Wisconsin Not Buying DU "Underdog" Theory

(above) DU will need all hands on deck this weekend if they are going to compete with the Wisconsin Badgers

From: Madison.com
by Andy Baggot


The news prompted a snicker from University of Wisconsin men’s hockey coach Mike Eaves.

Top-ranked Denver comes to the Kohl Center for a pivotal Western Collegiate Hockey Association series Friday and Saturday, bringing with it an odd sense of perspective.

In an interview on WIBA-AM/1310 earlier this week, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said his club was the underdog against UW, which is ranked third in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online poll.

“Good for George,” Eaves said, laughing at the chutzpah of his former Badgers teammate. “I’d like to hear his logic on that because of the fact that they come in No. 1 and we’re No. 3.”

Underdog? Denver has won seven straight regular-season games at the Kohl Center dating to 2004-05.

Underdog? The Pioneers are 9-1 in regular-season games at the Kohl Center during the Eaves Era, which dates to 2002-03.

Underdog? Denver is a remarkable 13-2-2 at the Kohl Center since it opened for hockey in 1998-99. That includes a 6-2 loss to the Badgers in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals in 2008.

Underdog? UW hasn’t scored against standout Pioneers goaltender Marc Cheverie in the past 138 minutes, 39 seconds spanning three previous meetings.

Gwozdecky latched onto the fact UW has averaged nearly a goal a game more this season than the Pioneers (4.05 to 3.14) and ranks either first or second in the WCHA in offense (first), defense (second) and penalty killing (first).

Some more logic for Gwozdecky: The Badgers are 5-1-1 against top-ranked opponents at the Kohl Center during the Eaves Era.

Why have the Pioneers had so much success in Madison of late?

“They’re a good team,” said UW senior right winger Michael Davies, who has 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 14 career outings against Denver. “They’re fast. They’re skilled. They take advantage of every opportunity they have.

“They’re going to try to do that this weekend. They’re going to come in here and try and push us around. We can’t let that happen.”

8 comments:

puck swami said...

This DU team is not the kind of physical team to "push anyone around". DU can (and often will) beat teams with skill or goaltending, but rarely with physical play.

We're a classic finesse team that is prone to long stretches of softness/

Anonymous said...

News alert!!!!!.......Be prepared for the unveiling of " piss on Boone campaign"....arriving at an arena near you. Check out the restrooms at an arena in the near future. If you ever wanted to...."piss all over Boone".... your chance will be comming real soon.

Eric J. Burton said...

Is this game on TV this weekend as far as FCS goes?

Anonymous said...

To 11.37-If you can take your ambigious genitalia out of your Depends,will you try to piss on Boone as well?

du78 said...

No FCS of the game this weekend.

Amy said...

NHL Network is going to show Friday's game. Same for the North Dakota series.

MagnessMan said...

Piss bounces right off Boone and lands in the opposing teams net.

Anonymous said...

"Piss on Boone Campaign"

Stay classy, Wisconsin Madison fans.