The INCH 4×4 represents how we think the NCAA Tournament field will look WHEN THE BRACKET IS ANNOUNCED Sunday, March 18 at noon ET on ESPNU.
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Thought bubble: There was a point this season—recently, not way back in November or December—where identifying 16 NCAA Tournament participants was like herding cats. It’s not because there were a ton of great candidates for the postseason, but more the case that there was a whole lot of mediocre out there. Object if you must, but there’s no denying it. The good thing about the lack of a clear-cut favorite is that this year’s NCAA Tournament should be a wide-open affair, even more wide open than usual. There appears to be at least a couple teams who’ve risen above the pack (Boston College and Michigan come to mind) but it wouldn’t be a shock to see a bunch of 3 and 4 seeds in Tampa. It’s just been that kind of year. |
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BRIDGEPORT East Regional |
WORCESTER Northeast Regional |
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1. Michigan | Pretty good story lines here—Michigan and CC played in last year’s West Regional final, the Dutchmen return to the site of its regional defeat last year, and Union beat the Wolverines earlier this season in Ann Arbor. And then there’s Maine. Yup, Maine. |
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1. Boston College | Seems like BC and Miami manage to run into each other in the NCAAs more often than not, so might as well throw them into the same regional, right? The Lowell-Miami match features two of country’s best goalies. Nice reward for UML and its fans to stay close to home. |
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2. Union |
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2. UMass Lowell |
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3. Maine |
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3. Miami | ||
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4. Colorado College |
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4. Air Force |
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GREEN BAY Midwest Regional |
ST. PAUL West Regional |
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1. Ferris State |
It’s a CCHA-WCHA showcase in Green Bay, which would most likely help attendance. Besides, having both maroon and gold-clad Bulldog squads in the same place will lessen confusion. |
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1. Minnesota | Who doesn’t love the prospect of a Minnesota- North Dakota showdown with a trip to Tampa on the line? It’s a chance for these rivals to butt heads on a big stage, and gives Wally Shaver the platform to spin more radio gold. |
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2. Minnesota Duluth |
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2. Boston University |
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3. Michigan State |
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3. North Dakota |
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4. Denver |
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4. Cornell | ||
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Last two in: Colorado College, Cornell First two out: Ohio State, Merrimack
Stock rising: Miami Stock falling: Boston University
INCH’s projected auto-bids: Atlantic Hockey-Air Force; CCHA-Michigan; ECAC Hockey-Union;
Hockey East-Boston College; WCHA-Minnesota |
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