BADgers are ranked #4 in USCHO pairwise and #5 in CHN pairwise.
BADgers are 2nd in B1G, Gophers sit in 3rd, 6 points behind UW.
NO TV this weekend. Both games streamed on B1G+
GPL Podcast at 9:30pm Weds night with guest Todd Milewski
7:00 pm
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
How does this rivalry not make it on tv?
Well…
Wisconsin has no TV contract. They dropped Bally. So no one to broadcast.
BTN cannot be expected to televise everything. So this is all on Wisconsin for no regular TV.
We have been warning people about this on the Podcast for over 2 years. More of this is coming.
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How does this rivalry not make it on tv?
because we’re showing wrestling and women’s basketball. Yep, you read that correctly
Like it or not, both get a LOT more viewers than hockey.How does this rivalry not make it on tv?
because we’re showing wrestling and women’s basketball. Yep, you read that correctly
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
Like it or not, both get a LOT more viewers than hockey.How does this rivalry not make it on tv?
because we’re showing wrestling and women’s basketball. Yep, you read that correctly
would imagine this is because they know hockey fans will find ways to stream as they’re more diehard (vs wrestling and women’s bb fans who will just not tune in) and this then creates 2 markets? Also don’t know if they’re obligated to show certain amounts of other sports
You know, you can stream women’s basketball, wrestling and even gymnastics. It has nothing to do with who’s would stream, if they weren’t on tv.
Keep your stick on the ice...
You know, you can stream women’s basketball, wrestling and even gymnastics. It has nothing to do with who’s would stream, if they weren’t on tv.
I know this. I’m more meaning we have been streaming for a long time/are a diehard, small section of fans who will seek to watch however it is so not much pressure to show it on the network. Really hard to find much data on the ratings for every single game in my brief looking, so was just spitballing. Big+ has been fine, just will need to get Wally and Frank synced up for commentary
In fairness, it is all about advertising revenue. While viewers are a component of this, which viewers are the other component.
Networks apparently really underestimated the market interest toward NCAA women's basketball, and now there is a bit of a correction occurring. When you consider women tend to be the principal grocery and goods buyers for their household, it is a valuable advertising market.
Wrestling tends to be older white males, which is another target market to devote time to. And since NCAA wrestling is essentially the top level, there is no real professional market to siphon fans to.
While hockey is one of the more affluent sports, college hockey has not exclusively captured that same market, especially outside of Minnesota (and inside Minnesota is fractured 6 ways). Combine that with a pro hockey market especially within the B1G footprint and it's just not an advertising windfall. While the MSP market would tune in fervently to the rivalry, the regional market tuning in to watch, PSU-Michigan women's basketball is just a more desirable advertising mix (featuring PSU women's coach Carolyn Kieger of Roseville, MN). Combine that with a OSU-Michigan game in anything and the Gopher-Badgers get second-class treatment.
Like it or not, both get a LOT more viewers than hockey.How does this rivalry not make it on tv?
because we’re showing wrestling and women’s basketball. Yep, you read that correctly
would imagine this is because they know hockey fans will find ways to stream as they’re more diehard (vs wrestling and women’s bb fans who will just not tune in) and this then creates 2 markets? Also don’t know if they’re obligated to show certain amounts of other sports
More likely that all 14 B1G schools have WBB, the vast majority also have wrestling, and only SIX schools have hockey. Even if the hockey fan base outnumbered the WBB and wrestling fan bases at those six schools, they have eight other schools to compete against. As @Jupiter, and @vegoe have mentioned numerous times we are a niche fan base in a niche sport.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
Maybe the answer is a conference solely for hockey that’s more regional and has a TV network available for the majority of the games 😉
One area that’s become this Gophers team’s biggest hole is the proverbial special teams battle. The PP isn’t converting as much as you’d like them to (although they are top 10 nationally) and the PK is downright bad which is super uncharacteristic of Steve Miller teams. I expect that to get better down the stretch, and they’ll need it to.
One area that’s become this Gophers team’s biggest hole is the proverbial special teams battle. The PP isn’t converting as much as you’d like them to (although they are top 10 nationally) and the PK is downright bad which is super uncharacteristic of Steve Miller teams. I expect that to get better down the stretch, and they’ll need it to.
PK seems to be too passive. They let the other team get into the zone and set up too easily. Seemed more concerned with keeping the shape than not letting them get set up in the first place. I would like to see them go three across at the blue line on entities. Usually there’s two up near the red line and the defenders at the blue line. Too big of gaps that allow easy passes and entries.
The Gopher power play has scored at least one goal in 6 of the past 7 games going 8 for 30 (26.7 %).
For the season they are 25.6 % which is 9th in the country out of 64 teams.
I don't think one bad game on the power play (Friday night) takes away what they have done this season overall and what they have done recently (the past 7 games).
Yesterday they scored a big power play goal less than 5 minutes into the game which allowed them to play with the lead all game. They went 1 for 4 yesterday which is their season average.
The Gopher power play has scored at least one goal in 6 of the past 7 games going 8 for 30 (26.7 %).
For the season they are 25.6 % which is 9th in the country out of 64 teams.
I don't think one bad game on the power play (Friday night) takes away what they have done this season overall and what they have done recently (the past 7 games).
Yesterday they scored a big power play goal less than 5 minutes into the game which allowed them to play with the lead all game. They went 1 for 4 yesterday which is their season average.
The numbers are great overall but the PP definitely cost them a win this week. Can’t go 0 for 5 and expect to win close games. If they keep chugging along at 25% that’s perfectly fine.
One area that’s become this Gophers team’s biggest hole is the proverbial special teams battle. The PP isn’t converting as much as you’d like them to (although they are top 10 nationally) and the PK is downright bad which is super uncharacteristic of Steve Miller teams. I expect that to get better down the stretch, and they’ll need it to.
PK seems to be too passive. They let the other team get into the zone and set up too easily. Seemed more concerned with keeping the shape than not letting them get set up in the first place. I would like to see them go three across at the blue line on entities. Usually there’s two up near the red line and the defenders at the blue line. Too big of gaps that allow easy passes and entries.
I totally agree on the too passive comment for the Gophers PK. Michigan State was so aggressive on the kill, constantly pressuring the puck. Especially when the Gophers had the puck on the half wall. I know it doesn’t always work, but I tend to favor an aggressive style over the course of the season.
The Gopher power play has scored at least one goal in 6 of the past 7 games going 8 for 30 (26.7 %).
For the season they are 25.6 % which is 9th in the country out of 64 teams.
I don't think one bad game on the power play (Friday night) takes away what they have done this season overall and what they have done recently (the past 7 games).
Yesterday they scored a big power play goal less than 5 minutes into the game which allowed them to play with the lead all game. They went 1 for 4 yesterday which is their season average.
The numbers are great overall but the PP definitely cost them a win this week. Can’t go 0 for 5 and expect to win close games. If they keep chugging along at 25% that’s perfectly fine.
No power play scores every game.
Quinnipiac in their 4 NCAA tournament games went 1 for 12 (8.3 %)
This was the one weekend I was curious if KMSP/WFTC would send a truck since it's maybe close enough, but I guess not.
Doesn't affect me much since I'm perfectly comfortable listening to radio as someone who second screens anyway, but as I've said a couple of months ago, I don't envy whoever runs the official social media accounts this season.
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This was the one weekend I was curious if KMSP/WFTC would send a truck since it's maybe close enough, but I guess not.
Why would wisconSIN allow 2 Twin City cable companies to pick the games up for the Twin Cities markets?
Keep your stick on the ice...
This was the one weekend I was curious if KMSP/WFTC would send a truck since it's maybe close enough, but I guess not.
Why would wisconSIN allow 2 Twin City cable companies to pick the games up for the Twin Cities markets?
I thought there was a B1G rule that the home team can't block the away team's TV broadcast for conference games?
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One area that’s become this Gophers team’s biggest hole is the proverbial special teams battle. The PP isn’t converting as much as you’d like them to (although they are top 10 nationally) and the PK is downright bad which is super uncharacteristic of Steve Miller teams. I expect that to get better down the stretch, and they’ll need it to.
PK seems to be too passive. They let the other team get into the zone and set up too easily. Seemed more concerned with keeping the shape than not letting them get set up in the first place. I would like to see them go three across at the blue line on entities. Usually there’s two up near the red line and the defenders at the blue line. Too big of gaps that allow easy passes and entries.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. There have been a couple teams that really pressured the points strategically (think it was CC and Notre Dame). We let the offense feel too comfortable when we are on PK.
I think the PK could be more effective with different forwards. I get that 24 and 18 are smart and responsible, but they move to slow in my opinion. I'd like to see 77/11 and 19/23 as the main PK pairs, I think their speed, quickness, and tenacity would be much more effective.
I think the PK could be more effective with different forwards. I get that 24 and 18 are smart and responsible, but they move to slow in my opinion. I'd like to see 77/11 and 19/23 as the main PK pairs, I think their speed, quickness, and tenacity would be much more effective.
I think the biggest problem on the PK is when they get stuck out there for an extended time. Anything past 30 seconds, the warning sirens go off for me. I agree that a change with 18 being taken off may help. I like 24 on there because of this wing span and he still wins the majority ( slight ) of the draws. 11 has had a very difficult time at winning draws. This weekend he was 12W-23L. He just needs to get better with those, and I see him on the #1 PK unit next year.
I think why 24 gets a bad rap sometimes is because of his stride. Since he is so tall, his strides on the ice make him look like he is not trying as hard as Pitlick or Moore and like he is just gliding around. 11 & 77 look like they are going 100mph all the time. I do admit, I am a card carrying member of the Nelson Fan club, so I do ignore his flaws time to time. That said, he has been slightly disappointing this year, but still a valuable member of this team. Someone on social media suggested that they wished 22 & 24 never came back. That is crazy talk.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
I think all of that is true, Nelson’s stride definitely makes it look low effort when it really isn’t.
Tend to agree about the PK, it seems a bit passive and is something I’ve noticed about Motzko lead teams going back to the SCSU days.
Think Nelson is solid on the PK, but I’d pair him with someone with some more speed. His reach, skill on the draws and physicality is great. Playing him with Nevers is just a little to slow and leads to them being too passive. Little extra speed also will make them harder to enter the zone on.
agree with what’s been said that the PK has been much too passive. These are college kids and tape to taping 4-5 passes quickly is tough, especially when you have to play on crap ice like Munn
I think all of that is true, Nelson’s stride definitely makes it look low effort when it really isn’t.
Tend to agree about the PK, it seems a bit passive and is something I’ve noticed about Motzko lead teams going back to the SCSU days.
fwiw their PK was rated 13th, 11th, 9th, 24th and 19th the previous 5 years - quite a bit different than their current ranking of 41st.
Think Nelson is solid on the PK, but I’d pair him with someone with some more speed. His reach, skill on the draws and physicality is great. Playing him with Nevers is just a little to slow and leads to them being too passive. Little extra speed also will make them harder to enter the zone on.
agree with what’s been said that the PK has been much too passive. These are college kids and tape to taping 4-5 passes quickly is tough, especially when you have to play on crap ice like Munn
Nelson isn't the scorer fans thought he might be, but his saving grace for me is that he digs pucks out behind his goaltender. He's very good in the defensive zone.
As far as his skating goes, from the first time I saw him, I could see that he had no trouble staying in the play. What bothers me is that he tends to be a puck watcher. A lot of youth players do this. They skate alongside a puck carrier at the perimeter and tend to stay within that rhythm without intervening. I'd like to see him take a sharper angle on attacking players and disrupt their efforts with that big farm-boy body of his.
As a veteran line this season, I was expecting that they would be more impactful. Set up #22 as often as possible and don't let him pass the puck.
I think all of that is true, Nelson’s stride definitely makes it look low effort when it really isn’t.
Tend to agree about the PK, it seems a bit passive and is something I’ve noticed about Motzko lead teams going back to the SCSU days.
Mario Lemieux had the same effect. He was taller and could stride past guys while looking like he wasn’t trying hard. That’s about where the comparisons stop between Nelson and Lemieux though.
😂
One area that’s become this Gophers team’s biggest hole is the proverbial special teams battle. The PP isn’t converting as much as you’d like them to (although they are top 10 nationally) and the PK is downright bad which is super uncharacteristic of Steve Miller teams. I expect that to get better down the stretch, and they’ll need it to.
PK seems to be too passive. They let the other team get into the zone and set up too easily. Seemed more concerned with keeping the shape than not letting them get set up in the first place. I would like to see them go three across at the blue line on entities. Usually there’s two up near the red line and the defenders at the blue line. Too big of gaps that allow easy passes and entries.
YES! They are too set on the “box” set up. I watched Mich St give the Gophers fits on Friday because they were aggressive & went after the player with the puck.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
It's nice to have some hype for this series, the last ten years or so wasn't exactly must watch TV lol.
It's nice to have some hype for this series, the last ten years or so wasn't exactly must watch TV lol.
Is must-watch streaming any better? 😉
The Gophers payback the Badgers this weekend with a road sweep. We don't need no stinking Badgers. Better dead than red 🤣🤣🤣 Go Gophers 
😂 I’ll take it over fox 9+ skipping to the point of being unwatchable (forget which series but it’s happened more than once), actually had to pull up the stream that day instead lol!It's nice to have some hype for this series, the last ten years or so wasn't exactly must watch TV lol.
Is must-watch streaming any better? 😉
Why hasn't @steve-mn posted the set of important Gophers vs. Badgers videos/clips like he usually does? Is he slacking? 😀 I would post them but I don't want to steal his thunder.
Those videos always get me fired up and bring back great memories so I MUST see them!!! 😊
Maybe his plan is post them later in the week closer to game day.
Yaknow... other people ARE allowed to post links too, but... if you're gonna call me out like that, here goes
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I didn't want to break tradition and/or steal your thunder. Thank you
No thunder to steal. Someone else had posted most of that in the past... then I stepped in several years ago when they didn't. So, perfectly happy for someone else to pop in. As a practical matter, I'd have posted them tomorrow if someone else hadn't beaten me to it.I didn't want to break tradition and/or steal your thunder. Thank you
And, quoth the @melmac "Why haven't we scored yet?!?!?!?"
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
No thunder to steal. Someone else had posted most of that in the past... then I stepped in several years ago when they didn't. So, perfectly happy for someone else to pop in. As a practical matter, I'd have posted them tomorrow if someone else hadn't beaten me to it.I didn't want to break tradition and/or steal your thunder. Thank you
And, quoth the @melmac "Why haven't we scored yet?!?!?!?"
Hey that's my line too..
Not sure who started it back in the day, just thinking back to a previous Madison trip where, late in the 3rd after going up like 6 or 7 to 1, Mel yelled out "why haven't we scored again yet?" again (along with shortly after each of the goals... and right after the starts of the periods) and one of the BADger fans turned back asking "What, isn't this enough for you?"Hey that's my line too..
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I for one am thankful we have BIG+, can literally see every single game, sure I wish BIG would broadcast more but the streaming option is awesome.
Not sure who started it back in the day, just thinking back to a previous Madison trip where, late in the 3rd after going up like 6 or 7 to 1, Mel yelled out "why haven't we scored again yet?" again (along with shortly after each of the goals...Hey that's my line too..
That's hilarious because that's literally word-for-word what I would say!
(I don't anymore because it spooks my kids haha... I tried it a few weeks ago and my oldest slinked back into his chair and wasn't sure what to do)
It's never enough and doubly so on a road trip. I have concerns for this weekend. I remember the series at Mariucci and the Gophers did not seem to match up with the other team very well.
This year the Gophers seem to struggle much more on Friday than they do on Sat. This is a problem for me as I don't want to spend my Fri night and Saturday explaining to Badger fans why they should crawl back into the hole they emerged from to jump on the bandwagon after sucking for so many years.
I think Motzko will have this team ready this weekend he will show them videos of when they got swept at home by the Baddddgers it’s payback time
Aloha!