vs. LSSU (2/12-13)

[pdt1081]

I would like to understand the power January first has on BGSU’s men’s teams. Do they start playing poorly when their balls are cinched seeking warmth?

First half of the year they were having fun.

[TommyG]

It tends to be more fun when you play a bunch of Atlantic hockey teams and winless Ferris State. Little bit tougher when you don’t have as many easy weekends mixed in. No excuse to not win a title since the program joined the WCHA.
The “resurgence” of BG hockey is playing easier opponents, recruiting decently, never finishing higher than 3rd in any season, and backdooring their way into 1 NCAA appearance. In that season they choked away a conference tournament title and a NCAA tournament win in back to back games. All of that is okay, but don’t be disappointed when struggle down the stretch, they just aren’t that level of program. If we were included in the NCHC, we’d be bottom half every year no where near winning 15 games a season.

[mbenecke]

It tends to be more fun when you play a bunch of Atlantic hockey teams and winless Ferris State. Little bit tougher when you don’t have as many easy weekends mixed in. No excuse to not win a title since the program joined the WCHA.
The “resurgence” of BG hockey is playing easier opponents, recruiting decently, never finishing higher than 3rd in any season, and backdooring their way into 1 NCAA appearance. In that season they choked away a conference tournament title and a NCAA tournament win in back to back games. All of that is okay, but don’t be disappointed when struggle down the stretch, they just aren’t that level of program. If we were included in the NCHC, we’d be bottom half every year no where near winning 15 games a season.

You make fair points. I'm genuinely curious, do you feel like this is better? As in do you prefer where we are now (winning 20ish games a year, being in contention for a "lesser" conference title and an NCAA bid every year) to being down like we were a decade ago?

I'm also genuinely curious what you think it would take for us to get over the hump, particularly as we move to the CCHA next season. What is this program missing that it had 30 or 40 years ago?

[TommyG]

Certainly winning is better than trying to finish .500 in the old CCHA like we were in the 90s and 2000s. If the team is serious about winning the conference then they need to start scheduling more difficult non-conference opponents. Unfortunately they will probably have play them on the road, but the team needs more challenges early in the year. Racking up W’s is nice but the team isn’t ready when the juice turns up against Mankato or they have to play 3 weekends in row against decent programs.
This year they scheduled the best they could and I’m not critical of that at all, but too many years they schedule Miami, Western, and two Atlantic hockey opponents. They need to drop one of those Atlantic hockey teams and go play Michigan, ND or BC/BU. Bergeron never wanted to do that because he wanted wins.
Not sure the program is ever going to compete for National titles again, but being prepared for tough matchups is the best way they can compete for a “new” CCHA title. That would be the first step to truly being a real top 20 program.

[pdt1081]

This year they scheduled the best they could and I’m not critical of that at all, but too many years they schedule Miami, Western, and two Atlantic hockey opponents. They need to drop one of those Atlantic hockey teams and go play Michigan, ND or BC/BU. Bergeron never wanted to do that because he wanted wins.

Bergeron wouldn't schedule teams that weren't willing to play in Bowling Green on equal terms. Ohio State was willing. scUM would only schedule 2 for 1. There's no reason to play teams like that.

[TommyG]

[quote=TommyG post_id=434382 time=<a href="tel:1613332228">1613332228</a> user_id=52309]

This year they scheduled the best they could and I’m not critical of that at all, but too many years they schedule Miami, Western, and two Atlantic hockey opponents. They need to drop one of those Atlantic hockey teams and go play Michigan, ND or BC/BU. Bergeron never wanted to do that because he wanted wins.

Bergeron wouldn't schedule teams that weren't willing to play in Bowling Green on equal terms. Ohio State was willing. scUM would only schedule 2 for 1. There's no reason to play teams like that.
[/quote]

There is reason to schedule those opponents if you want to earn respect and truly raise the level of the program. Certain schools don’t want to come to BG because our strength of schedule is usually low and a loss to us hurts a little more. If you are cool winning 20 games with a SOS in the 40s, then keep scheduling weak non-conference opponents and finding yourself outside of the NCAA tournament.
You want to prepare to beat Mankato and earn a title then the team needs to step up the schedule. Dropping Alaska and Huntsville will help, but not enough if you continue to schedule Mercyhurst and Robert Morris every year.