You're one season early on the HE playoff format. Only the first round is best of three with the four QF series winners advancing to the Garden for single elimination semis and then the Championship game.mabrowndog said:The Terriers are playing PWR #32 Merrimack in a best-of-3 to open the HE tourney. Obviously they need to advance to have a chance, but a sweep would provide some insurance. Getting swept would certainly end their season, and winning only 1 of 3 would most likely do the same.
If they beat the Warriors, we still don't know their next opponent since the first-round winners are re-seeded for the second round. But for the sake of argument, let's say top-seed UMass-Lowell gets past Maine while 2-seed BC beats Vermont. The Terriers would then play the current #5 Eagles at Conte Forum. Win that series, and BU is pretty much a lock for the field of 16, and would probably be a third-level seed (#9 thru#12). Lose it in three, and they'll still be on the bubble. Get swept, and they're probably toast.
Should either Vermont or Maine manage to pull off a first-round upset, BU would then host the winner of Providence-UNH in a best-of-3 at Agganis. UNH enters the HE tourney #6 in the PWR. A Terriers win, whether it's a sweep or in three games, almost certainly puts BU into the NCAAs. A win and 2 losses will leave them on the bubble. Get swept and they still have a slim shot due to the schedule strength boost, but they're far more vulnerable to being displaced.
If they play #22 Providence in the 2nd round, it's much simpler. A Friars win almost certainly makes PC the new bubble team ahead of BU, and the Terriers are done. A BU win would really solidify their chances, since they'd be getting at least one more game against either BC or UMass-Lowell in the semifinals.
Next year when Notre Dame arrives and all 11 teams make the playoffs there are best of 3 first and second round series before the semis and championship with the final four in Boston.