2012 NCAA tournament

[gerbe3:16 19]

Tickets will be going for cheap in Tampa on the street. Going to be an Anaheim-like crowd this year IMO. The teams from one side (Union/Ferris) will only make it worse. I can't get rid of my club seat on eBay for face value. Two good games tonight IMO. Go Gophers and Eagles.

[epstud74 24]

I honestly think there should be more teams in the tourney.

There should be less of a break between the regionals and the Frozen Four as well.

[tjl_48 0]

Was at the Sioux Gopher game today. As a Sioux fan it stunk but honestly I was surprised they made it that far. They were not even able to dress a full team most of the second half and were playing 3 walk ons. Injurys killed them this year. Now I don't know who I want to win it all now.

[gerbe3:16 19]

BC gets the last spot with a nice win over the defending champs.

Why did my wife go and have this stinking baby a few weeks before the Frozen Four!?

[chippa13 1844]

I honestly think there should be more teams in the tourney.

There should be less of a break between the regionals and the Frozen Four as well.

How many more could there be? You've already got a division like Hockey East putting 4 teams into the tournament. The move from 12 to 16 teams wasn't all that long ago.

[gerbe3:16 19]

Given the performance from most of the at-large 4 seeds lately (more stinkers than wins, I know Cornell beat Michigan but still) and the terrible regional attendance numbers, I would rather go back to the 12 team format. The CHA disbanded between now and then so you really are only giving up 1 at-large bid to the AHA champ that wasn't being handed out in the 12-team format.

Something has to change. Teams get boned because of the hosting rules (see BC going to St. Louis last year with Yale hosting as a 1 and UNH hosting as a 4) and other rules that all have to be sorted out. Bad crowds. Looks terrible on tv. High ticket prices. Stupid experiements like Frozen Fours in Anaheim (really helped grow the sport, huh?!), Ford Field, and Tampa... The NCAA is such an abortion it's not even funny.

The sad thing is the hockey is great. Everything else surrounding it makes it such a ridiculous mess.

[goblue9280 33]

The move from 12 to 16 teams wasn't all that long ago.

Furthermore there's only around 60 Div 1 teams, so you already have 25% of teams making it.

I agree, all of the empty seats at these regionals is ridiculous. I know it would make things tougher logistically, but I'd rather that the regionals be held at the #1 seeds home ice. I'd also like to see them go to double elimination during the regionals. In hockey moreso than just about any other sport, 1 or 2 bad (lucky) bounces can decide a game... thus I'd rather they wait until the frozen four to start single elimination.

[chippa13 1844]

The regionals almost always struggle with bad crowds, especially out west in a non-western matchup. Having BC anywhere close to home has the same effect because BC folks buy up a ton of seats but only attend the BC games. Unfortunately, there isn't a large enough contingent of college hockey fans who will just go to see college hockey for the regionals, the majority need a rooting interest.

Furthermore there's only around 60 Div 1 teams, so you already have 25% of teams making it.

I agree, all of the empty seats at these regionals is ridiculous. I know it would make things tougher logistically, but I'd rather that the regionals be held at the #1 seeds home ice. I'd also like to see them go to double elimination during the regionals. In hockey moreso than just about any other sport, 1 or 2 bad (lucky) bounces can decide a game... thus I'd rather they wait until the frozen four to start single elimination.

I don't think logistics would be that big of a problem. With the number of high end programs in control of their home rinks, it wouldn't be that hard to keep the weekend open. That only really solves the attendance problem for 1 game depending on how the 1 seed does. If the 1 seed gets bounced in their first game then you're got empty building syndrome. Imaging the Lowell/Union game being played at Miami-Ohio. Friends and family.

[goblue9280 33]

If the 1 seed gets bounced in their first game then you're got empty building syndrome.

Solid point. With double elimination at the regionals, it will help to decrease the chances of the top (host) seed not making the final game. Or heck, what about going back to a best of 3 series in the first round... or best of three series for the first two rounds, where the higher seed hosts the series. It adds a week to the tournament, but they're already skipping a week to avoid the basketball final four anyway.

[hunterphfr 12]

Prices on Stubhub have come down rather rapidly. Now I just need to figure out if we are better off picking up tickets beforehand or wait until 10 mins after the puck drops and hang out out front. Usually not a shortage of tickets in Tampa being hawked streetside.

[gerbe3:16 19]

Let the games begin!

First game is 4:30. Union vs. Ferris State.

Then the big boys at 8 pm on ESPN2: BC vs. Minnesota.

Interestingly the Twitter Machine has made mention that BC is going to be wearing new Bauer helmets tonight (assuming Bauer RE-AKTs). Someone get CJ Ficek on the phone!

[nickyb13 9]

some of the BC players have been wearing the RE-AKTs since the regionals

[gerbe3:16 19]

Ferris State and BC come out winners on Thursday.

Missed most of the first game but got to see the last 7 minutes when Ferris dominated and got the GWG and ENG.

BC-Minnesota was a good game early before BC just stunned them in the 2nd period. It was pretty much over by the end of the 2nd after the two late goals.

Hobey Baker and All-Americans will be announced today.

[goblue9280 33]

Heck of a championship game. Ferris hung with BC all the way til the end. BC just wasn't letting anything get to the front of their net. Thought they should have awarded Ferris a penalty shot in the 2nd. In the end, the clear-cut best team in the country won the title.