WCHA, Men’s
#1 ranked men’s Gopher hockey sweeps Alaska-Anchorage after winning 6-2 and move on to the WCHA Final Five next weekend at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
WCHA, Women’s
#4 ranked women’s Gopher hockey beat #5 Minnesota Duluth 2-1 and advance to the WCHA title game Sunday against Wisconsin. Last year Minnesota beat Wisconsin in overtime.
A reminder that this year’s women’s NCAA Frozen Four is held at Mariucci Arena March 24 & 26. For tickets click here.
Championship Week Headlines
Good news from Villanova. ESPN is reporting Allen Ray will play next week in the tournament. Ray suffered a near career ending and life altering injury while battling for a loose ball. He was poked inadvertently and it appeared as if his eyeball had popped out. Ray could not see and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Fortunately it just may be that his eyelid was pushed in giving the appearance of a more serious injury.
Why do I like college sports so much? It’s the emotion. It’s the alma mater. It’s the state or regional pride. While I like our friends to the east it’s what makes me “hate” Bucky Badger and the “Let’s Go Red” chant on a handful of days a year.
One more reason, the athletes themselves. Yes they are getting paid in the form of a scholarship. Yes a few of them will move on to the NBA and get big dollars. But right here, right now, it’s about their school, their team and their fellow students.
It’s about Gerry McNamara of Syracuse. Remember him? He’s the over-rated guy who leads his barely a bubble team on a four day four victory through the Big East.
It’s about J.J. Redick of Duke. Remember him? He was tired and emotionally drained.
My favorite one, it’s about Darius Washington Jr. of Memphis. Who? He’s the freshmen point guard who last year is on the foul line shooting two free throws, with no time left on the clock with his team down by one to Louisville. If he makes them, Memphis wins the tournament and goes to the Big Dance.
He missed them both in one of the most memorable moments of last year’s Championship Week. He went three for three today and his team may get a #1 seed.
Upsets a plenty:
Syracuse defeats Pittsburgh (#16)
Boston College (#11) defeats North Carolina (#10) (not so much an upset in terms of seeds but essentially a home game for the Tar Heels)
South Carolina defeats Kentucky
Hampton defeats Delaware State
Invitation is in the mail:
Albany – America East, first ever Division I tourney
Xavier – Atlantic 10
Syracuse – Big East
Pacific – Big West
Memphis – Conference USA
Kent State – MAC
Hampton – MEAC
San Diego State – Mountain West
UCLA – Pac 10
Southern – SWAC
Nevada - WAC
Making travel plans:
Belmont – Atlantic Sun
Montana – Big Sky
Winthrop – Big South
UNC Wilmington – Colonial
Wisconsin Milwaukee - Horizon
Penn – Ivy
Iona – MAAC
Oral Roberts – Mid Continent
Southern Illinois – Missouri Valley
Monmouth – Northeast
Murray State – Ohio Valley
Bucknell – Patriot League
Davidson – Southern
South Alabama – Sun Belt
Gonzaga – West Coast Conference
Minnesota Vikings
Incoming:
Chester Taylor, RB from the Baltimore Ravens.
Ryan Longwell, K from the Green Bay Packers. Say what? A Packer? Well he did win 2 games for them over the Vikings in 2004.
Ben Leber, OLB from the San Diego Chargers
Outgoing:
Corey Chavous, SS to the St Louis Rams
Brian Williams, CB to the Jacksonville Jaguars
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