I wonder if this team is suffering a bit from burnout. This senior class has played a ton of minutes, and it's all been pretty high pressure. This program was coming off a four win season when they stepped on campus. They were supplemented over the years by some really good transfer players, but I don't think that's the same as stepping into a team with strong veteran leadership that has been on campus for a number of years. They've had a lot of their shoulders, and perhaps sometimes this season, that's gotten to them.
They've managed to go from that four win season, to a final four in three years. Most programs would take that as a huge accomplishment. But of course Syracuse has higher standards. Hopefully they can take that final step in the next few weeks. I'm not sure I understand what's going on with the defense. They started off the season strong, and McCool has been playing well these past few weeks (shouldn't have to ask your goalie to make 18 saves in a game). I think the biggest question is if Mullen can pull out of the rut that he's in. Remains to be seen.
Good post Powell. I think you maybe onto something, be it burnout or what not they at times look a step slow from what we saw earlier in the year, Johnny being a prime example, you wonder if this gauntlet schedule has finally caught up with them a bit and also if they are holding something back for the start of both tourneys.
That said this also follows a pattern we have seen the last 3 years under Gait with tourney teams, it's a lack of consistency from week to week. Two weeks ago the team overall and the defense looked excellent against a very good UVA team. Last week against Colgate the Defense was good especially at SSDM but the offense seemed out of sorts and the faceoff unit (especially the wings) was out of sorts. This past week it was faceoffs and both sides of the ball especially the defense and turnovers in the 2nd half. The one consistent thing we have seen is that this team really struggles to put together a 60 min game. It goes back again two years ago when you look at the Cornell game that year, the UNC game etc, we just continue to have a stretch each game (up to a qtr + when it's bad) when all facets are just completely out of sorts and it can vary from the 1st qtr to the 3rd or even the 4th.
Now as you noted some of this criticism if because the expectations are so high here. The team is 11-4 vs an absurd schedule and the ACC gauntlet. Even the Powell area teams didn't rip off undefeated seasons. I think the issue is that the team has continue to mistakes the last 3 years and this is such a Sr laden team this really our best shot at a potential tile for probably at least the next few years (if we're being honest).
To me the concerns are as follows:
The play of the SSDM's this past weekend felt a lot like last year and was disappointing as they had played great the previous two games. You hope this was a bad one off but it's also hard not to worry about a repeat performance in the tourney. Another performance like that and it's season over.
I noted it before but Johnny looks worn out. I think the grind of the season has caught up to him. He's faced a lot of top end FOGO's and taken a lot of draws, just doesn't look right. This weeks matchup isn't exactly what you want either in facing the nations top FOGO. Gotta hope for a bounce back in a big way from him and Angelo who after a string of really good games is also scuffling.
2nd mid line looks like it has hit the Freshmen wall. McIntee and Hahn have both struggled to get in the score sheet and were not setting up Kellogg for success by having him up to just passing the ball around. Syracuse really needs to go to a mixed 2nd line. Run Hottle with McIntee and Kellogg or Hahn and McIntee or Bear Rhoa and Kellogg, try and give some different looks and change things up a bit.
Team also has to clear up the issues with the unforced turnovers. They are gonna see a ton of 10 man on Sat, have to be able to clear and stop throwing the ball with zero pressure.
Overall this is a very solid team with a chance to win a title but it's hard to trust them fr0m game to game. Every time you think they have put it together you get a game where it all reverts back. See last year after an outstanding 2 day stretch in the ACC tourney and then needing a miracle comeback vs Harvard despite winning about 80% of the faceoffs.
