Balt Sun: Premature men’s lacrosse rankings for 2018, Part 1

[OrangeXtreme]

Premature men’s lacrosse rankings for 2018, Part 1

16. Syracuse (13-3; quarterfinals)

Losses: Five starters, including its top two scorers in midfielders Sergio Salcido (18 G, 33 A) and Nick Mariano (34 G, 16 A).

Returns: Five starters, including a pair of attackmen in junior Brendan Bomberry (28 G, 10 A) and sophomore Nate Solomon (28 G, 8 A).

Reason for pessimism: An offense that scored 12.1 goals per game might see fewer opportunities with the graduation of faceoff specialist Ben Williams (53.9 percent on 181 of 336 and 75 GB).

Reason for optimism: A defense that bade farewell to defenseman Scott Firman (32 GB, 16 CT) and goalie Evan Molloy (10.05 GAA, .495 save percentage) is poised to welcome back sophomore defenseman Nick Mellen (38 GB, 14 CT in 2016) from an unspecified injury.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Premature men’s lacrosse rankings for 2018, Part 1

16. Syracuse (13-3; quarterfinals)

Losses: Five starters, including its top two scorers in midfielders Sergio Salcido (18 G, 33 A) and Nick Mariano (34 G, 16 A).

Returns: Five starters, including a pair of attackmen in junior Brendan Bomberry (28 G, 10 A) and sophomore Nate Solomon (28 G, 8 A).

Reason for pessimism: An offense that scored 12.1 goals per game might see fewer opportunities with the graduation of faceoff specialist Ben Williams (53.9 percent on 181 of 336 and 75 GB).

Reason for optimism: A defense that bade farewell to defenseman Scott Firman (32 GB, 16 CT) and goalie Evan Molloy (10.05 GAA, .495 save percentage) is poised to welcome back sophomore defenseman Nick Mellen (38 GB, 14 CT in 2016) from an unspecified injury.

16, Ouch.

 

[Whitey23]

16, Ouch.

Hopkins 17 though!!!

 

[CousCuse]

SU lax is bordering on irrelevance .

 

[JeremyCuse]

Hopkins 17 though!!!

When you look at the talent on that roster is mindboggling how bad they have been. Though I do think some of their players have been way overrated.

 

[JeremyCuse]

SU lax is bordering on irreverence .

SU will be better then 16 but there a year or two away from really contending again. 2o18 fall and 2019 fall are the two years I have circled. 2019 especially. I do expect next years team to be competitive but there going to have to adjust to major losses on the offensive end with a lot of question marks at attack. The good news is there is helping coming this fall and next. The bad news is Cook and Magnan aren't' here until fall 2018.

 

[CousCuse]

SU will be better then 16 but there a year or two away from really contending again. 2o18 fall and 2019 fall are the two years I have circled. 2019 especially. I do expect next years team to be competitive but there going to have to adjust to major losses on the offensive end with a lot of question marks at attack. The good news is there is helping coming this fall and next. The bad news is Cook and Magnan aren't' here until fall 2018.

Maybe 2020.

 

[cuseguy]

Not sure Ben is much of a loss at this point. I think they're overstating that.

Also think our attack might run better through Rehfuss.

A solid transfer would make a big difference.

Defense may be better with a takeaway defender like Mellen.

A ranking of around 8 is more sensible.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Not sure Ben is much of a loss at this point. I think they're overstating that.

Also think our attack might run better through Rehfuss.

A solid transfer would make a big difference.

Defense may be better with a takeaway defender like Mellen.

A ranking of around 8 is more sensible.

That's why it's "premature".

I'm waiting to see who the 15 teams are that this guy has ranked higher.

Probably the rest of the B1G.

 

[MSOrange]

A wise man once said premature anything is never good.

 

[Orangello]

Replacing the offensive production of Mariano and Salcido will be tough but I remain hopeful that running the offense through Rehfuss might be a big improvement. The kid has great vision and passing skills. Put him on the first line with Solly and the Bomber and see what they can do. Next year's starting mids are likely Trimbo, Lane and Simmons although some of the new guys could make a push. We need more step down shooting from our mids. Look at what Towson and OSU were able to do in the tourney. Not sure losing Ben is that bad as he was clearly at 50% over the second half of the season. The defense needs to be revamped especially at SSDM. This is the biggest question mark for me. Mellen can't do it alone. The unit as a whole has got to pick it up big time.

 

[CuSeLaX]

lol they are ridiculous 16??? We return our whole defense who had a pretty solid year. Malloy was a leader but his save percentage was actually pretty terrible. Replacing him shouldn't be hard. Mellen would have been our best defender this year had he played. Rehfuss can easily replace Jordan's numbers. Of course we need Solomon and Bomber to step up their production a little. Midfield will definitely not be as good but to drop from #2 in the tourney to 16?? We have seen this year freshmen can score 40-60+ points I wouldn't be surprised to see one of our freshmen have a really good year

 

[Delmar]

The Baltimore Sun wouldn't have ranked the 1990 team in its top 10. Other than providing motivation for our players, this evaluation is worthless. Quint could have written it. (And besides, we'll load up on transfers!)

 

[wallacecuse]

Not sure Ben is much of a loss at this point. I think they're overstating that.

I hate to pick on the kid because I don't think he was 100%, but he was more of a liability than strength down the stretch, especially in the tournament. He was being run out there like he was the 2015 version, but the results were not there.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Replacing the offensive production of Mariano and Salcido will be tough but I remain hopeful that running the offense through Rehfuss might be a big improvement. The kid has great vision and passing skills. Put him on the first line with Solly and the Bomber and see what they can do. Next year's starting mids are likely Trimbo, Lane and Simmons although some of the new guys could make a push. We need more step down shooting from our mids. Look at what Towson and OSU were able to do in the tourney. Not sure losing Ben is that bad as he was clearly at 50% over the second half of the season. The defense needs to be revamped especially at SSDM. This is the biggest question mark for me. Mellen can't do it alone. The unit as a whole has got to pick it up big time.

I would be shocked if the Starting midfield had both Lane and Simmons on it.

 

[Alsacs]

I mean I know we lose a lot but 16 is laughable. The Sun is claiming we aren't even a tournament team with that record.

We all know we are losing a lot of offense but Desko isn't a moron.

We probably aren't top 5-10 to start the year but I expect Cuse Lax in the playoffs every year.

 

[outoftownie]

I mean I know we lose a lot but 16 is laughable. The Sun is claiming we aren't even a tournament team with that record.

We all know we are losing a lot of offense but Desko isn't a moron.

We probably aren't top 5-10 to start the year but I expect Cuse Lax in the playoffs every year.

There wasn't that much of a difference between SU and UVA, maybe an experienced goalie. This team loses a lot and from what I saw this year there isn't a ton on the bench to help out. Better hope some of these guys improve significantly or the new guys show up way better than anticipated.

 

[Alsacs]

There wasn't that much of a difference between SU and UVA, maybe an experienced goalie. This team loses a lot and from what I saw this year there isn't a ton on the bench to help out. Better hope some of these guys improve significantly or the new guys show up way better than anticipated.

There aren't 15 teams with more talent than Syracuse.
UVA had a new staff and philosophy installed.
We are going to see our guys grow up it's the Syracuse way.

 

[PhatOrange]

There wasn't that much of a difference between SU and UVA, maybe an experienced goalie. This team loses a lot and from what I saw this year there isn't a ton on the bench to help out. Better hope some of these guys improve significantly or the new guys show up way better than anticipated.

agreed. there is far more questions than answers. relying on a lot of faith for unproven kids to step up and fill holes.

 

[Purple Haze]

When you look at the talent on that roster is mindboggling how bad they have been. Though I do think some of their players have been way overrated.

I think that's probably a function of early recruiting. When you offer kids based on what they are in 8th and 9th grade you are gambling. Some work out and some don't continue to develop - and I think these rating services tend not to change all that much after they rate a kid because they don't want to say they were wrong. The changes to the early recruiting regulations should help the bigger programs like Syracuse - while I'm sure there will still be contact made to younger kids with a nod and a wink, they don't have to go all in until junior year.

Good article on this last month:

Late Bloomers Pannell, Holman Loathe Early Recruiting

 

[Hoo's That]

There aren't 15 teams with more talent than Syracuse.
UVA had a new staff and philosophy installed.
We are going to see our guys grow up it's the Syracuse way.

If you watched Bruno play Eli, you saw how goalies and close D are really, really important in Lars' system because Daly was continuing to use it at Bruno. With our #1 lost in a snowdrift, Thompson as a freshman did a good job in the goal, but was spotty. Rode, who arrives in the Fall, is the #1 goalie recruit. The close D and SSDMs have to step it up and help may be on the way. We're not there yet, but we're not far away from it.

 

[JeremyCuse]

There wasn't that much of a difference between SU and UVA, maybe an experienced goalie. This team loses a lot and from what I saw this year there isn't a ton on the bench to help out. Better hope some of these guys improve significantly or the new guys show up way better than anticipated.

While I agree SU has a lot of questions especially on offense its not like their isn't talent there and talent coming in. I think the bigger question is does SU have the top end players UVA has on offense ie Kraus, Aiken, Conrad etc. That said UVA has plenty of questions of its own. They lost Zed, Fish, Lukovic (I think or he has 1 more year), plus Scales and Howard arguably their two best defenders outside definitely their top 3 with Conners and the SSDM position is a complete dumpster fire. Not saying UVA can't or won't have a better year then Syracuse next year but just about every team in the ACC has major questions coming into next year.

 

[Orangtiz]

I would be shocked if the Starting midfield had both Lane and Simmons on it.

For the sake of my sanity I hope you're right. Neither are fit to play first line mid in the ACC.

 

[outoftownie]

There aren't 15 teams with more talent than Syracuse.
UVA had a new staff and philosophy installed.
We are going to see our guys grow up it's the Syracuse way.

There is no proven talent on offense. Rehfuss and Trimboli showed glimpses of top talent, but things change significantly when you are guarded by top close defender, not 3rd guy and you go from getting the worst shorty to getting poled every run. Who else can draw a slide? That is the biggest issue in my eyes. There are 3 guys on offense who have shown they have the ability to draw a slide (add Solomon to two mentioned above). What middies have really shown you anything that makes you believe they can score 15-20 goals? Lane? Simmons? Carlin? Ford? McKinney? Romano? O'Sullivan? Dearth? Weston? Hutchings? Forkin? The midfield talent has just not shown anything in my eyes. Maybe I am hypercritical, but those guys all seem like nice players that would be complimentary players on a second midfield line and nothing more than that on a good Syracuse team.

 

[outoftownie]

lol they are ridiculous 16??? We return our whole defense who had a pretty solid year. Malloy was a leader but his save percentage was actually pretty terrible. Replacing him shouldn't be hard. Mellen would have been our best defender this year had he played. Rehfuss can easily replace Jordan's numbers. Of course we need Solomon and Bomber to step up their production a little. Midfield will definitely not be as good but to drop from #2 in the tourney to 16?? We have seen this year freshmen can score 40-60+ points I wouldn't be surprised to see one of our freshmen have a really good year

Syracuse lost 4 starters from thier defensive unit; Firman, Ciferri, Gillis and Molloy. Three of them were captains and the heart of the team. Replacing a goalie isn't easy, have you seen what happened out their between Galloway and Molloy? Hopefully Mellen comes back healthy, but at this point there has to be concerns with his longevity. My real hope is the Willie Klan wins the starting job and is a multiple time All-American in goal. It would be beneficial for the team to have a 3 year starter anchoring the defense. I just hope they don't go back to goalie by committee, it doesn't work. 16 may be under rating Syracuse, but its not far off based on what the returning players have shown to date.