Pairwise Monday: Penn State, UMass join "virtual locks" after impressive weekends (#539)

Photo: UMass Athletics

It’s just under two weeks until Selection Sunday, but the NCAA Tournament picture is pretty well in focus.

I’m projecting 11 teams are already locks to make the NCAA Tournament with three other bids guaranteed to conference champions, which only leaves the final two bids to be decided.

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Today’s issue (#539) also includes:

• This week’s bracketology. Where would each of the qualifying teams go this week? There are only two weeks until Selection Sunday.

• Pairwise takeaways, which include clarifying some bizarre takes on social media.

• NCAA Tournament locks (11 teams are locked in) and “virtual locks.”

• The latest pro signings include Michigan Tech sophomore Chase Pietila signing an NHL deal with Pittsburgh.

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  Now, onto today’s newsletter …

Catch up on all the action from this past weekend in college hockey on the College Hockey Scoreboard Show

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Conference Playoff Updates

— Minnesota was eliminated by Notre Dame in the Big Ten tournament over the weekend. The Fighting Irish will face Michigan State in the Big Ten semifinals, extending the coaching career of Jeff Jackson at least another week.

Minnesota will make the NCAA Tournament and is still likely going to be a No. 1 seed. However, the Gophers will have to sit and wait for almost three weeks before the NCAA Tournament begins on March 28.

“They have to grow from it,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said. “They have to see it for what it is and sometimes tough lessons are lessons that you come back and show it.

“The sky is not falling. It sucks right now, I can tell you that, but we’re going to play again.”

— AIC’s Division I program ended on Sunday with an overtime loss to Holy Cross in Game 3 of its AHA quarterfinal.

The Yellow Jackets joined Division I in 1998 and made three NCAA Tournaments (2019, 2021, 2022) under Eric Lang after he took over the program in 2016.

“Nine years and seven championships later, we’ve achieved what many thought impossible in college hockey,” Lang wrote on social media. “We fought until the very end under the toughest of circumstances.

“To all the supporters of AIC hockey, we are incredibly grateful.”

Playoff Schedule

Atlantic Hockey

• (1) Holy Cross vs. (5) Army — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (2) Sacred Heart vs. (3) Bentley — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

Big Ten

• (1) Michigan State vs. (7) Notre Dame — Single game (March 15)

• (3) Ohio State vs. (5) Penn State — Single game (March 15)

CCHA

• (1) Minnesota State vs. (7) Bemidj — Single game (March 15)

• (3) St. Thomas vs. (4) Bowling Green — Single game (March 15)

ECAC

• (1) Quinnipiac vs. (8) Brown — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (2) Clarkson vs. (7) Harvard — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (3) Colgate vs. (6) Cornell — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (4) Union vs. (4) Dartmouth — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

Hockey East

First Round

• (6) Massachusetts vs. (11) Vermont — Single game (March 12)

• (7) UMass Lowell vs. (10) New Hampshire — Single game (March 12)

• (8) Merrimack vs. (9) Northeastern — Single game (March 12)

Quarterfinals

• (1) Boston College vs. TBD — Single game (March 15)

• (2) Maine vs. TBD — Single game (March 15)

• (3) Boston University vs. TBD — Single game (March 15)

• (4) Connecticut vs. (5) Providence — Single game (March 15)

NCHC

• (1) Western Michigan vs. (8) St. Cloud State — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (2) Arizona State vs. (7) Minnesota Duluth — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (3) Denver vs. (6) Colorado College — Best of 3 (March 14-16)

• (4) Omaha vs. (5) North Dakota — Best of 3 (March 14-16)