SB Nation’s NCAA Poll: Farewell for finals

We have reached the semester break and had a bit of turmoil to wrap the year up. We will return in the New Year with a new poll.

We are now at the holiday break for our NCAA poll with one last set of games before a few teams will play right before the New Year.

1. Ohio State (14-2-2), 85 (6) — Last poll: 1

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: @ Cornell (12/17, 12/18)/

The Buckeyes will make a rare trip east as they take on a Cornell team that is clinging to the bottom of our poll before taking off for the semester.

2. Yale (10-1-1), 69 (1) — Last poll: 4

  • Last week: W 3-0 v Rensselaer (12/9), W 6-1 v Union (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games /

A sweep of the bottom of the ECAC leaves the Bulldogs in a better position after a tough weekend the week prior.

3. Colgate (15-2-1), 64 — Last poll: 3

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: No Games /

Colgate is off for the semester.

4. Quinnipiac (17-2-0), 63 — Last poll: 2

  • Last week: W 3-2 @ Providence (12/9), L 2-3 v Providence (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games/

In an absolute disaster of a weekend, it took a pair of comebacks to salvage a win on the road, but were then unable to replicate and take care of business on home ice. This has some pretty major PWR considerations with the limited meetings between interconference foes.

5. Minnesota (14-3-2), 60 (2) — Last poll: 5

  • Last week: W 6-0 v St. Cloud State (12/9), W 9-0 @ St. Cloud State (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games /

A shutout sweep sends the Gophers home for the holidays in high spirits.

6. Wisconsin (15-2-1), 51 — Last poll: 6

  • Last week: W 5-2 @ Minnesota State (12/9), W 5-1 @ Minnesota State (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games/

Two easy wins over an easy opponent leave the Badgers in a good spot record wise even if their SOS is still among the worst for contending teams.

7. Northeastern (18-2-1), 44 — Last poll: 7

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: No Games /

Northeastern will be active come next year.

8. Minnesota-Duluth (13-6-1), 27 — Last poll: 8

  • Last week: W 8-1 v St. Thomas (12/9), T 1-1 (SOL 1-2) v St. Thomas (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games /

After obliterating a St. Thomas team that is among the worst in the country the Bulldogs fell apart and ended up tied and losing a shoot out to the Tommies on home ice. That will be their last memory of a calendar year that saw them finish a win away from a national title.

9. Cornell (7-3-2), 17 — Last poll: 9

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v Ohio State (12/17, 12/18)/

The Big Red will host Ohio State in what could be a statement weekend before they are off for finals.

10. Providence (16-5-1), 14 — Last poll: 10

  • Last week: L 2-3 v Quinnipiac (12/9), W 3-2 @ Quinnipiac (12/10)
  • Coming Week: No Games /

The Friars were close to an epic weekend but still had enough to split against a team that was drawing a lot of first-place votes and still was good enough to be our final ‘Belles of the Ball’ this year.

Also Receiving Votes: Clarkson 1