My opinion

Everyone wants to know my opinion on the NCAA pairings. I heard from people I don't normally hear from asking, "So, did BC get screwed?" "Shouldn't UNH have had to travel?" SO its time to get on the horse (or the keyboard as the case may be) and tell you what I think.

The answer to both of those questions is "No". Which is also the answer to other questions like, "Shouldn't the committee have split up Denver and North Dakota because they are so good?" and "Would you change any of the pairings?". No and no.

The pairings actually came out perfect with little or no need to fiddle with the final Pairwise standings to adjust for conference match-ups and the like. UNH gets to be in Manchester. The NCAA needs butts in the seats to keep the revenue going and make these tournaments viable. Having UNH play in Manchester is essential to that. Do I wish BC could be in Manchester? Of course. I would love to watch the boys play another one or two close to home. And I'm certainly not thrilled about them going back to the House of Horrors that is the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis (the name Abdelkader still causes involuntary head shaking and sadness) but that is the way life works. They have a tough road against the best #4 seed and arguably the toughest bracket in general (perhaps it could be called the Group of Death if this were World Cup soccer). And of course, if they make it out a potential date with North Dakota looms.

It's a tough draw but at this stage nothing should be easy. Even Yale's opening tilt against Air Force is not to be taken lightly as the Falcons have a history of playing up to their competition and making waves in the national tournament. At least Miami is on the other side of the bracket so there should be no homefront strife until a potential national title meeting between the two clubs in St. Paul as one analyst at ESPN predicts will happen. I will not be attending any Manchester games, though Mrs. Pike and Nurse K will be chanting a little "Love and Honor" for the boys from Oxford.

I wish them luck, but I must admit I am rooting for the Warriors of Merrimack come out of the bracket. Coach Dennehy and the boys deserve a Frozen Four out of this season as they will probably lose Stephane De Costa to the pro ranks in the off season which will knock them down a peg next year. Saying that won't get me any favors at home but I have to be honest.

As always, I am looking forward to the tourney. No matter what happens. I hope Gibbons, Atkinson and the BC boys bring home their third title in four years but it should be exciting no matter who wins.