Big Ten hockey is feast or famine

The PairWise Ratings mimic the formula the NCAA uses to fill its 16-team men's hockey tournament field. Six spots are filled by conference tournament champions, and 10 at-large spots go to the highest-ranked remaining teams. With selection Sunday coming March 24, here's a look at the top 16 heading into the weekend (*notes conference leader):

1. St. Cloud State*21-4-3

2. Massachusetts*21-6-0

3. Ohio State*19-5-4

4. Minnesota Duluth17-7-2

5. Quinnipiac*21-6-1

6. MSU Mankato*24-6-2

8. Cornell15-6-2

9. Arizona State19-10-1

10. Western Michigan16-9-1

11. Mass.-Lowell17-8-2

12. Clarkson19-9-0

14. Northeastern17-9-1

15. Bowling Green18-8-3

28. American Int'l*17-12-1

Other Big Ten teams

16. Notre Dame15-10-3

22. Michigan12-12-6

29. Michigan State10-15-5

30. Gophers11-14-4