The INCH 4×4 represents how we think the NCAA Tournament field will look WHEN THE BRACKET IS ANNOUNCED Sunday, March 21.
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Thought bubble: Except for College Hockey America, which holds its semifinals and finals at Niagara this weekend, the remaining conference playoff champions won’t be crowned for more than a week. Beyond the battles for conference supremacy, however, are a handful of best-of-three series that can be classified as knockout series, because the loser can virtually give up hope of landing an at-large invite to the NCAA Tournament. Among the series with the biggest implications are Alaska-Northern Michigan and Nebraska-Omaha-Ferris State in the CCHA, Vermont-New Hampshire in Hockey East, and Colorado College-Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA. |
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ALBANY East Regional |
WORCESTER Northeast Regional |
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1. Wisconsin | We chose to flip Wisconsin to Albany as the top seed in the East Regional, leaving Boston College clear to be the No. 1 seed in Worcester. A regional final matchup against Cornell would necessitate Visine. |
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1. Boston College | It didn’t win the Hockey East regular-season championship, but BC’s tie and win against UNH is enough to propel them to the top seed in Worcester. The Eagles’ reward could be a potential date with North Dakota. |
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2. Cornell |
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2. North Dakota | ||
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3. New Hampshire |
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3. Yale | ||
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4. Ferris State |
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4. Northern Michigan | ||
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FORT WAYNE Midwest Regional |
ST. PAUL West Regional |
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1. Miami | There’s no question that Miami will end up in Fort Wayne. But will the Spartans be here, too? If attendance is a concern, you can bet on MSU and its fans road-tripping down I-69. |
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1. Denver | Bemidji State was the original No. 2 seed here, but we decided to swap ‘em out in favor of St. Cloud State. One a borderline No. 1 seed, another stumble could send the Huskies into No. 3 seed range. |
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2. Bemidji State |
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2. St. Cloud State | ||
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3. Michigan State |
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3. Alaska | ||
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4. Minnesota Duluth |
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4. RIT | ||
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Last two in: Minnesota Duluth, Northern Michigan First two out: Nebraska-Omaha, Vermont
Stock rising: Boston College Stock falling: St. Cloud State
INCH’s projected auto-bids: Atlantic Hockey-RIT; CCHA-Miami; College Hockey America-Bemidji State;
ECAC Hockey-Cornell; Hockey East-Boston College; WCHA-Denver |
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