JeremyCuse
Renowned lacrosse analyst
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 41,721
- Like
- 54,427
We dodged a bullet not getting UNC or Duke twice. Even with the Aitken news I still think this is the easiest possible outcome for an acc schedule.
No Cornell, Rutgers, Hobart, or Hopkins. Cornell hurts the most since they would be a SOS/resume booster and they are just down the road, not to mention the traditional rivalry.
Losing those names creates a seemingly huge gap between our difficult games and our easy ones. Cornell would be a challenge, but Hobart, Rutgers, and Hopkins would be our more dangerous middle of the pack type games that we should win, but would also boost the resume if we do. Now pretty much Army and Albany are the only ones in that category while the rest of the out of conference games could be considered "cupcakes."
From what I know most of the game you mentioned were not an option for a few reasons. IVY league is still in a holding pattern and unlikely to play at this point. I believe that Hobart being off the schedule was a conference issue with Hobart. I don't know anything concrete on Rutty and Hop but if I had to guess I believe there was likely a mutual agreement on both ends that it couldn't be worked out due to the lesser schedules for some teams and increase in conf games for the ACC.
One other thing to keep in mind, Aitken returning is an enormous lift for UVA and Hofstra and to a lesser extend Stony Brook is no pushover especially if certain players are unavailable which seems likely unfortunately.