Two games on Thursday and now I can update “What I Believe”.
The nitty gritty here is that Michigan Tech and St. Cloud are now eliminated from the NCAA tournament and North Dakota is in with at least an at-large bid.
And with the winner of the WCHA now looking like it will be in the top 16 of the PairWise, the cut line becomes 12. If you’re in the top 12 when it ends, you’re in.
What I Believe are the locks (9)
Boston College
Michigan
Minnesota-Duluth
Miami
Boston University
Ferris State
Minnesota
North Dakota
Atlantic Hockey Champion
I Believe this is the bubble
Union
Massachusetts-Lowell
Maine
Denver
Cornell
Michigan State
Northern Michigan
Western Michigan
Merrimack
I Know these teams have to win it to get in
Air Force
Niagara
RIT
Mercyhurst
Bowling Green
Colgate
Harvard
Providence
How?
Some people have asked how certain teams are still on the bubble and not in the tournament. Here’s a few examples for some teams; I am sure there are more.
Union
You would think that they would be in. Wrong. Two losses do not help Union at all.
Atlantic Hockey
Semifinal #2: Niagara defeats RIT
Semifinal #1: Mercyhurst defeats Air Force
Championship game: Niagara defeats Mercyhurst
CCHA
Semifinal #2: Western Michigan defeats Miami
Semifinal #1: Michigan defeats Bowling Green
Championship game: Western Michigan defeats Michigan
Consolation game: Miami defeats Bowling Green
ECAC
Semifinal #2: Cornell defeats Harvard
Semifinal #1: Colgate defeats Union
Championship game: Colgate defeats Cornell
Consolation game: Harvard defeats Union
Hockey East
Semifinal #2: Maine defeats Boston University
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Boston College
Championship game: Providence defeats Maine
WCHA
Semifinal #2: Denver defeats Minnesota-Duluth
Semifinal #1: North Dakota defeats Minnesota
Championship game: Denver defeats North Dakota
Massachusetts-Lowell
You would also think the River Hawks are in. Wrong again. It doesn’t help that they are not playing anymore.
Atlantic Hockey
Semifinal #2: RIT defeats Niagara
Semifinal #1: Mercyhurst defeats Air Force
Championship game: RIT defeats Mercyhurst
CCHA
Semifinal #2: Western Michigan defeats Miami
Semifinal #1: Michigan defeats Bowling Green
Championship game: Western Michigan defeats Michigan
Consolation game: Miami defeats Bowling Green
ECAC
Semifinal #2: Cornell defeats Harvard
Semifinal #1: Colgate defeats Union
Championship game: Colgate defeats Cornell
Consolation game: Union defeats Harvard
Hockey East
Semifinal #2: Maine defeats Boston University
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Boston College
Championship game: Providence defeats Maine
WCHA
Semifinal #2: Denver defeats Minnesota-Duluth
Semifinal #1: North Dakota defeats Minnesota
Championship game: Denver defeats North Dakota
Denver
Even with the win Thursday, Denver is still not there — yet.
Atlantic Hockey
Semifinal #2: Niagara defeats RIT
Semifinal #1: Mercyhurst defeats Air Force
Championship game: Niagara defeats Mercyhurst
CCHA
Semifinal #2: Miami defeats Western Michigan
Semifinal #1: Bowling Green defeats Michigan
Championship game: Bowling Green defeats Miami
Consolation game: Western Michigan defeats Michigan
ECAC
Semifinal #2: Harvard defeats Cornell
Semifinal #1: Colgate defeats Union
Championship game: Harvard defeats Colgate
Consolation game: Cornell defeats Union
Hockey East
Semifinal #2: Boston University defeats Maine
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Boston College
Championship game: Providence defeats Boston University
WCHA
Semifinal #2: Minnesota-Duluth defeats Denver
Semifinal #1: Minnesota defeats North Dakota
Championship game: Minnesota-Duluth defeats Minnesota
