CINCINNATI, OHIO | US BANK ARENA
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 28-29

Friday: Colgate vs. Ferris State, 4:30 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN3)
Friday: North Dakota vs. Wisconsin, 8 p.m. ET (TV: ESPNU)
Saturday: Regional Final, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2)

NO. 1 SEED WISCONSIN BADGERS

Location: Madison, Wis.
Record: 24-10-2 overall (13-6-1 Big Ten, second)
Qualified: Big Ten tournament champion
NCAA Championships: Six (1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006)
NCAA Appearance: 25th (most recent, 2013)
Head Coach: Mike Eaves
Key Players: Mark Zengerle, F, Sr., 36 GP, 10-33–43; Michael Mersch, F, Sr., 36 GP, 22-13–35; Jake McCabe, D, Jr., 35 GP, 8-17–25; Joel Rumpel, G, Jr., 28 GP, 21-5-1, 2.03 GAA, .930 save pct.

What You Need To Know: The Badgers have been an NCAA Tournament no. 1 seed on seven previous occasions. In all but one of those years, Wisconsin advanced to the Frozen Four.

Burning Question: Will Wisconsin experience a senior moment in 2014? No team in the tournament field has gotten more from its fourth-year players, who’ve scored 63 of the team’s 118 goals in 2013-14. With nine seniors gone after this season and early departures (Kerdiles? McCabe? Rumpel?) a distinct possibility, is there a sense this is the Badgers’ best chance at an NCAA title with a rebuild on the horizon?

NO. 2 SEED FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS

Location: Big Rapids, Mich.
Record: 28-10-3 overall (20-6-2 Hockey East, second)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Third (most recent, 2012)
Head Coach: Bob Daniels
Key Players: Garrett Thompson, F, Sr., 41 GP, 16-16–32; Justin Buzzeo, F, Jr., 40 GP, 14-18–32; Scott Czarnowczan, D, Sr., 39 GP, 6-19–25; C.J. Motte, G, Jr., 38 GP, 27-8-3, 2.25 GAA, .926 save pct.

What You Need To Know: The Bulldogs split a season-opening series with Colgate in Hamiliton and later lost to the Raiders in January when the two met in Minneapolis as part of the Mariucci Classic.

Burning Question: Can the Bulldogs get the first goal, and then to three? Ferris State is 5-8-2 this season when scoring two or fewer goals and 23-2-1 when notching three or more goals. Couple that with the Bulldogs’ proclivity for playing with the lead–a 20-1-0 record when leading after one period and a 21-0-1 mark when up after two–and you’ve got Ferris’ recipe for success.

NO. 3 SEED COLGATE RAIDERS

Location: Hamilton, N.Y.
Record: 20-13-5 overall (13-6-3 ECAC Hockey, second)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Fifth (most recent, 2005)
Head Coach: Don Vaughn
Key Players: Tyson Spink, F, So., 38 GP, 10-23–33; Darcy Murphy, F, So., 38 GP, 19-9–28; Spiro Goulakos, D, Jr., 38 GP, 9-11–20; Charlie Finn, G, Fr., 28 GP, 16-7-4, 2.40 GAA, .916 save pct.

What You Need To Know: Coffee is for closers–and Colgate. After posing a 3-11-2 mark down the stretch to end the 2012-13 campaign, the Raiders ended this season with a 13-4-3 record this year.

Burning Question: Are the Raiders ready for prime time? Outside of forward Mike McCann and backup goalie Eric Mihalik, the rest of the Colgate lineup has at least one year of eligibility remaining. Perhaps this NCAA trip will serve as a launching pad to future success not unlike Union’s national tournament debut in 2011.

NO. 4 SEED NORTH DAKOTA

Location: Grand Forks, N.D.
Record: 23-13-3 overall (15-9-0 NCHC, second)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: Seven (1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000)
NCAA Appearance: 29th (most recent, 2013)
Head Coach: Dave Hakstol
Key Players: Rocco Grimaldi, F, So., 39 GP, 14-22–36; Michael Parks, F, Jr., 39 GP, 11-17–28; Dillon Simpson, D, Sr., 39 GP, 7-15–22; Zane Gothberg, G, So., 30 GP, 18-9-3, 2.05 GAA, .923 save pct.

What You Need To Know: North Dakota is making its 12th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the longest active streak in Division I hockey.

Burning Question: Is North Dakota’s March mediocrity just a hiccup? Dave Hakstol’s team has been sensational over the last three-plus months, posting an 18-6-1 mark since Dec. 1. But NoDak is just 4-4-0 in its last eight games. Which sample size is more indicative of the team’s current state? With a very good Wisconsin team awaiting in the first round, we’ll know the answer soon.