DU vs. #1 Minnesota
8 PM MT Friday
TV: NBC Sports Network
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
The University of Denver didn't just relinquish the Gold Pan to Colorado College last weekend. The Pioneers continued to fade in the NCAA Tournament picture as well.
DU is now 17th in the PairWise Rankings (PWR), well out of contention for an at-large berth in the 16-team NCAA Tournament. After five automatic bids are awarded to conference tournament champions, as few as 11 at-large berths will be given to the top PWR teams [read entire article].
19 comments:
Back in 1987 a #1 ranked Gopher team came into the old DU Ice Arena and the Pioneers tied and beat them. It was a pretty wild weekend in the student section.
I think we pretty much have to win out to make the NCAA's
Pairwise can be a pretty fickle beast.
One sweep and several splits in the upcoming weeks and they could be right back inside the bubble.
At that point the home playoff series would be a must win situation.
Best think to do is focus on Friday night.
I think we all need to realisticly look at the situation. For most of the season, this team has not come close to it's potential. Mediocre comes to mind. With all of the offensive fire power, why were we only able to score two goals against CC? Goaltending, for the most part, has been solid. Defense has not been consistent.
All season long, this team has taken whole periods off, especially early in games.
The only way into the dance is to have a higher work rate and to reap the results of out-working the competition. DU has yet to show that ability to outwork teams on a consistent basis.
Without the effort level, talent means little.
Need to see urgency, effort and leadership or this team is toast.
Right now, it's looking like 2002-2003, when a talented DU team picked to win the league, faded into a 7th place WCHA finish.
Book Tampa!!
There have been some pretty major injuries this season, but there is always equal (albeit younger) talent to fill the void. Then the replacements get suspended, etc.
Some tough breaks, but agreed this team doesn't have the moxie of an elite team, let alone a national championship team.
I love Gwoz but DU teams' consistently are inconsistent, and have trouble staying focused for 6 periods any given weekend.
Since Dec. 2 thru last weekend, the "inconsistant" defence has given up 36 goals in those 15 games. That is barely over 2 goals a game and would be 3rd in the nation (Defensively) They have played 5 games with 5 D and one of those was with 4 Dmen. That position has been outstanding considering where the team is at as far as their record indicates.
I blame the Shore brothers. They lack intestinal fortitude.
We need 3 Shores on the ice--I hope Drew comes back next year. And Bennett, too.
I agree that this team hasn't yet showed that it has "what it takes" to match the high expectations from the start of the season. A team with the requisite "moxie" would have put in a better effort against CC. That said, the pairwise can indeed be a "fickle beast," as DG mentions. If DU gets it together and somehow sweeps the Gophers, there could be a significant PWR jump. But I wouldn't bet the farm on it. The team has had some chances to show what they are made of, and they haven't showed anything awe-inspiring yet. Losing Bennett and Makowski has hurt this team badly, and I feel that the return of those guys could be "too little, too late." But I'm not giving up hope yet. Brittain looks strong, and Zucker can do wonders if he gets on a tear. Let's at least hope for some good efforts and exciting hockey the rest of the way.
Well said.
Love the way the Shore brohers play the game.
@ 11:17 -
Do keep in mind that merely preventing the other team from scoring goals is not the only function of the defense.
In modern, systems based hockey, the defensemen have to be the literal "quarterbacks" of the transition game; which a team like DU (high skill, somewhat limited size and "corner grinding" ability) must rely on to generate consistent offense.
Put very simply, DU's defensemen have just made WAY too many bad decisions with the puck this season.
Part of this is likely due to youth and inexperience and part is likely due to injuries putting people like Nate Dewhurst on defense...but, IMHO at least, DU's defensemen do not, and should not, escape blame for the mediocrity that seems to have befallen the team this season.
It ain't over until it's over. When this group has their shit together, they can put away any team out there - and any smart North Dakota, Minnesota or UW fan already knows that. Win or lose, it's going to be a tough 3 weeks coming up. My fear is, that one flat, lazy start with have a snowball effect, and you'll see these guys get deflated and be thinking the "season is over", 13 minutes into Friday night. So, I also task the coaches with not allowing that to happen. Gwozdecky, Miller, Lassonde, Carle and Thomas all needs to step it up and have these kids ready to do what they came to do. Give 60 minutes of intensity and Pioneer hockey - and you will be in the W column at the end of the night - PERIOD.
DU is very capable - right now. Ask me on Saturday morning of the Sioux weekend.................
Good post, 3:39. True all dat.
DU sitting at 38% probability for the playoffs. The way things are going, better than 3/1 odds seems pretty good right now.
http://www.playoffstatus.com/ncaahockey/ncaahockeytournpartprob.html
At this point in the season, the talent levels are there for 5-6 WCHA teams to be NCAA tourney worthy teams.
What will determine how many of those 5 or 6 teams will advance to the Dance will come down to effort level.
I think 3-4 teams WCHA will make it, and DU is a bubble team. They will need to give their best effort to make it. If they don't give it, they'll be golfing.
#17 isn't on the buble. DU has to get to 11 or 12.
OK, this is your Florida Central Gulf Coast Tourism Advocate post.....who cares if DU makes it to Tampa? YOU can.... and unlike FF's held in Detroit, Boston or Denver... if you book a place to stay well in advance, buy your airline tickets, request time off from work just for this and your team doesn't make it.... you're just not stuck in a cold, crappy town. You are in a sunny, humid 82 degrees, with palm trees, 20 minutes from white sand, seafood, saltwater, fishing, swimming, boating and great night life. COME TO FLORIDA
Don't kid yourself. The WCHA will be lucky to get three bids in the NCAAs this year and two of them are going to be UMD and Minnesota.
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