"Those teams hate being in NIT bracketology, " said John Templon, who forecasts the consolation tournament for his Big Apple Buckets blog.

WSJ: Bracketology's Junior Varsity: The NIT

Yet Quinnipiac coach Rand Becknold insisted the Bulldogs weren't the same team the Bobcats steamrolled 3-0 three weeks ago in the ECAC tournament consolation game.

WSJ: Yale Wins NCAA Hockey Championship

The Bobcats shut out the Bulldogs 3-0 in the consolation game of the ECAC tournament.

WSJ: Connecticut rivals make up half of Frozen Four