First down and second guess:
hockey week. Big week. Omaha is in the NCAA Tournament and the Mavs are hosting one of four regional tournaments.
So why did Executive Associate Athletic Director Mike Kemp drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Monday?
And why will thousands of Mav fans follow Kemp up Interstate 29 for their “host” region later this week?
That's because UNO's regional games are played at the Denny Sanford Premier Center (10,678) in Sioux Falls.
After all, it's hockey.
What's more important? Making money or being fair? It depends on the NCAA sport.
In NCAA Division I baseball, schools that host a region can play on that region's home field. That is until the College World Series.
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In women's basketball, the top-seeded team gets to play the first two rounds on its home court. Nebraska just lost to Oregon State on OSU's court.
But men's NCAA Division I basketball is different. For example, Creighton hosted last week's first round tournament at his CHI Health Center. However, NCAA regulations restricted the Jays from playing there.
In the NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament (16 teams, four regions), each school bids to host a regional tournament in hopes of having their team compete in the tournament. This is not an automatic qualification. Schools still need to build the field to their advantage.
However, once on-site, the host school must be dispatched to the area.
Regional tournaments cannot be played on home ice.
“That’s what the coach said,” Kemp, the former UNO coach, said Monday while driving to Sioux Falls.
“They wanted a neutral site to be a level playing field across the board.”
So why do schools bid? Local hockey teams aren't teams that make a lot of money, Kemp said. It has to do with giving the team the next best advantage.
“Four years ago (when Kemp made this year's bid), my whole thought process was, 'Let's bid and get a facility that teams and fans can drive to.' If we can reach that, we have a slight advantage.”
Could Baxter Arena host a regional tournament? yes. It's definitely big enough. But the Mavs couldn't play there, so UNO didn't care.
What's the point of hosting if your team can't make it? Men's college basketball shines. But the money for that is in a different world than hockey.
But the winds of change are blowing in the college hockey world. Of course, the wind is blowing from big conferences like the Big Ten.
Major schools and traditional powerhouses argue that their venues attract more fans and generate more revenue. Oh, their team should be allowed to play there too.
But if the only path to Frozen 4 is to beat Minnesota at Minnesota State or beat North Dakota State at North Dakota State, what chance does that have?
“Neutral venue vs. on-campus is a big issue in college hockey,” UNO Athletic Director Adrian Dewell said.
“I speak for myself…I know a lot of people share my opinion on this…they have some great venues in barns across the country, especially in the Midwest. Yes, it's packed and beautiful.
“We have a postseason that should be at the top of the sports pyramid. One of the things that brings this up is what the attendance numbers are going to be at some of these neutral sites.”
Little players are the backbone of college hockey. But some of these major campus venues will make sports look bigger and better.
Expand tournaments to 24. So let's talk.
Sounds like a fun conversation to have while driving up Interstate 29.
Gabine's coaching contract
This season may have been UNO coach Mike Gabinett's best coaching job yet.
It was good that his contract was extended for three years last season.
Dowell said Monday that the coach will receive an automatic one-year extension if he makes the NCAA Tournament.
McDermott's coaching tree grows
A new branch has grown on the Greg McDermott coaching tree.
Darian DeVries, who coached Dana Altman and McDermott at Creighton, left Drake for West Virginia on Sunday.
Probably a great job in the top league of college basketball. West Virginia has a good talent pool and a good tradition in the program, and DeVries would fit into that culture of hard work.
DeVries has long been speculated to be a potential successor to Creighton someday. But if Mack decides to ride off into the sunset (in a golf cart) at the end of his contract, a potential successor could emerge.
Former CU assistant Steve Lutz, who led Western Kentucky University to this year's NCAA Tournament, has been mentioned as a candidate to start at Oklahoma State (as has DeVries). Meanwhile, Alan Hass went 24-7 and won the Big South in his first season at High Point.
Mack said of DeVries, “He's worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. He's very deserving. The work he's done at Drake speaks for itself. This comes as no surprise as we fully understand the impact of
Tucker DeVries follows in his father's footsteps
Tucker DeVries plans to follow his father to West Virginia.
I know some Creighton fans were hoping CU might target Tucker in the portal since he grew up in Omaha.
Frankie Fiddler visits Creighton
Speaking of Portal, Frankie Fiddler visited Creighton's practice on Monday and spoke with McDermott while the large Omaha media was interviewing Jays players at the Championship Center.
It's a window to a portal.
Mike Kemp of this year's UNO hockey team
UNO's Kemp, who has watched every Mav hockey team in history, said of this year's team:
“I love the character of this team. I'm more impressed with this team than any other team, if not more.
“We've had a lot of teams in the past that have had premier players that have set the team apart and boosted the team. This is what you would call a team. They're 26-year-olds, they work hard, they play together and they play hard together. is.”
One more step and you're out of here.
I've heard that many Nebraska basketball fans think there should be a banner or recognition for Takanari Tominaga at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
These retired jerseys are typically reserved for All-Americans and All-Time players. Tominaga has always been a fan favorite who changed programs.
The same could be said for Husker girl Jazz Shelley.
Both were great players and inspired programs that won and filled the halls.
What do you think, Nebraska fans? If not a retired jersey, is there any other recognition?
