I stepped away from the computer after the game so I could collect a few thoughts...without adjectives.
In the glory days, the OrangeMEN were always on attack. The fast break creates opportunities because the D is still adjusting and players are out of position. Compare that with a set offense, offensive players are to keep moving to create opportunities where defenders are out of position. The operative words here are that defenders are out of position.
Our set offense simply does not move. Without movement, defenders can stay in general spots while block passing lanes and shot lanes and staying close to our offensive players. There is no creation of opportunity. Even when we shoot, there is no "crashing the net" looking for a junk ball, like a good hoops team does, aside from Bomberry.
When Roy Simmons, Jr. coached, our team never stopped running. They looked for easy goals on the fast break and then when there wasn't an easy goal, they created a goal by moving on offense. Since Desko has been at the helm, we have played a lot more of a conventional game. This does not make sense. This is not Syracuse lacrosse.
Syracuse has a deep team, maybe not the most outstanding players but a deep team that should be running everyone into the ground. There are too many times when the transition (attack) play was there when the offense merely slowed up, pulled to the side, traded players and went into the set offense. This mentality benefits the defense in that the the defense is allowed to get set and to exchange offensive specialists for defensive specialists, like football. See HCDB's philosophy for neutralizing specialists - a.k.a. hurry up offense non-stop! (Opponents cannot switch out pass defenders for rush defenders at will creating mismatch opportunities).
Transition opportunities should always be the #1 option, if it isn't there, then the set offense. The key then is to keep the MOTION offense moving. This is a major problem for Syracuse, they simply do not execute when away from the ball. When the Syracuse offense is in motion, they are nearly unstoppable because they create opportunities with defenders out of position. In hoops the posts have to keep moving around to move the defenders around and open up passing and driving lanes, as do the wings and the point. The principle is the same in lacrosse: KEEP MOVING!
Syracuse has some good crisp passing skills as shown when they are in transition and when they are in motion on offense, creating shots around the goal and open lanes for outside shots. However, when the offense stops moving, the guy with the ball seems to be the only activity and that does not end well; even if he beats his man he has to beat other defenders because they are in position "defending" a statue, not being drawn out of position.
The Defense proves much of what I said. They allow opponents to set up and pass around and wear down our guys, creating an opportunity and scores. Again, opposing transition kills us as we are attempting to swap out players that specialize in offense for defensive specialists when it would be better to simply stay on the field. Changes should be for fresh legs, not "who's better on offense/defense" every change of possession.
Madonna in goal has been fine overall. We lost the game not him. He made many key saves and some impossible saves. He needs help. The best way to help a defense is to score on offense. See Transition comments above. By scoring fast, at will and often, opposing teams never get to settle down.
If I recall, it was the intentional stall-ball tactic that was used to slow down the Syracuse offense in the 90's and force the Orange defense to stay strong for long periods of time. It didn't work, the team still won with the fast break/transition game. However, most teams went to the set offense. Who are the top teams now? Mostly teams that can run and score.
To be sure, when a team has a shallow bench, a slow down game is a must to conserve players (see SU hoops 2017-2018 season), but does anyone think JB would not rather have a running team?
Desko can still be the great coach he was when he took the Orange wheel. He will need to return to the "old ways" if he wants to be great again. There is nobody as good as he is in the huddle and his clock and game management are generally top notch. Yet, like every sport, being the best in one or two categories usually amounts to being good. Being good to great at everything is what makes champions.
Anyway, these are the rants and raves of an Orange fan. Congrats to UVA, I am glad they are back where they belong. We need Desko to get us back there, too.