in Worcester.

McGinnis said. "We got three eastern teams in Worcester. Hopefully, that will create that environment that we're looking for."

The Cornell-BU matchup could be defended on several grounds, not the least of which were the losses to Princeton, Union and RPI down the stretch.

Hopefully our guys will remember the UML loss last year and bring their A game. Wins by Cornell & Michigan on Saturday will serve the committee right.

BU lines up with Cornell because we can't play Princeton in the first round.  To make any other switch isn't fair to Notre Dame.  Notre Dame is overall #2. They should not lose Michigan Tech because we can't play Princeton.

There was no decision to be made except whether we played BU or Michigan Tech. RPI seeding was followed when choosing all the 1 vs 4 seeds.  (Overall 1-4 vs 13-16 seeds.)

[adamw]

Just gonna repeat here again that - the idea that BU got a "home game" is silly. BU doesn't draw like that anymore. At The Beanpot, there were more Northeastern fans than BU.

If Cornell fans can pack Lynah East every year, there's no reason they can't have as many people in Worcester as BU does.

[Jim Hyla]

Just gonna repeat here again that - the idea that BU got a "home game" is silly. BU doesn't draw like that anymore. At The Beanpot, there were more Northeastern fans than BU.

If Cornell fans can pack Lynah East every year, there's no reason they can't have as many people in Worcester as BU does.

Sure we might be able to get as many fans there, but the Lynah East analogy is false. That is something that many Boston area alums circle on their schedule every year. It's planned out months in advance and they go as much as a social event as for the hockey. I doubt very many go to any other area games, certainly they don't go to Brown.

BU has a home game because the casual fan can just decide on Sat to drive and go to it, not so for CU. BU students with limited budgets can pay for gas and a ticket, CU students need accommodations and 2 days away from school. I suspect that the NU fans will be rooting against us as well, but I'm not sure of that. I doubt UM fans will root for us. There is no comparison. I will be more than a little surprised if our fan base comes up to BU's.

This group could have as easily been in Bridgeport. There, a substantial CU alumni and student base in NYC, remember we have a couple of campuses there, could take public transportation back and forth from NYC. That would have benefited the number 1 regional seed, but no, they chose to benefit the number 4 regional seed.

[Trotsky]

Just gonna repeat here again that - the idea that BU got a "home game" is silly. BU doesn't draw like that anymore. At The Beanpot, there were more Northeastern fans than BU.

If Cornell fans can pack Lynah East every year, there's no reason they can't have as many people in Worcester as BU does.

Sure we might be able to get as many fans there, but the Lynah East analogy is false. That is something that many Boston area alums circle on their schedule every year. It's planned out months in advance and they go as much as a social event as for the hockey. I doubt very many go to any other area games, certainly they don't go to Brown.

BU has a home game because the casual fan can just decide on Sat to drive and go to it, not so for CU. BU students with limited budgets can pay for gas and a ticket, CU students need accommodations and 2 days away from school. I suspect that the NU fans will be rooting against us as well, but I'm not sure of that. I doubt UM fans will root for us. There is no comparison. I will be more than a little surprised if our fan base comes up to BU's.

This group could have as easily been in Bridgeport. There, a substantial CU alumni and student base in NYC, remember we have a couple of campuses there, could take public transportation back and forth from NYC. That would have benefited the number 1 regional seed, but no, they chose to benefit the number 4 regional seed.

I doubt the UM - NU fans will care about our game, and for most of it they won't even be in the building.  If anything they will probably be rooting against BU as a rival / traditionally strong program / PITA fanbase with whom they are familiar.  Nobody outside the ECAC really even knows we exist anymore.

[upprdeck]

From looking at past attendance stories i wouldnt be surprised if cornell has more fans that the other teams unless BU decides to bus kids in I dont think they travel in droves to the game. Many kids dont have cars, dont need them in boston anyway.

[RichH]

Just gonna repeat here again that - the idea that BU got a "home game" is silly. BU doesn't draw like that anymore. At The Beanpot, there were more Northeastern fans than BU.

This. For those of us who went to Manchester last year, the building was DOMINATED during our game by faithful Lowell townies (not really many students), residents of a suburban city who had an easy drive. Only the most rabid BU fans will be bothered to make the trip out to Worcester, especially when a lower % of them have cars and one can just catch it on TV either at home or the neighborhood bars. Outside of the hub, I doubt you find many where "BU" is the default rooting interest. A casual fan local fan in Worcester might walk in and wind up rooting for the Mass schools, sure, but won't be dressed head-to-toe in scarlet (which is off-red) nor incredibly vocal.

I'm actually expecting there to be more of a Northeastern presence since their fans haven't had as much success, and are therefore hungrier and more excited about their current talent. An "all-hands on deck, because we don't know when this will happen again" rally for them.

As someone (I think billhoward) mentioned, the building holds over 12,000. If they get half that, I'd be impressed.  Allentown may very well be the attendance leader this weekend.

[Trotsky]

From looking at past attendance stories i wouldnt be surprised if cornell has more fans that the other teams unless BU decides to bus kids in I dont think they travel in droves to the game. Many kids dont have cars, dont need them in boston anyway.

I thought every kid at BU was from Long Island?

[RichH]

This group could have as easily been in Bridgeport. There, a substantial CU alumni and student base in NYC, remember we have a couple of campuses there, could take public transportation back and forth from NYC. That would have benefited the number 1 regional seed, but no, they chose to benefit the number 4 regional seed.

There's a century-old perception of a Notre Dame connection to New York City because of some dusty Knute Rockne playing Army in leather football helmets legend bullshit. Most committee members probably have no clue about Cornell's influence in NYC. If they even know what state we're in, they probably only think of our Ag pedigree.

Since the only word of explanation I've heard from the NCAA is "atmosphere," (translates to ticket $ale$) they kept the Mass schools in Mass. As for Bridgeport? "I-95 connects to Providence" is the hope there and maybe there's enough of the ND football nutjobs in NYC who will hop MetroNorth.

Finally, I want to point out how great it is to finally be able to type "ND" and not have any confusion.

[jeff '84]

"Most committee members probably have no clue about Cornell's influence in NYC. If they even know what state we're in, they probably only think of our Ag pedigree."

But Mike Schafer is on the Committee. Assume he'd make the point.

[Greenberg '97]

This group could have as easily been in Bridgeport. There, a substantial CU alumni and student base in NYC, remember we have a couple of campuses there, could take public transportation back and forth from NYC. That would have benefited the number 1 regional seed, but no, they chose to benefit the number 4 regional seed.

There's a century-old perception of a Notre Dame connection to New York City because of some dusty Knute Rockne playing Army in leather football helmets legend bullshit. Most committee members probably have no clue about Cornell's influence in NYC. If they even know what state we're in, they probably only think of our Ag pedigree.

Since the only word of explanation I've heard from the NCAA is "atmosphere," (translates to ticket $ale$) they kept the Mass schools in Mass. As for Bridgeport? "I-95 connects to Providence" is the hope there and maybe there's enough of the ND football nutjobs in NYC who will hop MetroNorth.

Finally, I want to point out how great it is to finally be able to type "ND" and not have any confusion.

Notre Dame gets an invitation to the Pinstripe Bowl if one of the participating conferences can't send an eligible team.

Source: I read it somewhere and don't remember the details.

Relevance: None.

[djk26]

Anyone know what happened to Cornell's season thread on USCHO?  I don't go there often, so maybe they never had one?  I figure that would be a good place to see what fans of other teams are saying about Cornell/BU.

[marty]

Anyone know what happened to Cornell's season thread on USCHO?  I don't go there often, so maybe they never had one?  I figure that would be a good place to see what fans of other teams are saying about Cornell/BU.

Keplerian crickets.