Polls for Apr 22: Media #4 / Coaches #4 / USALAX #8 / Quint #4

[OrangeXtreme]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/men-s-di-media-poll-five-straight-weeks-on-top-for-notre-dame/63155

Teams should know who they are in late-April.

This week’s Men’s DI Media Poll features the normal shifts up and down and reaction to the week of action.


Notre Dame is No. 1 for the fifth-straight week. The Irish only strengthened their case with a decisive second half against North Carolina in a 14-6 win. Notre Dame has a huge game against Virginia, which fell to No. 5, on Saturday.

Duke was idle but stayed in its No. 2 perch with the Tobacco Road rivalry looming. Johns Hopkins used defense to win its rivalry with Maryland and stays at 3.

Syracuse made a jump back up to No. 4 after dispatching Virginia in a thriller in the Dome — Game of the Year potential. Denver, Maryland, Cornell, Yale and Penn State make up the rest of the Top 10.

In the back half of the Top 20, Penn and Princeton swap places, while two new teams who have been in and out of the poll re-enter: Michigan (19) and Colgate (20).

Check out the full Men's DI Media Poll here.

Rank	Team	Points	Prev
1	Notre Dame (9 - 1)	500 (25)	1
2	Duke (11 - 3)	461	2
3	Johns Hopkins (10 - 3)	446	3
4	Syracuse (11 - 4)	428	6
5	Virginia (10 - 3)	383	4

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Cardiac Cuse Climbs 4 Spots in USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

Syracuse is about as tested as any contender out there with May approaching.

www.usalacrosse.com

Give Syracuse this much: It is as tested in tight games as just about any contender to play deep into May this season.

The Orange have split six one-goal games after Saturday’s 18-17 defeat of Virginia that offered at least an echo of some of the wild games the programs have co-authored over the years. Syracuse was coming off a 10-9 defeat of North Carolina, and three of its losses (Maryland, Army and Cornell) have come in overtime.

(The other team that should be comfortable in the crucible of one-goal games is Johns Hopkins, which lost one to Syracuse in March. The Blue Jays have a pair of overtime triumphs this month, against Penn State and Ohio State, and have played in five one-goal decisions.)

Back to Syracuse: The comeback against the Cavaliers fits into an archetype of victories over the years, when it felt like the Orange — whether under Roy Simmons Jr. or John Desko — were never really out of games. Inevitable would be too strong a descriptor, but unrelenting isn’t far off.

There was a hint of that in a game late last season, when Syracuse looked unbothered and completely at ease against North Carolina that was secured only with a goal in the final 15 seconds. This year’s version of the Orange is older, deeper and more dangerous — and also back into the top 10 after its final game before the ACC tournament.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I MEN’S TOP 20​

1. Notre Dame, 9-1 (Prev: 1)
2. Duke, 11-3 (Prev: 2)
3. Johns Hopkins, 10-3 (Prev: 3)
4. Denver, 10-2 (Prev: 6)
5. Virginia, 10-3 (Prev: 4)
6. Maryland, 8-4 (Prev: 5)
7. Penn State, 9-3 (Prev: 7)
8. Syracuse, 11-4 (Prev: 12)
9. Yale, 11-2 (Prev: 8)
10. Georgetown, 9-3 (Prev: 9)
11. Cornell, 8-4 (Prev: 10)
12. Army, 10-2 (Prev: 11)
13. Richmond, 9-4 (Prev: 14)
14. Princeton, 8-4 (Prev: 18)
15. Towson, 10-3 (Prev: 15)
16. Saint Joseph’s, 9-3 (Prev: 16)
17. Penn, 8-5 (Prev: 13)
18. Delaware, 8-3 (Prev: 17)
19. Colgate, 8-5 (Prev: 20)
20. Michigan, 7-6 (Prev: NR)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Boston U. (7-6), Harvard (7-5), Lehigh (7-6), Loyola (7-6), Utah (9-4), Villanova (8-5)

 

[Powellfan]

Quint Kessenich’s Top 20: April 22nd, 2024

My Top 20 presented by SPIRE Lacrosse, always a treacherous exercise. Quint Kessenich's Top 20 presented by Spire 1) Notre Dame The Irish (9-1) handled | NCAA, Top 20

laxallstars.com

​

4) Syracuse​

#HHH (11-4) won a back-and-forth, old-school game of runs with Virginia 18-17 on Saturday in the Dome. Owen Hiltz had eight points. SU was down 17-14 with 9:18 to play and finished the game with a 4-0 run to solidify their post season aspirations. SU defender Billy Dwan III scored again, this time off a ground ball scrum in front of the Virginia goal, scooping the ball with his back to the net and heaving it backhanded over his shoulder blindly into the goal making it 17-17. Sam English scored the game winner with48 seconds on the clock.

The Orange honored Paul Gait’s #19 jersey at halftime. Paul was a monster, – skilled, powerful, fast, and innovative – an unstoppable force for more than a decade outside and indoors. I played against him, and with him for Team Toyota and then covered his pro and indoor career – he was always humble, a sharp thinker whose ideas and vision shaped Gait Lacrosse, a man who cares deeply about the sport, this recognition was long overdue.

Orange defender Nick Fraterrigo is an unsung hero on this team. He fought back from a lower body injury last year and is a crucial part of the Junkyard Dogs penalty killing unit. Coach John Odierna subs in five players to kill penalties.

Joey Spallina is averaging 3.4 assists per game. SU has an off weekend before the ACC tournament in Charlotte on May 3 and 5. Anish Shroff and Matt Ward will be in the Queen City for all the ACC television action. Charlotte North and Drew Carter will be handling halftime and between game segments.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Cardiac Cuse Climbs 4 Spots in USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

Syracuse is about as tested as any contender out there with May approaching.

www.usalacrosse.com

Give Syracuse this much: It is as tested in tight games as just about any contender to play deep into May this season.

The Orange have split six one-goal games after Saturday’s 18-17 defeat of Virginia that offered at least an echo of some of the wild games the programs have co-authored over the years. Syracuse was coming off a 10-9 defeat of North Carolina, and three of its losses (Maryland, Army and Cornell) have come in overtime.

(The other team that should be comfortable in the crucible of one-goal games is Johns Hopkins, which lost one to Syracuse in March. The Blue Jays have a pair of overtime triumphs this month, against Penn State and Ohio State, and have played in five one-goal decisions.)

Back to Syracuse: The comeback against the Cavaliers fits into an archetype of victories over the years, when it felt like the Orange — whether under Roy Simmons Jr. or John Desko — were never really out of games. Inevitable would be too strong a descriptor, but unrelenting isn’t far off.

There was a hint of that in a game late last season, when Syracuse looked unbothered and completely at ease against North Carolina that was secured only with a goal in the final 15 seconds. This year’s version of the Orange is older, deeper and more dangerous — and also back into the top 10 after its final game before the ACC tournament.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I MEN’S TOP 20​

1. Notre Dame, 9-1 (Prev: 1)
2. Duke, 11-3 (Prev: 2)
3. Johns Hopkins, 10-3 (Prev: 3)
4. Denver, 10-2 (Prev: 6)
5. Virginia, 10-3 (Prev: 4)
6. Maryland, 8-4 (Prev: 5)
7. Penn State, 9-3 (Prev: 7)
8. Syracuse, 11-4 (Prev: 12)
9. Yale, 11-2 (Prev: 8)
10. Georgetown, 9-3 (Prev: 9)
11. Cornell, 8-4 (Prev: 10)
12. Army, 10-2 (Prev: 11)
13. Richmond, 9-4 (Prev: 14)
14. Princeton, 8-4 (Prev: 18)
15. Towson, 10-3 (Prev: 15)
16. Saint Joseph’s, 9-3 (Prev: 16)
17. Penn, 8-5 (Prev: 13)
18. Delaware, 8-3 (Prev: 17)
19. Colgate, 8-5 (Prev: 20)
20. Michigan, 7-6 (Prev: NR)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Boston U. (7-6), Harvard (7-5), Lehigh (7-6), Loyola (7-6), Utah (9-4), Villanova (8-5)

Reminder - The USALAX Top 20 appears to not be a poll but just one person's (Patrick Stevens) opinion. I haven't seen it cited by any media outlet.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Reminder - The USALAX Top 20 appears to not be a poll but just one person's (Patrick Stevens) dumb as hell opinion.

Fixed it for ya

 

[FloridaCuse]

Fixed it for ya

Sorry, fixed what?

 

[DoctahLexus]

Sorry, fixed what?

Just making a dumb joke. Changed your post to say Patrick Stevens *dumb as hell* opinion. Having a team with three top 5 wins at #8 is above and beyond dumb.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Just making a dumb joke. Changed your post to say Patrick Stevens *dumb as hell* opinion. Having a team with three top 5 wins at #8 is above and beyond dumb.

Ok, got it. Thanks. He's usually pretty good but hasn't been with his "list". My overall problem is that the title of this thread says "Polls" & I've seen no indication this is a poll. No different than Quint's list which rightfully is not included in the thread title. I believe this shouldn't be either.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[FloridaCuse]

Ok, got it. Thanks. He's usually pretty good but hasn't been with his "list". My overall problem is that the title of this thread says "Polls" & I've seen no indication this is a poll. No different than Quint's list which rightfully is not included in the thread title. I believe this shouldn't be either.

Adding Quint to the title doesn't change that it says "Polls".

 

[FloridaCuse]

Adding Quint to the title doesn't change that it says "Polls".

Would be more accurate to change it to "Polls/Lists".

 

[orangefog]

Would be more accurate to change it to "Polls/Lists".

How about just "Rankings"?

 

[FloridaCuse]

How about just "Rankings"?

Slightly more accurate but easy to infer polling rather just someone's list. Personally I find the most newsworthy the media and coaches polls. Anyone could have a list, e.g., the Crosse Commission, that can be posted in the thread but should it be made part of the title? Doesn't the Inside Lacrosse staff issue their own list during the week? Need that be included in the title too if Stevens' & Quint's are?

 

[orangefog]

Slightly more accurate but easy to infer polling rather just someone's list. Personally I find the most newsworthy the media and coaches polls. Anyone could have a list, e.g., the Crosse Commission, that can be posted in the thread but should it be made part of the title? Doesn't the Inside Lacrosse staff issue their own list during the week? Need that be included in the title too if Stevens' & Quint's are?

I don't believe the word rankings implies polls. It is just a more specific type of list, whether that list is generated by a single person, group of people or a poll.

 

[Cuse All-In]

We've been waiting anxiously to make the top 5 since we were ranked there in 2020 and the beginning of 2021. Let's just enjoy it and forget about terminology, USALax etc. It's fun to be able to joke about the USALacrosse ranking.

To be #4 in each of the "real" rankings including Quint IMO, is all that matters. And...the core of the team should keep us as a serious contender for the next couple of seasons.

 

[Powellfan]

4. Syracuse
Kevin’s Vote: 3
For one reason or another, this just felt like a week in which Syracuse was ready to take that next step and win a big game down the stretch.

Sure, a tight win against the Blue Jays in a neutral site in Charlotte may have given them the confidence to completely dominate Duke at home last month. But another couple losses against Cornell in OT and vs. the Irish in South Bend showed their fight on the ride, but just not the finishing touch.

To make the plays that Billy Dwan did down the stretch (the spectacular game-tying goal and the strip vs. McCabe Millon on the last possession) doesn’t come without the early saves from Will Mark (15 stops), the early dominance facing off from Mason Kohn or their loaded group of complimentary scorers doing their thing.

Christian Mulé had a hat trick vs. a shortie, as did Finn Thomson and Michael Leo (2G, 1A), while Jake Stevens was making plays all over the place and had four points (2G, 2A). But while Joey Spallina didn’t assert himself against the taller and super athletic John Schroter, Owen Hiltz did to the tune of three goals and five assists against his matchup.

That imported dynamic midfield duo of Stevens and English obviously came up huge down the stretch, but the way Pat March and Gary Gait utilized their younger middies like Thomson, Rhoa and Leo in pick games to free everyone up was really fun to watch. What a loaded group.

They have the weekend off to scout their next opponent in the ACC Tournament on May 3, and if they’re lucky, on May 5.