Lacrosse Season Review

[Clickclack]

Can anyone who follows Lacrosse closely explain to me what happened this season?

 

We started out beating some good/ranked teams (at that time) UMass, Ohio...then?????

 

More importantly, how to we get back to where we once were?

[uofalbany]

The talent is there on offense. When we have a good day on faceoffs & groundballs,

and we limit the turnovers, mistakes, & carelessness, we seem to play strong.

 

Not sure about the talent on defense.

Since Marr brought in his buddy to coach the defense, the defense has looked subpar.

 

The incoming class is supposedly the best he's recruited.

 

Who knows what we'll see...

[dslyank]

I am by no means an expert,but I saw every home game(I confess to leaving early the monsoon umbc game) plus @ S@#$a. This team was/is indeed a mystery. AT times they looked unbeatable, yet lost every conference game and more. I agree with uofalbany that the defense was the "problem"; but at times defensively we were pretty good. I have commented a number of times during the year that the offense was very conservative, trying to maintain control and minimize the amount of time we had to be on defense. IMO this strategy hurt us rather than helped. I think (not an expert remember), we would have been better off being more aggressive offensively and take our chances/lumps on the other end.

 

If you follow "inside lacrosse" they have lamented on several occasions the slower game of today with offenses waiting for substitutions; and the "specialist player" (offensive midfielders vs defensive midfielders, faceoff specialist, etc.). I think UA was/is (obviously) behind the curve in this new slower paced game. We tried it for certain, but "perhaps" just did not have ther personnel (on & off the field) to be effective at it. Which is why I feel the older faster paced attack might have suited us better.

 

Like I said a mystery team and I am not an expert, so I am anxious to hear other opinions, theories, whatever.

[dslyank]

Season Review? Still waiting for other assesments??? I'd really like to hear some other toughts/ideas and hopes for the future??

[uofalbany]

I've seen some Espn style highlights from the team, and some highlights that

look more like the pee wee league. Inconsistency. Conservative.

 

I've seen the conservative side of the defense as well. I don't buy that the fellas

can't keep up and play one on one more often than they did. They boxed it in, and let the

opponents float around the perimeter without challenging.

 

Pressure and aggression creates turnovers. Teams do it against us, and it works.

We don't do it often enough to our opponents.

 

Totally agree about the 'slowed down' pace. It has not been the way to go.

I think its a big mistake for the entire lacrosse world to be emphasizing that style,

as lots of teams are much better suited for the run and gun.

[dslyank]

If anyone follows the national lacrosse blogs (I do not--blogged out already); I would like to know if there is any thought/consideration to expanding the ncca field? More teams are playing lacrosse and with a lot of parity it seems {the final four have 16 loses between them--UA beating 4 or 5 top 20 teams (depending how you count and when) and yet not winning a single conference game}. Anyhow it would seem like the field should be expanded. Anyone in the know or if you just have thoughts, I would like to hear from you.

 

Also, still would like to hear more assesments on UA's mystery season?

[UA_MA_2000]

If anyone follows the national lacrosse blogs (I do not--blogged out already); I would like to know if there is any thought/consideration to expanding the ncca field? More teams are playing lacrosse and with a lot of parity it seems {the final four have 16 loses between them--UA beating 4 or 5 top 20 teams (depending how you count and when) and yet not winning a single conference game}. Anyhow it would seem like the field should be expanded. Anyone in the know or if you just have thoughts, I would like to hear from you.

 

Also, still would like to hear more assesments on UA's mystery season?

 

 

Somewhat O/T, but as to the expanding NCAA field in general, another potential powerhouse arrives on the LAX scene:

 

 

U-M Athletics Announces Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse as Varsity Sports University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon announced today (May 25) the elevation of men’s and women’s lacrosse to varsity status. The men’s program will begin NCAA-Division I varsity competition in the 2011-12 academic year and the women’s program will be ready for NCAA-Division I varsity competition in the 2012-13 academic year. “Our department has carefully considered the elevation of lacrosse to varsity status and we feel the time is right to make this move,” said Brandon. “The men’s program is further developed based on their history of success in the club-varsity system. We plan to build upon that success at the next level. Our women’s program will require more time to build, but I am confident within a reasonable timeframe we will become competitive nationally in women’s lacrosse.” Michigan is the first Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference school to add men’s lacrosse since Notre Dame added the sport in 1980 and started competition in 1981. Michigan will join Ohio State and Penn State as the only schools in the Big Ten Conference to sponsor men’s lacrosse. For more information and to read the full press release visit www.mgoblue.com

[UAalum72]

Even with Michigan there will only be 62 teams playing men's lacrosse, in eight qualifying leagues plus the 4-team ACC and four independents. Until the ACC adds two more teams there won't be any new conferences looking for autobids, so there's no need to increase the playoff field.