Powellfan suggested in the Bracketology Thread that they didn't want to match up Hopkins and Towson. He didn't say way. I assume because they played early in the season. But so did Maryland and Princeton. So who knows. Maybe they thought it would have been unfair to Hopkins to play them at home because so many Towson fans would attend. ??
Seems like an overly aggressive effort to avoid the Towson Hopkins rematch. Thought our lack of bad losses would be a larger factor, along with the head to head victory, but honestly we will take it. I am more scared of the team that went on a tare through the Patriot league (Lehigh) than I am of the one that went on a tare through the CAA (Towson). Michigan is the one wild card. They had some serious speedbumps in their body of work this season (mainly Rutgers and Harvard) but had a pretty dominant Big 10 tourney. Same sort of situation as last year for them. In the end last year they ultimately looked more like they did in the regular season when they lost to Duke in the quarters by 7. Ultimately I would be more scared to play Lars and UVA in the quarters, given their boatload of experience in that spot, Shellenberger in his last go round, etc. Tougher match up than Denver or Michigan would be IMO.My instant reaction was that they didn't want a regular season re-match. I realize now they created one with Princeton and Maryland. Still doesn't mean they weren't trying to avoid another rematch. Admittivity, I would have been very annoyed if Syracuse had been matched up again with a team like Army or any other rematch had other results happened.
I guess what sticks in my craw is that they leapt Denver over UVA based on RPI, but did not do the same for SU and Hopkins. What did Denver do to "deserve" outranking their own RPI? I think it worked out to Syracuse's benefit, but if any team deserved to leap over the team in front of them, it should be Syracuse. Head to Head, more top five wins. Perhaps Head to Head doesn't matter much to committee, but maybe results on the field should in fact matter pretty highly to them.
Ultimately I think it all worked out for SU. It just feels like they should have been a three seed, matched up with six seed Denver in the second round. The way the committee seems to have done things just feels very arbitrary.
I agree with you. Look at the Patrick Stevens article this morning about grading the committee and especially his discussion with the chair about deciding the nos. 3 & 5 seeds. At the end of it he seems to say re Va/Denver decision it was because Va has a poorer record. Like maybe that they've lost 4 in a row? Wouldn't that really be the dreaded "eye test" that is verboten? As I've said elsewhere on here I am really surprised they set up the bracket so all 4 ACC teams can make up the Final Four. I doubt that's what the committee wants. And as you may have said, maybe they made Hopkins 3 so they could send Towson to Syracuse & avoid Hopkins/Towson for what ever reason. Thanks.My instant reaction was that they didn't want a regular season re-match. I realize now they created one with Princeton and Maryland. Still doesn't mean they weren't trying to avoid another rematch. Admittivity, I would have been very annoyed if Syracuse had been matched up again with a team like Army or any other rematch had other results happened.
I guess what sticks in my craw is that they leapt Denver over UVA based on RPI, but did not do the same for SU and Hopkins. What did Denver do to "deserve" outranking their own RPI? I think it worked out to Syracuse's benefit, but if any team deserved to leap over the team in front of them, it should be Syracuse. Head to Head, more top five wins. Perhaps Head to Head doesn't matter much to committee, but maybe results on the field should in fact matter pretty highly to them.
Ultimately I think it all worked out for SU. It just feels like they should have been a three seed, matched up with six seed Denver in the second round. The way the committee seems to have done things just feels very arbitrary.
Towson at Syracuse
Sunday 7:30pm, ESPNU, Drew Carter & Ryan Boyle, (SU -3.5 26.5)
The Sunday late time slot has a history of wild games, fantastic finishes and epic upsets.
Congrats to Towson. The Tigers dominated the CAA title game 15-6 over Delaware. They march into the NCAA tournament on a 9-game heater. Towson is defensive based under coach Shawn Nadelen. Losses to Johns Hopkins, Loyola (7-8) and Virginia toughened them for league action.
Towson beat SU in the 2017 quarters. This 2024 Towson team is well balanced with excellence at each position group – Nick DeMaio, Mikey Weisshaar, Matt Constantinides and Colby Barsz. Nadelen is no stranger to engineering tournament upsets.
Orange occupy the Sunday late timeslot because of graduation and Dome availability. SU’s last title was won in 2009, their last championship game appearance in 2013 and last quarterfinal appearance in 2017. This is their first NCAA tournament bid since 2021, when they got blasted 18-8 by Georgetown in a penalty riddled game. The Orange have not won a playoff game in seven years.
Coach Gary Gait has seen his team make incremental improvements in face-off win percentage, clearing, scoring defense and have been in every game except for their last outing in the ACC semifinal against Duke.
The offense is a treat to watch with dynamic passers Joey Spallina, Owen Hiltz, Christian Mulé and company spraying the ball around the horn with flair and precision. Billy Dwan III anchors the defense and runs the field in transition. The SSDM position is subpar. Otto averages nearly 15 goals per game but the defense has slumped the last five games. Orange need to bring the juice.
First to 20 wins? 6-4 UVa 3 min left in the first. I don’t think either goalie has made a save yet. St Joes FOGO has taken a few shots but no flags. UVA has no answer for the ride.
Virginia players just look biggerSt. Joes can't match up defensively, if they don't force a turnover UVA is getting whatever they want
Virginia players just look bigger
Bigger, faster, stronger. Also doesn't help that shellenberger is likely pissed off about the PLL draft. If you can't limit him or Cormier you have absolutely no chance unless your dropping 18 like SU.