NCAA Bracketology: Last Looks

With all games final we have the final results from our PWR. The resulting bracket is this:

1 Ohio St hosting 8. Minnesota-Duluth v 9. Harvard

2 Minnesota hosting 7. Quinnipiac v. 10. Clarkson

3 Northeastern hosting 6. Wisconsin v. 11. Syracuse

4 Colgate v 5. Yale

This season the committee is supposedly taking an approach more similar to the mens side: not limiting cost but trying to increase attendance.  Now, many are saying it’s a different way of saving money because the closer you are the more likely they are to attend, i.e. they are with in what used to be called driving distance.

There is also a mandate similar to the men to avoid a matchup between conference foes in the first round (not the quarterfinals). They will not be changing anything with the 1-5 seeds.  For the rest they seem to be taking a band approach of seeds 6, 7, and 8 then a band of seeds 9, 10, and 11.

2 Seed Band: 6. Wisconsin, 7. Quinnipiac, 8. Minnesota Duluth

3 Seed Band: 9. Harvard, 10. Clarkson, 11. Syracuse

Quinnipiac is drivable to Boston and Duluth is to Minneapolis, which would mean those are likely opponents. All three teams in the third band would be a drive to Boston and a flight anywhere else. Quinnipiac would have to play Syracuse to keep from an all ECAC matchup.

1 Ohio St hosting 8. Minnesota-Duluth v 9. Harvard

2 Minnesota hosting 6. Wisconsin v. 10. Clarkson

3 Northeastern hosting 7. Quinnipiac v. 11. Syracuse

4 Colgate v 5. Yale

If they only decide to remove intraconfrence matchups this would be the likely scenario. If they decide to change things around more ‘increase attendance’ then things could get a bit weird.  We will aim to keep bands intact and avoid matchups from the same conference.

1 Ohio St hosting 6. Wisconsin v 9. Harvard

2 Minnesota hosting 8. Minnesota-Duluth v. 10. Clarkson

3 Northeastern hosting 7. Quinnipiac v. 11. Syracuse

4 Colgate v 5. Yale

What we know for sure is Ohio State, Minnesota and Northeastern will be hosting a first round game that they will play the winner.  Colgate will host Yale on a Quarterfinal game.  The other six teams will be traveling to Columbus, Minneapolis, and Boston.

The Bracket will be revealed tonight on ESPN News at 9 PM EST (8 PM CST).  You can watch on the TV or via an ESPN+ account with a cable subscription associated.