INCH 4x4
March 13, 2007

The INCH 4x4 represents how we think the NCAA Tournament field
will look WHEN THE BRACKET IS ANNOUNCED Sunday.

ROCHESTER East Regional

MANCHESTER Northeast Regional
1.
St. Cloud State		 Winning one of two at the WCHA Final Five — which is our prediction for the Huskies — is enough to keep them as one of the four 1 seeds. 1.
Clarkson		 If our conference tournament predictions hold true, the Golden Knights will squeak past New Hampshire to earn a top seed.
2.
Boston College		 Our choice to win the Hockey East playoffs lands the Eagles as a high 2 seed. Even if they lose once, they'll probably stick as a 2 but get sent further from home. 2.
New Hampshire		 We project BC to win the Hockey East title over UNH. If the reverse happens, UNH get a 1 seed and Clarkson gets a 2 (and a likely trip to Rochester.)
3.
Michigan State		 Barring an darkhorse champion in one of the other conference tourneys, the Spartans could lose twice in the CCHAs and still get an at-large bid. 3.
St. Lawrence		 We predict the Saints lose to Clarkson in the ECACHL title game. Even if they win it all, they aren't likely to climb higher than a 3.
4.
Miami		 Instead of playing for CCHA glory, Miami will be in Oxford rooting for all the favorites to win out so they can hang on to one of the last two at-large bids. 4.
Maine		 Like Miami, the Black Bears are spectators this weekend. They, too, are pulling for the top seeds in each league to hold serve.

GRAND RAPIDS Midwest Regional

DENVER West Regional
1.
Notre Dame		 We project Boston College and North Dakota winning the Hockey East and WCHA tourneys, allowing the Irish to earn the top overall seed. 1.
Minnesota		 The Gophers are a 1 seed for sure, but we think they'll fall to North Dakota in the WCHA final and lose the top overall seed.
2.
Boston University		 We give the nod to BC over BU in Friday's Hockey East semifinal, hence the Terriers' date with the Wolverines in GR. 2.
North Dakota		 No one's hotter than the Sioux right now. A second straight WCHA title locks them into the 2 seed in Denver.
3.
Michigan		 Should Michigan beat Michigan State Friday, the Wolverines can sneak into a two spot, especially if North Dakota loses twice in the WCHA Final Five. 3.
UMass		 Regardless of what happens against UNH Friday, the Minutemen are in it, man. UMass is 7-1-1 in its last nine games.
4.
Alabama-Huntsville		 With a 13-19-3 overall record, the Chargers are the unlikeliest of tourney participants. But unlike everyone else on this list, they're in for sure. 4.
Sacred Heart		 The irony of Minnesota playing a Catholic school representing Atlantic Hockey in front of North Dakota fans is not lost on us.

 Last two in: Maine, Miami     Last two out: Dartmouth, Denver
Stock rising: Michigan State, Massachusetts     Stock falling: Maine, Miami
INCH's projected auto-bids: Atlantic Hockey-Sacred Heart; CCHA-Notre Dame;
ECACHL-Clarkson; Hockey East-Boston College; WCHA-North Dakota