Tag: Big Ten

Illinois Considers Adding D1 Hockey

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Interesting news out of the Land of Lincoln yesterday, where the University of Illinois released the results of a study into the feasibility of launching a Division I men’s ice hockey program. The feasibility study results state:

[T]here is growing excitement and anticipation about the University of Illinois starting Division I intercollegiate ice hockey. With a growing passion for ice hockey at all levels in the state of Illinois, the foundation appears to be in place for the University of Illinois to develop an intercollegiate men’s hockey program that will be financially successful and competitive on a conference and national level.

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics said yesterday that no final decision had been made yet on whether or not to add a varsity men’s hockey program. If it were to launch a varsity men’s hockey program, the University of Illinois would become the tenth Power Five school to sponsor the sport, and the third to add it since 2012.

Penn State, which launched its program in 2012, has shown that success on the ice can come sooner rather than later. The Nittany Lions men’s hockey team showed improvement in each of its first four years and made the NCAA tournament for the first time in year four. This year the program is in good position to get back to the tournament again in year five. Progress for Arizona State, which launched its program in 2015, has been a little slower but that could change if/when they find a hockey conference to call home. Life as an independent can be tough for everyone other than Notre Dame football.

The University of Illinois wouldn’t have to worry about life as an independent, though, as they would be able to slide into the Big Ten hockey conference when they’re ready. As Penn State has already shown in that conference, being a newcomer to the sport doesn’t mean being a cellar dweller for years and years. And the University of Illinois could very well have a good amount of talent on its team in a short amount of time.

It was pointed out in the study results that Illinois produced 85 Division I hockey players in 2017. Only Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts produced more. Of the eight states that produced the most Division I hockey players, Illinois is the only one without a Division I program. Illinois is also home to an Original Six NHL franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, so the interest in hockey is there.

If college hockey operated like professional hockey, investors, city leaders and fans would all be demanding the next “expansion” franchise be placed in Champaign. College hockey in Illinois just makes too much sense. There’s no way that program wouldn’t be successful. Adding a Big Ten team in the third largest media market in the country can only mean more exposure for the sport, and there’s nothing to not like about that.

Unless you’re a New England fan. Just one more midwest powerhouse for BU, BC and Maine to compete against for talent.

The Big Ten Tournament at MSG Does Not Look Fun

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The idea of staging the Big Ten Tournament a week early just to play it at Madison Square Garden was a foolish idea from the start. It’s worked out pretty well for Rutgers so far, as the last place Scarlet Knights have already won two games in the tournament with the help of a little home court advantage, but that’s about it.

The Big Ten Tournament was held in either Chicago or Indianapolis every year between 1998 and 2016, before moving to Washington D.C. last year and MSG this year. Thankfully it’s slated to return to Chicago and Indianapolis for the next four years.

I understand trying to expand the conference’s footprint, but at some point the Big Ten has to accept that it is a Midwest conference. If they insist on trying out new tournament sites, Detroit and Minneapolis would be better options next time around. Ya know, cities with Big Ten teams and in driving distance of more Big Ten fans.

I understand that the early games of any college basketball tournament, especially on days with four games, can be sparsely attended. But I don’t seem to remember Syracuse, Villanova, or even Providence or Boston College ever playing in front of that many empty seats in the old Big East Tournament. Maybe that’s because the New York City area is loaded with Big East alumni and not nearly as many Big Ten alumni.

I also don’t remember a Big East tournament ever being played with this little buzz. Maybe that’s because these are the conference tournaments currently underway:

  • Atlantic Sun
  • Big South
  • Big Ten
  • MAAC
  • Missouri Valley
  • Northeast Conference
  • Ohio Valley Conference
  • Patriot League

Which doesn’t belong and why?

Only the Atlantic Sun, Big South and Patriot League started their conference tournaments earlier than the Big Ten Tournament. That’s because those conferences play tournament games at campus sites instead of at one venue. Only the Atlantic Sun, Big South, Missouri Valey and Ohio Valley Conference will crown a champion earlier than the Big Ten.

An eleven-day break might be nice for Florida Gulf Coast, UNC Asheville, or some other automatic-bid team as they prepare to enter the tournament as double-digit seed. But will it be too much time off for a serious national championship contender like Michigan State? If one of the top four seeds in the Big Ten tournament goes down today, they could have to wait two full weeks to play again. The Big Ten better have a good showing in the Big Dance or the experiment to play their conference tournament a week early at an empty Madison Square Garden will look a lot worse than it already does.