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| NCAA Rankings: Time to dot the "I" |
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| Futures Watch |
| Written by Steve Wozniak |
| Monday, December 05, 2011 22:26 |
Ohio State is winning like it's 1999, adding some swagger to an overlooked Buckeyes program that finds itself at No. 1 in this week's NCAA Power Rankings.Back when future NHLers David Steckel, R.J. Umberger and Ryan Kesler used to tote their equipment bags around the sprawling Columbus campus, Ohio State was flirting with becoming a college hockey powerhouse. After five NCAA tournament appearances and a date in the Frozen Four – spanning nine years over two centuries – the Buckeyes became an afterthought in their own conference as Notre Dame and Miami began building national repuations. They managed just one winning season and a tournament appearance in the next five years, ultimately spelling the end of John Markell’s coaching tenure. Now under second-year coach Mark Osiecki, the Ohio State is rediscovering its swagger. Having arguably the best goaltending tandem in the country doesn’t hurt either. We know it won’t mean much come tournament time, but we’ll signal the resurrection of OSU hockey by giving it the top spot in our power rankings.
2 Minnesota-Duluth (11-3-2): Like Ohio State, the Bulldogs haven’t lost since Halloween. After giving up just six goals in a six-game span, UMD has allowed nine in its past three. No matter; the offense has tallied 17 markers in that same span. 3 Merrimack (9-2-1): Providence wasn’t just the first team to beat the Warriors with last weekend’s sweep. With a 6-1 win, Providence also became the first team to score more than two in a game against Merrimack. 4 Minnesota (13-4-1): Florida Panthers prospect and sophomore Nick Bjugstad, with 15 goals and 26 points, has already surpassed his goal and point totals of last season … and we’re not even to the season’s midpoint yet. 5 Michigan State (10-5-1): Undrafted sophomore Lee Reimer managed just two goals and seven points in his freshman campaign. A new year, a new coach, and Reimer is leading the Spartans with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists). 6 Colgate (11-4-1): The Raiders have given up two goals or less in each contest of their current five-game win streak. Dallas prospect Austin Smith again leads the NCAA in goals after tallying numbers 16, 17 and 18 over the weekend. 8 Air Force (9-4-2): In the midst of a four-game win streak in which they’ve outscored opponents 22-10, the Falcons get an unfortunate 27-day layoff before catching intrastate rivals Colorado College and Denver. 9 Cornell (7-3-1): Lost amid the Big Red’s snoozefests (a combined 46.7 shots on goal per game) is the fact that defenseman and Penguins prospect Nick D’Agostino has become an offensive force with seven goals and 13 points in 11 games. 10 Boston University (8-5-1): Saturday’s loss in the split with BC ended a five-game win streak. But this seems like a good place to remind you that the Terriers’ game at Notre Dame on New Year’s Eve will kick off the Friday night college hockey coverage by Versus/NBC Sports Network. 11 Colorado College (8-4-0): Rylan and Jaden Schwartz are tied for the team lead with 17 points each. Can’t remember if a player ever hurt his brother by siphoning Hobey Baker votes. 12 Notre Dame (10-5-3): After a 10-2-3 start, the Irish have lost three straight. Are there shades of 2007-08 here? That’s when Notre Dame began the season 16-4-0, only to go 9-11-4 down the stretch and essentially back into the NCAA Tournament. Of course, they did reach the title game that year before falling to Boston College. 13 Boston College (11-5-0): In relief of starter Parker Milner, all freshman goalie Brian Billett has done is go undefeated with a 1.50 goals-against average and .959 save percentage. Is the crease competition open once more? 14 Mass-Lowell (9-4-0): The River Hawks swept New Hampshire, but UNH ended Lowell’s shutout streak at 137:50 with a first-period goal in Friday night’s tilt. 15 Union (7-3-5): Special teams have been the difference for the Dutchmen. Power-play goals account for 36.7 percent of their scoring, and 34.5 percent of their opponents’ scoring. 16 Western Michigan (8-4-4): The Broncos have 14 players with at least two goals this season, but none with more than six. New coach Andy Murray has everyone pitching in this time. 17 Ferris State (10-5-1): The Bulldogs may have one of the best defenses in the country, but with only 2.69 goals per game, the offense needs to contribute much more. 18 North Dakota (8-7-1): The biggest reason the Sioux have rebounded from an ugly start is their defense and goaltending. In its first seven games, North Dakota was giving up 3.85 goals per game, but only 2.10 since. 19 Northern Michigan (7-6-3): The Wildcats are outscoring opponents despite being outshot by an average of seven shots a game. That’s veiled praise for the goaltending of Reid Ellingson and Jared Coreau. 20 Providence (8-6-1): When you sweep everyone’s top-ranked team with an offensive outburst, you deserve some love. Here you go, Friars. Enjoy. Robert Morris (7-6-1): The Colonials, on a five-game unbeaten streak, can boast an NCAA-best penalty kill operating at a 95 percent success rate. Unfortunately, the power play is converting at an awful 13.8 percent. Three Stars
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, December 06, 2011 19:48 |
