Rancid Rankings

This one should prove who is actually reading my blog. I should expect a lot of praise and/or hate mail for this post. The rankings for this week just came out in NCAA hockey. There is no issue with the top as Boston University belongs at #1, but further down there is a big question that needs to be answered.

"Why is Boston College even ranked?"

Last weekend the Eagles gave up three points to UMass Lowell in a home and home series. This included a 6-0 beat down that the River Hawks handed them at Conte Forum. Do not think for a second I am trying to be biased or a homer. This is in no way saying that Lowell should be ranked and not Boston College, but it seems odd that Boston College can be dominated like that, yet only move down a couple spots in the rankings.

As a matter of fact this has not been a good season for BC. Currently they are No. 6 in Hockey East with a record of 8-8-5. They are behind unranked UMass Lowell. Schools like Canisius and Niagara have records equal or better and are not even receiving votes. Their record against currently ranked teams is 3-6-2. The last of those three wins came in the middle of November against a New Hampshire team using their backup goalie with a GAA of 4.66. Not the most impressive stats.

It seems as though this team is being ranked because of their name, and not their numbers. Aside from the great comeback by Brock Bradford, there is not much to scream about for the Eagles. Forwards Joe Whitney and Ben Smith are on pace score only half the points they did last season.

Goaltender John Muse is giving BC fans fits with his year, causing one BC fan to demand a pie be thrown at him during their 6-0 loss. His GAA jumped from 2.2 to 2.92 in a year, and it has been worse lately. In the past five games he has allowed six goals in a game twice, and has a GAA of 3.8. Although I can not just point out the bad he did have a shutout against UMass Amherst in one of those games.

Still a shutout against the minuteman does not grant a national tournament birth. The fact this team is even close to being on the bubble for one is mind boggling. Although I am a believer that Hockey East should have a minimum of three, maybe four, tournament bids a year, barring an amazing performance in the Hockey East tournament, BC should not have one. I know the classic saying to be the champs you have to beat the champs, but it seems as though this team is pretty beaten up already.