Four Michigan schools selected for NCAA tourney leads nation
Sixteen schools were selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament today, and four of them call our state home. Michigan leads the nation in the amount of NCAA schools heading to this year’s tournament. Here’s a look at what Michigan, Michigan State, Ferris State, and Western Michigan will face in the first round.
Midwest Region
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Cornell – March 23, 9:00 p.m. (ESPNU HD/ESPN3)
The Wolverines (24-12-4), who hold the top spot in the Midwest region, will take on the Cornell Big Red (18-8-7) in the first round. Cornell finished third in the ECAC tournament with a win over Colgate in the consolation game Saturday. Michigan – the second overall seed in the field – will make their 22nd consecutive appearance in the national tournament when the puck drops at 9 p.m. on Friday.
No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Denver – March 23, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3 plus ESPNU HD tape delay for 11:30 p.m.)
Ferris State (23-11-5) will make just their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament when they take on Denver (25-13-4) Friday. The opening face-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The last time the Bulldogs made it to the national tournament was in 2002-03 season. The CCHA regular-season champions will be looking to finish their season strong, after a disappointing playoff ending to Bowling Green last weekend.
East Region
No. 4 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Union – March 23, 3:00 p.m. (ESPNU HD/ESPN3)
Under the direction of new coach Tom Anastos, the Spartans (19-15-4) will make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2008. Michigan State will take on Union (24-7-7), the top team in the East Region. Hobey Baker candidate Torey Krug and the Spartans now have the opportunity to make up for a disappointing series loss to Miami in the CCHA quarterfinals.
West Region
No. 4 Western Michigan vs. No. 1 North Dakota – March 24, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3 plus ESPNU HD tape delay for 12:30 p.m. the following day)
The CCHA Tournament champions (21-13-6) punched their ticket to the NCAAs with a 3-2 win over Michigan at Joe Louis Arena Saturday night. Now, they will take on one of the top college hockey programs in the nation – the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota (25-12-3). It’s the Broncos’ second straight appearance in the national tournament, and their fifth in school history. If freshman goaltender Frank Slubowski continues his exceptional play, the Broncos will be a tough team to beat on the road to the Frozen Four.
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Complete NCAA schedule:
East Regional, March 23-24
Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut
March 23, 3:00 p.m. No. 1 Union (New York) (24-7-7) vs. No. 4 Michigan State (19-15-4) – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
March 23, 6:30 p.m. No. 2 Miami (Ohio) (24-12-2) vs. No. 3 Massachusetts-Lowell (23-12-1) – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
March 24, 6:30 p.m. East Regional Championship – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
Midwest Regional, March 23-24
Resch Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin
March 23, 5:30 p.m. No. 2 Ferris State (23-11-5) vs. No. 3 Denver (25-13-4) – ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3 (ESPNU HD tape delay – Friday, March 23, 11:30 p.m. Eastern time)
March 23, 9:00 p.m. No. 1 Michigan (24-12-4) vs. No. 4 Cornell (18-8-7) – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
March 24, 9:00 p.m. Midwest Regional Championship – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
West Regional, March 24-25
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
March 24, 1:30 p.m. No. 1 North Dakota (25-12-3) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan (21-13-6) – ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3 (ESPNU HD tape delay – Saturday, March 25, 12:30 p.m. Eastern time)
March 24, 5:00 p.m. No. 2 Minnesota (26-13-1) vs. No. 3 Boston University (23-14-1)- ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3 (ESPNU
HD tape delay – Saturday, March 26, 3:00 p.m. Eastern time)
March 25, 5:30 p.m. West Regional Championship – ESPNU HD/ESPN3.com
Northeast Regional, March 24-25
DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts
March 24, 4:00 p.m. No. 1 Boston College (29-10-1) vs. No. 4 Air Force (21-10-7) – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
March 24, 7:30 p.m. No. 2 Minnesota Duluth (26-13-1) vs. No. 3 Maine (23-13-3) – ESPN Syndication HD/ESPN3
(ESPNU HD tape delay – Saturday, March 24, 11:30 p.m. Eastern time)
March 25, 8:00 p.m. Northeast Regional Championship – ESPNU HD/ESPN3
Men’s Frozen Four, April 5 and 7
Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
Thursday, April 5, 4:30 and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN2 HD/ESPN3 (order of games TBD)
Northeast Regional Champion vs. West Regional Champion
East Regional Champion vs. Midwest Regional Champion
Saturday, April 7, 7 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN HD/ESPN3
National Championship