dslyank

PMike wrote in the cornell thread Per 72's TU article linked above. It is going to happen today. I know it is the right move; but a little sad in a way. The two way midee gave rise to UA as a top Lax Power. It may sound strange but I blame the shot-clock for the demise of two way middees. Unlike most and I've posted this before, I feel the shot clock has NOT accomplished an increase in "PACE." ALL the substitutions and structured offenses have SLOWED the game IMHO. UA's free wheeling style, letting players play and two ways sprinting end to end was far more exciting. Yeh, scoring maybe up since implementations ; but as teams adjust to the clock, I wager this will not necessarily be the case. Anyhow glad coach Marr and UA are adapting as PMike suggested.

I know it is probably too late to make changes; but the ONLY big to show anything offensively at all this year is French. Even in limited action he has shown he can hit a short jumper, he can CATCH a pass (and not immediately loose it), he finishes around the basket, does not get his shot blocked and rebounds the hell out of the ball. OK these observations are based on ridiculously low minutes and those low minutes have also shown him a liability on defense. But defense is NOT this teams issue. French is ALWAYS active and energetic; even if in a haphazard way. Not to besmirch players; but if healthy Luka is/should be UA's #1 in the post, and IMHO French should get the majority of the minutes currently given to Hanks and Lauderdale. Hanks does give some good D, but IMHO Lauderdale (and I know some of you love him) has/have IMHO given UA almost nothing in two years. ps. I'm also the one who said last year, Frusio should be given some minutes to spell the point. And even though I still believe that, feel free to take that into account when evaluating my French assessment. Hammer away!

May have been me who said above average. In my defense, I meant above average at the "lower mid major level" or whatever we are considered. Other than that I AGREE with your post completely.

Mike, Welcome to the blog. I really like your idea about dedicated defensive middies; even though it breaks my heart to say it. UA pretty much invented the two way middie idea and pretty much everyone else followed suit. Now, like you say 95% have gone away from it. With the shot clock, obviously the game has changed; and like you say Marr appears reluctant to change. Also, your one fogo comment has been expressed repeated on this blog. Anyhow, welcome. You wouldn't by any chance be a defensive coach? UA seems to really need one.

Still got to disagree. If Teat gets any credit for the win, IMHO is that UA spent so much time watching him we let pretty much everyone else slip away. Watch the replay--time and time again cornell players just ran by, and around, and through, and dodged by, and shot over UA defenders; especially middies. Personally I did not see a single Teat pass of consequence. Certainly his presence was/is a factor; but to say he controlled the field; well I just did not see it. Of course you are welcome to your opinion, but I just don't see what I have highlighted above as being Teat controlling the field??

Do Not agree. Maybe we just were watching him too much; but he most definitely did NOT carve UA up. Even if you believe the stats of 1 goal 4 assists. 2 being very generous at best.

Left game when it was 19-8; ready to throw the towel in on the season. Thought I'd watch the replay before setting myself un-fire. Still pretty upset, but did see a few good {at least hopeful} things by watching the replay. First what I did not like and most of which has already been said here. SAME issues as last year: cannot pick-up GROUND BALLS and pure and simple do not get rebounds and second chance opportunities, while giving up WAY too many of BOTH. Therefore UA spends too much time on defense. In football time of possession is a major predictor of success and IMHO it holds trump (like in cards not presidents) also. In the third period today UA had the ball for exactly 30 seconds of the first 6 minutes; after words I lost count but anyone there or watching saw how little UA had the ball. IMHO this is why last year was a disaster and why I am almost ready to concede this year. I have NOT mentioned face-offs, but most certainly it enters into the lack of possessions' scenario. My comment here is unless you have a stud, stick with SOMEONE and let him get better. Changing on every face-off accomplishes NOTHING IMHO. Even if the fogo loose all/most, at least you know what you got and can react and hopefully adjust. UA won for years without a stud fogo; but they never played fogo roulette before last year and today. I too was surprised at some of the players who got significant minutes today. 2018 please do not stop posting your insights. We know you are in a precarious situation and must hold back at times; but we still appreciate your analysis and input, even when you obligated to hold back. Of course I understand and respect your choice to continue posting or not. I did see some encouraging passing and play making WHEN UA was able to get the ball; especially in the fourth QTR {which was still most definitely against cornell first string.} Also, UA held Teat scoreless in the first half. He did not get an assist until the on-slaught was well in progress. For the game he was listed with 1 goal and 4 assist, but at least two of those were not true assists, as they were just passes and the goal scorer made a couple of solo moves. The offense definitely was more crisp after half-time when Patterson was moved to the four and Tehoka-Yunker-Hogg played up front. Wished they could have done this sooner and got more possessions [but that is kicking a dead horse.}

Eli and Clack where the heck are you guys? Please come back! This team needs to have a fire lit under them. I simply cannot believe hford is a better team and is coached better than UA. Tell me it ain't so? I'm ready to lite the match. I know this blog can't get UA to play better; but the blog was so much more fun with your fire and brimstone.

7 for 16 vs 14 for 16 from line. No excuse for that. Make them shoot fouls non-stop until they leave for maine

3 -11 from foul line. Still up by 3. But got to make the fee bees

Also; IF MLB plan for the minors comes to fruition {and I know there is a lot of opposition and government involvement now}, Binghamton is one of the minor teams scheduled for the ax. So you would think there would be NO combined plan or purpose for such a facility. What the heck would an AmEast team need with such a thing?? IMHO bingo would be better off building a covered field house for that amount--upgrading their lacrosse, track field & soccer programs. But its NOT my money so all the BEST to them I guess.

Need to beat hford; second seed gives us two home games and won't have to play vt until champ game. If Healy can give us 10-12 poinst and 15-20 minutes; he should play.

That was a woman's game.

Is this just wishful thinking or have you heard something official/semi-official?

another thought: since Tehoka, Hogg and Yunker seem to be firing on all cylinders this fall and winter preseason; why not use Patterson as the 4 attack, which historically has been his strongest position?

Pretty hard to predict this game with both teams playing their first. Both teams under achieved last year; yet pollsters, IL, etc still seem to rate cornell pretty high (top 15, even 10 in some.) Not really sure why? cornell could not stop a shot, BAD on face-offs, and committed a huge amount of penalties. While Teet perhaps the best in the game still runs the offense, their O did graduate some fire power. Don't know if they have been able to shore up the D or not? So I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a decisive UA win. UA's offense is MUCH improved and will get a measure of revenge by blazing a lot of goals past Irelan's brother. We will do well at face-off, with wing support and the defense (which was IMHO Not UA's issue last year) is even better this year. `

What's up with Lamb? Did not know he was out?

https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/UAlbany-men-s-lacrosse-holding-itself-accountable-15040764.php 2018, maybe they are finally listening to you. Ever since TD left and perhaps even before you have cautioned the team atmosphere may have been too loose. I hope all the accountability talk NOW is not just lip service and produces improved results in games and recruiting. But I hope UA does not stray too far away from their free wheeling and let the players PLAY style. I like the new more professional look and approach, but must admit I do miss the head shots.

Did I miss something? Has Doherty entered the transfer portal? Comments by coach had him as a temporary leave to personal reasons and a reinstatement certainly possible? Has their been an update that I missed??

Nothing to add to hof's summary. He was/is spot on. Great turnout. SRO.

I am going.

Don't know why the AmEast poll really bothered me so much. I know polls basically meaningless and national polls mostly done site unseen. Within a conference though you would THINK coaches would have a better sense of the other teams and base there assessments on "knowledge" and NOT gamesmanship. Anyhow, can't wait for the season to begin. Agree with both your assessments. Not quite as concerned about face-offs. Did not see either fall ball, but after almost 10 qtr's of winter scrimmage looks like Marr has X under control. DO NOT mean UA will dominate; but he seems to have a plan. In the league and against average teams UA should be close to 50%. Seems to have wings more aggressively involved (he seems to know none of our 3 options are going to be A+ or even B-); but the defensive intensity; the 9-10 man rides; and aggressive wing play in the scrimmages did result in increasing the # of our possessions (a major issue last year.) Don't forget, UA for years (at least until Irelan arrived) had to rely on similar things to get the ball to the offense. Against top teams, especially teams with elite or + fogos, the above strategies will be severely tested, but UA has been pretty successful in the past without a top fogo. ps At this point kind, unless Altamari really take control, I kind of like the rookie (Mastropolo). Think he is going to be a pretty good one with some experience and gets over the rookie jitters etc.

Per Quint after week one. He is usually NOT a big UA supporter; but has UA just outside the top 20. After only a handful of teams played week one, he must see or hear something he likes about UA. Like I said in another post, no other AmEast team listed 1-35. I know Scott and the team is playing down, the AmEast coaches pre-season snub. Personally, I think the coaches who did not vote UA #1 are/were just playing mind games or wishful thinking. I think we had the best talent in the league last year; {it did not click and we discussed it ad infinitum}, but an honest assessment would still show UA with the best overall talent by far. Saw an interview on Great Dane Web site; Marr coach speak--playing down the pre-season vote; but Nanticoke and especially Patterson both said they would use the snub as some additional motivation. IMHO, I do not think this team really needs any additional motivation to prove last year was a fluke and I think the lack of honesty in the vote is going to come back and bite those playing games in a big way. Thoughts and Opinions--I know it really does not mean a thing; but Do You Really think the other coaches in the league think UA is no better than the third best team???

vt won because of UA's one cold stretch; rebounding in the second half, and shooting above their average. vt shot 53% overall 51% from 3; Lamb shoot 60% from 3 and 100% from the line. All those #s are considerably higher than their yearly average. UA had a slight rebound advantage in the first half, but down 9 for the game. UA actually shot pretty well overall also (45% & 46% from 3); but only scored 4 points in the first 8-9 minutes of the second ½, shooting 2 for 10 (or there about) in that span. Both teams had a respectable 12 TO,s. Also at one point UA missed 7 consecutive free throws. Except for 2-3 break downs resulting in wide open looks in the second ½, UA contested well overall; vt just shoot better. I hope we play them twice more; and I think we win one (hopefully the one in the tournament.) I also do not think 6-2 out of the question in the stretch. We play the tougher teams (except vt) @ home; and IMHO we get revenge on Hford even on the road.

I thought the wings played pretty well actually. Since UA was 50-50 at the X and I think there was only 1 clean win, plus 2 stj violations all day. Stj had a number of clean wins; so really our wings got us the ball well over ½ the time they were involved in the scrum.