Quick Bracketology (February 18, 2020)

With the season winding down, I decided I wanted to use my bracketology degree to post a quick NCAA men's hockey bracket on the weeks I don't post a full version on NCAA.com.

Since it's a quick version, some of the details in the selection process might be overlooked. If you need a refresher for how the committee selects the 16 teams, this Bracketology 101 article should answer everything.

Bracketology (as of February 18, 2020):
1. North Dakota (NCHC)
2. Minnesota State (WCHA)
3. Cornell (ECAC)
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. Denver
6. Boston College (Hockey East)
7. Clarkson
8. Massachusetts
9. Northeastern
10. Penn State
11. Arizona State
T-12. Bemidji State
T-12. Ohio State
14. Maine
T-15. Minnesota (Big Ten)
30. American International College (Atlantic Hockey)

In: Bemidji State, Ohio State, Minnesota
Out: UMass Lowell, Quinnipiac, Michigan State

Teams:
Hockey East: 4
Big Ten: 3
NCHC: 3
ECAC: 2
WCHA: 2
Atlantic Hockey: 1
Independent: 1

Notes:
-After earning 5 of 6 points against Notre Dame, Minnesota takes over the Big Ten lead by in-conference percentage. Therefore, the Gophers currently have the conference's automatic bid (although no one can actually win an automatic bid until the conference tournament). Without it, Western Michigan would be in the field.
-AIC leads Atlantic Hockey and bumps UMass Lowell out this week.
-Bemidji State and Ohio State each have 47 comparison wins. The Beavers have a higher RPI, taking the tiebreaker and No. 3 seed which comes with it.
-Four Minnesota teams would be in if the season ends today. It does not.

The Bracket:

Worcester Regional (Host: Holy Cross)
1. North Dakota vs. 16. AIC
7. Clarkson vs. 9. Northeastern

Allentown Regional (Host: Penn State)
2. Minnesota State vs. 15. Minnesota
8. Massachusetts vs. 10. Penn State

Albany Regional (Host: ECAC)
3. Cornell vs. 14. Maine
6. Boston College vs. 11. Arizona State

Loveland Regional (Host: Denver)
4. Minnesota Duluth vs. 13. Ohio State
5. Denver vs. 12. Bemidji State

Thoughts? I know I'd watch an all-Minnesota matchup in the first round and Denver-Ohio State for a third straight season. Or Denver-Minnesota Duluth. Or Minnesota Duluth-Ohio State. Or Minnesota Duluth-Bemidji State in an all-Minnesota regional final. So many combinations where the Loveland final tells a multi-year story.

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