dslyank

I would love to have been a fly on the wall to hear Beagle's interview:

 "... I abandoned my team mid season, when they had a chance to compete for a top 4 spot in their league....yes I was in the portal last year and yes UA took me back when no one wanted me...I am NOT a pussy, just don't like being double teamed all the time, because UA did not have another big to take some of the pressure off me...the pressure was so awful, I had to get away from basketball for awhile... I know at Richmond (or add any other team here who already rejected this BS) "I" will be a Star player for you, as long as you have another BIG to help me with the pressure...." 😝🤪😜

Scott's post game comment pretty much says it all:  

but our execution wasn't as sharp as it has been the last couple of games and it cost us."

That and 41-30 in ground balls; and 1 - 5 on man-ups many without even getting a shot on goal??? Pretty even on face-offs with Regan doing better than 50% when winning clean [against best F/O man in the league; but did not get much help if any from wings.]

Which brings me to two questions for you lacrosse "experts" {which I am most certainly Not one};  on ground balls I have noticed over the years and other have also commended it seems UA on ground balls plays the man rather than going for the ball [ in other words the first UA man on the scene, seems to be more interested in keeping the opponent from picking the ball up then trying to get the ball himself. UA seems to rely on a secondary man, to get the ground ball while they occupy the opponent? IS this some sort of STRATEGY or ground ball philosophy if you will. Probably wrong, but I've seen UA do this for years and also seem ground balls have been a bug-a-boo of theirs for years.  THOUGHTS OPINIONS??

Second question many have blamed Whitney for throwing the ball away at the end of the game.  He certainly did NOT "execute" the play properly, but IMHO he did at least try to make the correct play, which is to get a loose ball away from the front of the crease to the side. Not an expert, but have heard and assume a goalie's job when he cannot handle a shot or loose ball cleanly, always Knock it away from the crease to the side or behind??  THOUGHTS OPINIONS??

Inside lacrosse has the above posted under UA team stats? UA's stats have Salit playing in 4 games with NO points? 

I think both of these are misprints of some sort. Do not think Salit has even dressed for any games this year?? Anyone know what the real story is with Salit??

AND any idea if some UA player has been shorted 7 goals on their stat sheet (perhaps Silas 7 goal game vs Virginia??)

Stat reporting for UA has definitely been suspect of late including Palumb's game winner last week initially being credited to Silas🤔.

UA receiving votes in Media Poll this week. Around 27. Have not seen a coaches poll yet.

6 hours ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

This is the weakest the AE has been in a while, but a nice road win for sure.

Not sure the announcer for UMBC is a reliable source; but he was promoting the opposite several times yesterday. Claimed one or more of the league blue bloods could be on the outside looking in this year for the AmEast tournament. Not saying he is right, but he was praising the league heartily.

On the other hand, while praising the current UMBC coach, he was saying UA and UMBC have played some of the greatest games of all time. Again not arguing that , but pretty sure many of the games he referenced were with UMBC former coach I believe.

Personally, I cannot say if the league is weak or not this year, but it does seem pretty balanced overall, more so than ever perhaps. For a 5 or 6 year period UA pretty much crushed "everyone" in the league. No one has done that since or perhaps ever? So was the league weaker than or was UA just in a league by themselves ??

It was #14 Palumb who made the run and winning goal

Good game. Should not have been that close. A fluke goal on a deflected high bouncer and the problem with #26 being left totally uncovered on at least 2 of his 7 goals. But a good win on the road. 
 

On 3/29/2024 at 11:03 AM, cwdickens said:

As to NIL, as in the case of the Transfer Portal, the Jeannie is out of the bottle, no going back.

CW. NOT say you are wrong; but hoping so. There are powerful people including Lou Saban and others who are fighting the portal or at least want restrictions. NLI is a major issue for ALL mid majors and many majors also; especially where it extends to "non-revenue" generating sports. 

FEW if any Universities make money on athletics. University president's and boards of trustees and States will not/can not sit back and do nothing while a few athletes and a few programs draw out from whatever resources do come in from the few sports and even fewer programs that generate monies.

As others have said on this blog, it simply is NOT sustainable. Especially, the portal. Schools simply do not have the resources to re-build every year. And without NCAA Tournament  monies which circle down and are reduced to non-qualifying teams and reduced further to teams with long histories of not being successful, University presidents, States and donors simply cannot support college athletics, let alone keep their doors open to educate students.

Believe me their is a FIGHT on, the Jeannie may be out of the bag; but at some point it will/must be stuffed back in IMHO.

On 3/27/2024 at 1:37 PM, dslyank said:

Maybe it’s time to say F the portal. Go find the best freshman we can find. Keep them for a couple years; hope with “good” coaching (yeh right 😂); we play competitive basketball 🏀, groom them for the next level; whatever the heck that is???

Not sure where to post this; but strongly considering giving up 50+ years of season tickets and GDAC/UA Foundation donations. I'm very much against anything that smacks of college athletics becoming pro-like. Including NLI, transfer portal (even though would support it with restrictions and possible compensation to team losing a transfer), paying athletes anymore than the value of their EDUCATION, and sports betting (other than March Madness pools & sorts.)

My dilemma is, Am I just hurting the University for something that is really no fault of their own. Not really looking for advice, for I'm sure any cancel of tickets and support on my part would be naive and inconsequential.

But does anyone know of some national moment, I could contact to join in a/the fight to prevent colleges becoming Pro-Sports. And/All thoughts & opinions MUCH appreciated.

22 hours ago, Clickclack said:

Listen, I do think some of them will be back...there is no market for most of them not named Thomas, Marshall or Beagle. 

If no one comes back it's a brutal indictment of DK. 

NOT sure if this whole fiasco is DK’s doing OR not? Wish we were/are given more information. Or is this the nature of the beast called portal/nli???

For a whole team to leave really smacks of something out of the ordinary 🧐🥺.

OR is it possible DK is just a VICTIM of a run-a-way train???🤔🤔

The lot on Grant & Phillips off Madison Ave has always been free and empty. Been a while, so do not know if still the case.

Can also get into this lot by empire plaza ramp. Go all the way around the plaza U-ramp; do not enter any of the Plaza ramps. There are 2 or 3 gates on each side of the U. Just after the last entrance is a ramp into the GrantPhillips Garage. Also an entrance on Phillips off Madison.  
Not sure the name of this garage. And if anyone knows the name and/or if still free. PLEASE feel free to correct this post

Maybe it’s time to say F the portal. Go find the best freshman we can find. Keep them for a couple years; hope with “good” coaching (yeh right 😂); we play competitive basketball 🏀, groom them for the next level; whatever the heck that is???

13 hours ago, UA1882 said:

College basketball is free agency every year.

The sit year for second time portal people is STILL on the books. Like last year it has been waved for 2024; while the ncaa evaluates the whole portal and nli issue. Since we all know the ncaa has no ba!!s at all and moves at glazier speed, the only hope seems to be University president stepping in. IMHO this will happen at some point; who knows when, but IMHO will result in "pro-colleges" and "student athlete colleges".  Good chance, I will not be around to see it happen; but HOPING😇.

https://eedition.timesunion.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=21e0b858-4177-45a3-bbf9-d33e4813accb&share=true
 

link to TU article. May have been posted before?
anyhow someone somewhere has got to be FIGHTING this thing. 🤪😂

1 hour ago, UA1882 said:

I will see what happens in the portal but I'm sure it will be terrible.  We have 0 guys on the team right now that should start a D1 game.  

Margoupis & Adan are "something" to build with🤔. In 2- 3 years might be a team again?? 

Anyhow, Marshall & Thomas not officially gone yet😱.

With pretty much every mid/low major team in the county having ½ or more of their rosters on the portal; might be easier to find a team to swap entire line-ups with [JOKE🤣.]

The problem with Casey in the rain; there is not a lot of good/reasonable standing room viewing. With most of the railing on level one being occupied by handicap seating and/or concessions does not leave much viewing space. And going two or more deep, you really see nothing at all; plus getting constantly dripped on from the upper deck. I guess could go upstairs, but I have not been up there in a long time and do not know for sure. At least at Fallon {and believe me I am NOT recommending going back there}, you could stand along the fence for 360º and for the most part view the game satisfactorily. At Casey if you do not want to sit in a slushy/wet seat I guess you could stand ; only if everyone in your section agreed to it?😜

Sorry about the complaining and I get it VT came down early; but the women had time to make a change and I do not see why the men could not??

Broke my heart to miss only my third D1 home game ever💔. Of course watched on espn, but not the same as being there. And again I apologize for the rant, and actually I enjoy lacrosse for being an all-season all weather sport. My family often calls me all sorts of crazy, when I head out the door bundled to the nines, going to lacrosse or football for that matter (not as devoted to football anymore as I use to be though.)

Anyhow, DONE. LETS GO DANE TRAIN!🥍🚅

I wish someone would present a valid explanation why this game could not be moved to tomorrow. Are the women just smarter than the men?

15 hours ago, Laxdawg20 said:

It’s lacrosse not baseball there’s no crying in lacrosse either! Man up! Go over to city line then be inside and watch there fir watch party with bunch of other “fans” our weather here sucks it’s unfortunate but it is what it is 

Sorry Law I see NO viable reason why this game should NOT be moved to Sunday. Like CW I've been to UA games for 50+ years in ALL KINDS of weather. In fact I have missed ONLY 2 Lacrosse home games in the D1 era, neither due to weather. I will be there today; but still absolutely think fro player safety and fan/parents/donor comfort DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE GAME CANNOT NOT BE MOVED TO SUNDAY. 

It has nothing to do with manning up. It has to do with providing a reason fro playing today when a perfectly good alternative exist. SEE YOU THERE; either way🤔

14 hours ago, jimbo said:

Ladies look like they are playing out the string…..time to concentrate on schoolwork. 

Looked like the Ladies din not want to be there. Saw this a lot in the men's hay days --- just going through the motions after being disappointed when not making the big show. Never understood it then and still don't! I know many on this blog and across the country really put down these "extra" tournament opportunities. Is it really just all about money? Why have these thing if no one wants to play in them?  THOUGHTS/OPINIONS

Your wish is granted

 Due to inclement weather in the forecast in Burlington, Vt., the University at Albany women's lacrosse game at Vermont originally scheduled for Saturday, March 23 has been postponed.  The game will now be played Sunday, March 24 at 12:00 pm.

From Wlax thread. Are the women smarter than the men. What the He!! is wrong with the men's program; that they are so resistant to making a date change??

Nothing against Scott; but I've sit through too many inclement weather games over the years, where moving the game a day would have provided a better experience for the fans and probably a better safer game for the teams??  Does he think playing in bad conditions gives UA a competitive advantage??????  THOUGHT/OPINIONS.

18 hours ago, godanesgo99 said:

At this moment, I'll remind everyone that entering the portal doesn't mean gone at this point. It means they are exploring their options. There are tons of examples of players entering the portal then deciding to stay. I'm actually surprised that every single D1 player doesn't enter the portal every single year these days. Might as well. Nothing to lose on the players side other than the potential of losing their spot on their current team if they don't recommit in time. Even if they want to stay, why not enter the portal and let other schools wine and dine you for a month! 

Agree 100%. Hate it but totally agree with your post.🤐

22 minutes ago, cwdickens said:

However, with these concerns about defense, my question: How did we hold Virginia to 3 goals in the first half, as much as it is stopping goals, we need to be able to score more goals and prevent big runs.  Virgina is the three-rank team in country for a reason, we did ourselves proud. 

++. 

13 hours ago, PrisonMike said:

Defense could use some coaching up. Slides/ doubles have been bad for years. Often unnecessary and poorly timed, and they don't do a good job hedging. The offense hasn't done well capitalizing on their high percentage looks, which shows in their low shooting percentage. Hogg did a lot of damage in his first couple years as an off ball shooter on the right side of the offense, I wonder if he moves back to attack. Any updates on Salit? I don't think he's dressed for any games this year, is he injured?

Actually outplayed Virginia 3 out of 4 periods {granted much of 4th was vs VI subs). IMHO the difference in the game was @ the half UA was celebrating like a punch of middle schoolers {which in a sense they are}. UA went into halftime TOO HIGH. An experienced and more poised team would know VI was going to come out for revenge. They have one of the best coaches in the land, and I just knew he was going to straighten his team out. Not sure if he breathed fire at them or just let them sit and stew; but I said to my wife that the 3-3 game was going to be 3-8/9 before long {I hate being right.} Did bounce back a little in the fourth, but like I said too little too late and some against subs.

Still proud of the effort overall.

Also, have been asking for sometime about Salit; and noticed Whitcomb has not played in the last two games??

And for those knocking the D; IMHO the shooting %age offensively & clear %age (against good teams at least) are the two areas in need of MOST WORK.

Tried to join need group ID#. Found it
I think I am in  

first time competitor 

Said problem with the feed. No eta but should be up soon🧐

I am on hold with espn they are checking into it