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College roundup: How Division 1 basketball and hockey teams from Massachusetts are faring
Many are in the mix for both conference and national titles, including Northeastern women's hockey.
Many local Division 1 college sports teams are contenders in their respective conferences, and a few appear to have a legitimate shot at national titles. Several others, however, are struggling to get in a rhythm and in desperate need of a string of wins.
Here’s a closer look at how Massachusetts teams are faring, from Northeastern women’s hockey to UMass women’s basketball to Boston University men’s basketball to American International men’s hockey.
Boston College
Women’s basketball: Boston College is 14-6 overall and 5-4 in-conference as of Saturday. The Eagles have taken care of fellow Massachusetts schools Harvard, Northeastern, and UMass, but they lost to Boston University. They recently upset Notre Dame and are currently listed as an 11-seed in ESPN’s latest Bracketology.
Women’s hockey: BC is 14-11 overall and 12-8 in conference play. The Eagles have won four straight and are playing some of their best hockey of the season. A matchup with Boston University is set for Sunday afternoon.
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Men’s basketball: The Eagles, who were picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are 8-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play. They’ve earned key wins over Notre Dame, Clemson, and Virginia Tech but have struggled to generate any consistency thus far.
Men’s hockey: BC has had an uncharacteristically down year thus far and currently sits at 10-11-4. The Eagles’ last win came in December.
Boston University
Men’s basketball: The Terriers are currently 15-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play, and they’re on the hunt for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. They lost to ACC contender Florida State by just one in overtime in November.
Women’s basketball: Boston University sits at 11-8 overall and 7-1 in conference play as of Saturday morning. The Terriers are pursuing their first league championship since 2003.
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Men’s hockey: With a 12-10-3 record, BU is in the middle of the pack at the moment. The Terriers recently defeated defending national champion UMass, 6-4, on Tuesday and have a matchup with Providence on the horizon.
Women’s hockey: BU is 10-9-4 overall and 9-6-3 in-conference, and it sports a 5-2-2 record at home. A game against BC on Sunday and the 43rd Annual Women’s Beanpot both await.
UMass
Women’s basketball: UMass is one of the most promising teams in the state, and it currently sits at 15-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Minutewomen have lost three of four, however, and are looking to get back on track.
Men’s hockey: The defending national champs are 12-8-2 overall and 9-4-2 in conference play. They’ve faced a daunting schedule and have had the unenviable fate of getting every team’s best, but a deep run certainly isn’t out of the question.
Men’s basketball: The Minutemen are 9-10 overall and 2-5 in an always-difficult Atlantic 10. UMass is 7-2 at home and 1-5 everywhere else and has currently dropped seven of its last 10.
Northeastern
Women’s hockey: Arguably the in-state team with the best chance of winning a national title in any sport, the Huskies are 21-3-1 overall and have a prime shot to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies dropped a heartbreaker to Wisconsin in the national championship last year and are out to finish the job for their first title this season.
Men’s hockey: After starting the season 16-5-1, the Huskies have dropped three straight and are looking to get back on track. The Beanpot, starting with a key clash against Boston College, is slated to begin Monday, Feb. 7.
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Women’s basketball: Winners of three of their last four as of Saturday, the Huskies are 11-7 overall and 5-3 in-conference. They sit in fifth place in the Colonial Athletic Association, just a half-game out of third.
Men’s basketball: Northeastern is slumping, and its 6-14 record doesn’t tell the full story. The Huskies are 0-9 in conference play, have lost 10 straight, and are currently trying to find some sort of identity.
Harvard
Women’s hockey: Harvard has won six straight as of Saturday morning to move its record to 15-5 and 12-3 in-conference. The Crimson earned a 5-2 win over Boston College in November and a 3-1 triumph over Yale in January and are gearing up for the Beanpot as well.
Men’s hockey: With a 10-7-1 mark overall and an 8-5-1 record in-conference, the Crimson are in the mix. A key matchup with Cornell on Saturday night awaits, as Harvard tries to make some noise.
Men’s basketball: Harvard sits at 10-7 overall and 2-3 in the Ivy League. There’s still a lot to play for, though Princeton is 15-3 (5-0) and may be difficult to catch in the standings.
Women’s basketball: The Crimson recently pounded Dartmouth, 96-62, and Cornell, 89-47, to move their record to a perfectly even 9-9 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League. They’re 5-1 at home and 4-7 on the road.
Holy Cross
Women’s basketball: Holy Cross struggled against in-state foes Northeastern, Boston College, and UMass early in the season but has won 12 of its last 16 to bump its record to 13-7 overall and 7-2 in conference play. The Crusaders are currently a half-game back of BU in the Patriot League, and it appears both schools have a shot to make the NCAA Tournament.
Men’s hockey: Holy Cross is 6-18-2 overall and 4-11-2-1 in conference play. The Crusaders have struggled against in-state teams and are 2-9-1 on the road.
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Men’s basketball: The Crusaders have had a rough go this year. They’re currently 4-15 overall and 2-5 in-conference, though they did earn a 67-65 win over Lehigh on Friday. Next up is a clash with Boston University.
Women’s hockey: Holy Cross is 3-21 overall and 1-18 in-conference. A 2-0 win over BU in November was the highlight.
Merrimack
Men’s hockey: Merrimack is 12-11-1 overall and 7-8 in-conference and has earned wins over Boston University and Boston College. The Warriors lost to UMass by one goal in both meetings.
Men’s basketball: The Warriors have given themselves a challenge, scheduling games with Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, and Indiana. They’ve lost all those matchups and sit at 8-13 overall and 4-5 in conference play and are currently amid a five-game losing streak.
Women’s basketball: Merrimack is 6-11 overall and 4-5 in-conference but is currently on a two-game win streak with triumphs over Wagner and Bryant.
Women’s hockey: Merrimack is 5-19-1 overall, 4-15-1 in-conference, and has lost eight straight.
UMass Lowell
Men’s hockey: Count the River Hawks as a team vying for a league and national title. They’re 14-5-3 overall and 11-4-1 in-conference and have beaten BU, BC, UMass in a shootout, and Northeastern.
Men’s basketball: The River Hawks, who fell just one victory short of the NCAA Tournament last year, earned a big win over Dayton in November and are now 10-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Women’s basketball: UMass Lowell has had several games canceled and is presently 6-8 overall and 3-2 in-conference. It’s won three of four and sits in fifth place in the America East.
American International
Men’s hockey: The Yellow Jackets are 14-9-1 overall and 13-4-1 in conference play. They’ve earned 11 straight victories and are currently on track for their fourth consecutive Atlantic Hockey Association title.
Bentley
Men’s hockey: The Falcons, who beat Boston College in October, are 12-11 overall and 10-7 in-conference. They’ve lost two straight and have Rochester Institute of Technology on the horizon.
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