CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE BRACKET Fine, I realize that this is absurd that I'm even talking about the NCAA regionals at this point but I can write about whatever I want on this site and it just so happens that I feel like predicting the brackets a bit early this season. We're over a quarter of the way throughout the season so it's reasonable in my opinion. At least I'm not like the ESPN College hoops guys who put out their first bracketology before the season even started. That might be pushing it.
Step 1: Pick the 16 tournament teams
1. Yale
2. Nebraska-Omaha
3. Boston University
4. Notre Dame
5. Michigan
6. Union
7. Maine
8. Alaska
9. New Hampshire
10. Western Michigan
11. Minnesota Duluth
12. Wisconsin
13. Miami
14. Michigan State
15. Boston College
16. Atlantic Hockey Champion (Robert Morris)
Step 2: Assign the seeds
No. 1 seeds: Yale, UNO, BU, Notre Dame
No. 2 seeds: Michigan, Union, Maine, Alaska
No. 3 seeds: UNH, Western Michigan, UMD, Wisconsin
No. 4 seeds: Miami, Michigan State, BC, Robert Morris
Step 3: Place host teams in regionals
Right now we have two host schools in the tournament. New Hampshire is hosting the Northeast Regional in Manchester, and Yale is hosting the East Regional in Bridgeport. Therefore, UNH is placed as the #3 seed in Manchester and Yale is the #1 seed in Bridgeport.
Step 4: Place number 1 seeds in regionals
Number 1 seeds are placed based on proximity to regional site.
No. 1 Yale has already been placed in the East Regional in Bridgeport
No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha is placed in the West Regional in St. Louis
No. 3 Boston University is placed in the Northeast Regional in Manchester
No. 4 Notre Dame is placed in the Mid-West Regional in Green Bay
Step 5: Place the other 12 teams avoiding intra-conference match ups if possible Begin by filling in each bracket by banding groups. Remember that teams are not assigned to the regional closest to their campus sites by ranking order within the banding.
If this is the case, then the committee should seed so that the quarterfinals are seeded such that the four regional championships are played by No. 1 v. No. 8, No. 2 v. No. 7, No. 3 v. No. 6 and No. 4 v. No. 5.
Number 2 seeds:
No. 8 Alaska is placed in No. 1 Yales Regional, the East Regional
No. 7 Maine is placed in No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha's Regional, the West Regional
No. 6 Union is placed in No. 3 Boston University's Regional, the Northeast Regional
No. 5 Michigan is placed in No. 4 Notre Dames Regional, the Mid-West Regional
Number 3 seeds:
No. 9 New Hampshire has already been placed in the Northeast Regional
No. 10 Western Michigan is placed in No. 8 Alaska's Regional, the East Regional
No. 11 Minnesota Duluth is placed in No. 7 Maines Regional, the West Regional
No. 12 Wisconsin is placed in No. 5 Michigan's Regional, the Mid-West Regional
Number 4 seeds:
No. 13 Miami is placed in No. 4 Notre Dames Regional, the Mid-West Regional
No. 14 Michigan State is placed in No. 3 Boston University's Regional, the Northeast Regional
No. 15 Boston College is placed in No. 2 Nebraska-Omahas Regional, the West Regional
No. 16 Robert Morris is placed in No. 1 Yale's Regional, the East Regional
Our bracket as we have it set up:
East Regional (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
1 Yale vs 16 Robert Morris
8 Alaska vs 10 Western Michigan
West Regional (St. Louis, Missouri)
2 Nebraska-Omaha vs 15 Boston College
7 Maine vs 11 Minnesota Duluth
Northeast Regional (Manchester, New Hampshire)
3 Boston University vs 14 Michigan State
6 Union vs 9 New Hampshire
Mid-West Regional (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
4 Notre Dame vs 13 Miami
5 Michigan vs 12 Wisconsin
Our first concern is to avoid intra-conference first round match ups. We have two, Notre Dame vs Miami and Alaska vs Western Michigan. That's going to create a mess. New Hampshire is locked in to Manchester so we have to flip Minnesota Duluth and Western Michigan. As for the Notre Dame issue, Miami can't be flipped with #14 Michigan State or #15 because that causes another intra-conference match up both times. We have to switch Miami and Robert Morris.
Our NEW bracket:
East Regional (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
1 Yale vs 13 Miami
Step 1: Pick the 16 tournament teams
1. Yale
2. Nebraska-Omaha
3. Boston University
4. Notre Dame
5. Michigan
6. Union
7. Maine
8. Alaska
9. New Hampshire
10. Western Michigan
11. Minnesota Duluth
12. Wisconsin
13. Miami
14. Michigan State
15. Boston College
16. Atlantic Hockey Champion (Robert Morris)
Step 2: Assign the seeds
No. 1 seeds: Yale, UNO, BU, Notre Dame
No. 2 seeds: Michigan, Union, Maine, Alaska
No. 3 seeds: UNH, Western Michigan, UMD, Wisconsin
No. 4 seeds: Miami, Michigan State, BC, Robert Morris
Step 3: Place host teams in regionals
Right now we have two host schools in the tournament. New Hampshire is hosting the Northeast Regional in Manchester, and Yale is hosting the East Regional in Bridgeport. Therefore, UNH is placed as the #3 seed in Manchester and Yale is the #1 seed in Bridgeport.
Step 4: Place number 1 seeds in regionals
Number 1 seeds are placed based on proximity to regional site.
No. 1 Yale has already been placed in the East Regional in Bridgeport
No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha is placed in the West Regional in St. Louis
No. 3 Boston University is placed in the Northeast Regional in Manchester
No. 4 Notre Dame is placed in the Mid-West Regional in Green Bay
Step 5: Place the other 12 teams avoiding intra-conference match ups if possible Begin by filling in each bracket by banding groups. Remember that teams are not assigned to the regional closest to their campus sites by ranking order within the banding.
If this is the case, then the committee should seed so that the quarterfinals are seeded such that the four regional championships are played by No. 1 v. No. 8, No. 2 v. No. 7, No. 3 v. No. 6 and No. 4 v. No. 5.
Number 2 seeds:
No. 8 Alaska is placed in No. 1 Yales Regional, the East Regional
No. 7 Maine is placed in No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha's Regional, the West Regional
No. 6 Union is placed in No. 3 Boston University's Regional, the Northeast Regional
No. 5 Michigan is placed in No. 4 Notre Dames Regional, the Mid-West Regional
Number 3 seeds:
No. 9 New Hampshire has already been placed in the Northeast Regional
No. 10 Western Michigan is placed in No. 8 Alaska's Regional, the East Regional
No. 11 Minnesota Duluth is placed in No. 7 Maines Regional, the West Regional
No. 12 Wisconsin is placed in No. 5 Michigan's Regional, the Mid-West Regional
Number 4 seeds:
No. 13 Miami is placed in No. 4 Notre Dames Regional, the Mid-West Regional
No. 14 Michigan State is placed in No. 3 Boston University's Regional, the Northeast Regional
No. 15 Boston College is placed in No. 2 Nebraska-Omahas Regional, the West Regional
No. 16 Robert Morris is placed in No. 1 Yale's Regional, the East Regional
Our bracket as we have it set up:
East Regional (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
1 Yale vs 16 Robert Morris
8 Alaska vs 10 Western Michigan
West Regional (St. Louis, Missouri)
2 Nebraska-Omaha vs 15 Boston College
7 Maine vs 11 Minnesota Duluth
Northeast Regional (Manchester, New Hampshire)
3 Boston University vs 14 Michigan State
6 Union vs 9 New Hampshire
Mid-West Regional (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
4 Notre Dame vs 13 Miami
5 Michigan vs 12 Wisconsin
Our first concern is to avoid intra-conference first round match ups. We have two, Notre Dame vs Miami and Alaska vs Western Michigan. That's going to create a mess. New Hampshire is locked in to Manchester so we have to flip Minnesota Duluth and Western Michigan. As for the Notre Dame issue, Miami can't be flipped with #14 Michigan State or #15 because that causes another intra-conference match up both times. We have to switch Miami and Robert Morris.
Our NEW bracket:
East Regional (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
1 Yale vs 13 Miami
8 Alaska vs 11 Minnesota Duluth
West Regional (St. Louis, Missouri)
2 Nebraska-Omaha vs 15 Boston College
7 Maine vs 10 Western Michigan
2 Nebraska-Omaha vs 15 Boston College
7 Maine vs 10 Western Michigan
Northeast Regional (Manchester, New Hampshire)
3 Boston University vs 14 Michigan State
6 Union vs 9 New Hampshire
Mid-West Regional (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
4 Notre Dame vs 16 Robert Morris
3 Boston University vs 14 Michigan State
6 Union vs 9 New Hampshire
Mid-West Regional (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
4 Notre Dame vs 16 Robert Morris
5 Michigan vs 12 Wisconsin
Looking at attendance and it seems pretty strong. Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Michigan in Green Bay should be awesome. BU and New Hampshire in Manchester is also very strong. It starts getting weaker with the East and West Regionals but there isn't much I'd change so that's what I'll stick with in week #1.
Week by week Wisconsin tournament tracker:
Week 1: #12 seed vs Michigan in Mid-West Regional in Green Bay
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