final four of 2008

[-calattack5-]

just wonderin about your guys pick on the final four this year. also give me a final four out side the obvious ones aka duke and hopkins

[8-ball]

im going to say north carolina, maryland, cuse making a comeback, and im gunna stick with my osu bucks. figures crossed, haha

[laxnd8]

im goin with hopkins, duke, id like to see delaware back in, but its unrealistic because of the loss of alex smith, so id say umass and cuse

[kingwolf]

gtown,hopkins,duke, and of course uva i forgot about them for a second but all these teams got great recruiting classes and have a great amount of talent.

[afalax010]

Delaware, UVA, JHU, Duke rhamel and shamel bratton are unstoppable, plus ghitelman

[MACDADDY]

id say JHU, Duke, UVA, and Cornell.

all had pretty good seasons

[laxman 9990]

duke, princeton, hopkins, g town(hopefully)

[8-ball]

duke and hop are pretty obvious that theyll get pretty far. he was asking for a final four outside of knowing those guys will probably be in it. c'mon, lets have some fun with this.

[dougm]

yes...
uva - just stacked
denver - the start of the "go west" lacrosse migration
duke - the key players are back
unc - i think they are this year's shocker but a very young squad that gave alot folks fits maybe ready for prime time

no...
jhu - alot of big hits to graduation esp peyser & schwartzman
syracuse - beefed up the goal scoring but the defense is still a big ??
georgetown - i don't care how well they recruit, they seem to come up small in big-time games
cornell - steinwald can't do it by himself

[Midi Lax]

im going to say north carolina, maryland, cuse making a comeback, and im gunna stick with my osu bucks. figures crossed, haha

GO BUCKS!! lol but yeah i think jhop and duke

[kleinlax-75]

Delaware, UVA, JHU, Duke rhamel and shamel bratton are unstoppable, plus ghitelmanthey dont have experience we'll see how they do once they are in game cause saying they are unstoppable is an overstatement

HOPKINS, virginia, duke, and i think that princeton will make a show this year too

[Wavelax4]

Duke - Returning players obviously
Hopkins - May have lost some key players but still have some allstars like Rabil
UVA - Returning attack, strong middies, looks to be a pretty strong D too
Maryland - I believe Ryan Young and Tony Mendes will have great seasons.

[EastCoastDeft]

anybody going? im gogint because its in boston

duke
hopkins
cornell
hofstra
----
MT. Ida is D3 i think and they were in the semi semi finals for D1

[laxman 9990]

yeah im going, the venue is sick and hopefully some more Cinderella teams show up to play

[LvIlLeLaX5]

duke hopkins uva and cuse i think cuse will make a comeback this year they have so much power this year like last year but they have stepped it up in the dfense from what ive heard and galloway will be a huge improvment comepared to peter c

[-calattack5-]

yeah i forgot to put mine in but someone said jhu won't make it yet they still have rabil, boyle, and of course the great coaching

but i like cuse uva and maybe cornell and maryland as a blackhorse

[shiftylax]

UVA, Hopkins, Duke and Navy. All of those teams have solid cores and excellent speed. Hopkins plays the slowdown better than anyone ese in the NCAA and UVA breaks and runs better than anyone. Navy's athleticism gives them the edge in most match ups (plus a weak league to win for an AQ) and no one is hungrier than Duke (also key players returning and young guns are a year older).

[bcannons14]

hey guys, notre dame lost to the champs by one in a rainy game in overtime. many of their star players are juniors and seniors, and will yeatman has experienced lax at the college level, and due to a crappy football season, i bet he will step it up.
i say its notre dame, duke, hopkins, and virginia. if i rank them in how good i think theyll be id say,
1.duke
2.hopkins
3.virginia
4.notre dame

[ReLaxin 13]

Duke, Georgetown, Virginia and Hopkins.

[Tehb2]

Virginia, Duke, Maryland, Hopkins.....would be my favorites for the final 4
Syracuse, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Princeton.....picks for making it to quaterfinals, and if lucky, replace one of my top 4 at semi's.

I think 1 more choice for getting into quaterfinals - which means potential for semi's even if unlikely - could be Drexel. Saw them play Towson and Delaware twice, and they should have beat Delaware for the conference who made that surprise appearance at the Final Four last year.


I hope to go to the Final Four, but that weekend is always a game day for New Jersey playoffs, so sucks for us. Had to sprint to the 2005 games in Philly to make the 2nd semifinal game. I definitely want to go to the IL thing on March 1st though.

[PK914]

The way teams keep sending two and three players at the Bratton twins, they must know something you don't. They open it up for rest of the team. You can average 3 to 4 points a game playing along side them. Let's keep it real!

[Raiderslax911]

Duke UVA JHop and Georgetown

[MUHS #30]

Its going to be interesting this year for sure. Duke and JHU are strong contenders as always, UVA makes a comeback with their great recruiting class, and the last slot goes between Navy and Maryland. Both a good, soild teams, but its a little to early to tell between the two of them.

[lax-crazy]

Hop, UVA, Duke and I would like to see 'cuse have a come back season, but if not then I'm gonna have to say cornel or G-town


edit: sorry forgot notre dame so screw G-town

[AquinasLAX]

1. duke - national champs
2. jhu - will be rediculous again
3.notre dame - will suprise alot of people, but in reality shouldnt be a suprise
4.uva - alot of talent but will take a year to get all that young talent situated i think

[cannon]

Hopkins

Duke

UVA

G'Town

--
close by

UMD, ND, Princeton

cinderella?

Bucknell

[8-ball]

lets pretend duke and hop arent in the picture. who else?

[lax-crazy]

UVA, g-town, notre dame and maybe 'Cuse if they get there team together, if not cuse then I'll say cornell

[un-anonymous]

I love that prediction of Notre Dame as the 4th spot. BCannons14 is probably right. Delaware really didn't deserve it last year. Albany did. The seeding was messed up by whomever those guys are that do it. All I know is, whoever they are , they love Hopkins. In 2008 the first 3 spots are easy. Hop, Duke, UVA are all going to be outstanding. Then it gets really interesting. I think Cornell lost too much at attack and goal. 'Cuse still won't be ready for prime time. It would be great to see N.D. rather than the ussual suspect, Princeton. I would also like to see Gtown. It is about time for them.

[merrychristmas]

I don't understand the comment about Hopkins. They drew Notre Dame in round one.; Had GT is round 2. Could have had Virginia in round 3. And then either Cornell or Duke in round four. That was the toughest draw in the tournament until VA choked.

Notre Dame would be a sweet FF team. Georgetown has been arriving for years and years. My dark horse is ND and it is possible. My second is Syracuse. Bad mojo last year. If they don't bounce back this year and achieve it could be a bad couple of years up there.

[DJ Death]

no...
jhu - alot of big hits to graduation esp peyser & schwartzman
cornell - steinwald can't do it by himself
stephen peyser didn't graduate. he's a senior this year. hopkins' entire midfield is back this year, not to mention freakishly good freshmen like tim donovan and matt dolente. as for cornell, it's not "steinwald", it's seibald.

as for my final four, it's duke, hopkins, uva, and the last one is a toss-up. i'd say navy, princeton, or syracuse.

[UNCdefense]

it's so weird being older now & knowing someone on all these teams (I never figured i would before but I guess it makes sense since most lax players know.....well only other lax players)

Duke & JH obviously are in.....but I also see Carolina having a huge season....They've had a couple rocky seasons the last few years but did beat JH in regular season last year & return basically everybody...I see VA making but am also pulling for MD

[laxer6]

I don't think Miles Kass can bring G-town to a FF. Bucknell will make the quarters I think but get knocked out.ND is a huge sleeper mainly because they are in the GWLL.

Duke
Hopkins
Virgina
Notre Dame

[lax-crazy]

I love that prediction of Notre Dame as the 4th spot. BCannons14 is probably right. Delaware really didn't deserve it last year. Albany did. The seeding was messed up by whomever those guys are that do it. All I know is, whoever they are , they love Hopkins.

I agree that the blue hens making it was amazing and really suprising. BUT they did upset UVA and thats why the seedings looked weird, the #2 team lost in the frist round. and Albany wasn't ranked super high due to SOS but hey cornell albany was an insane game last year

[lax-crazy]

Duke & JH obviously are in.....but I also see Carolina having a huge season....They've had a couple rocky seasons the last few years but did beat JH in regular season last year & return basically everybody...I see VA making but am also pulling for MD

I would love that they lost there 12th leading scorer and kept everyone else, I really would love to see them do big things this year. Just hope they don't pull a 'cuse and miss the playoffs.

[WarriorLax_9]

my girlfriend's brothers play for duke and for maryland....im sticking with those two, UVA, and Gtown

[-calattack5-]

i forgot about g'town i think they have a good chance along with maryland and cuse plus maybe unc but i still think they are a choke team. how did unc do in fall ball

[laxmiddi307]

semis
Johns Hopkins vs. 'cuse
duke vs. g'town

finals:
'CUSE vs. DUKE
DUKE WINS IT ALL

[CHSlax]

Duke, Hopkins, UVA, Bucknell

[reisterstownlax]

without Hopkins or Duke
Notre Dame
Virginia
Georgetown
Maryland/Navy

[reisterstownlax]

Without Hopkins or Duke
Notre Dame
UVA
Georgetown
Maryland/Navy

[laxgdawgger010]

Duke, Hopkins, Notre Dame, Gtown

[MaKiMaKi13]

I love how people are picking Gtown even though they have yet to make it past the Quarterfinals in recent years

[QBYattackmen15]

IN:
Duke
UMASS
Notre Dame
UNC

OUT:
Jhop
Uva
Delaware
'Cuse

[Tommer22]

i see Duke, UVA, JHU and possibly g'town or ND
im hoping for Bucknell to get far though

[Crimdad]

UVA-prosperous young guns(sp), Duke-5 returning players, esepecially danowski., Hopkins-shifty said it well, very good slow tempo game and I think either UNC will come up with something or Maryland, havent seen a huge standout performance of Maryland and UNC and I think this will be their year.

[THALAX]

I love how almost nobody thinks UNC will make it farther than teams like Notre Dame, Gtown, or Cuse. UNC is going to go very far next season, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they made it into the final four.
We are returning 37 out of 41 players from last season and got a very helpful recruiting class (mostly defensemen, which the Tar Heels were lacking in last year). Last year they had a 10-6 season, which doesn't seem all that impressive, but when you look at Carolina's SOS, which was #4 according to Laxpower, and factor in that half of their losses came from the #1 seed in the NCAA (Duke).
UNC also has the best face-off man in the country in Shane Walterhoefer (#1 according to Inside Lacrosse), and have a very solid bunch of guys starting for the Tar Heels. Every one of the starters from last year is coming back too. UNC will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

My Final 4 predictions:
Duke
UNC
Johns Hopkins
UVA

Maybe the chances are slim that 3 ACC teams would be able to make the final four, but I think those 4 teams are going to be the most talented teams next season.

[Monkeyboy_ick]

G-town, Duke, Virgina, and Cornell takes it all

[chrismpell]

Hopkins, of course. I would like to see Cornell, UVA, NC or 'Cuse.

[PRLacrosse26]

I'd probably say for my final four, Hopkins, Duke, Maryland, UVA, but I hope Princeton would make it to the final four.

[falconlax22]

Cornell- Seibald, Martinez as a frosh in net
JHop-Rabil, Kimmel,sick
Duke-Dino, Greer
Umass-Balise, Connolly, Schnider in the net. This team is nasty with a great recruiting class and great middies.

ALmost- Hofstra
may be UNC
UVA
Princeton
ND

watch out for
harvard-no joke
cuse- come on d sucks
albany-thompson is back
delaware-still have sweet o


It will not be a great year for the almosts, hofstra will surprise with sick offense

[MaKiMaKi13]

Cornell- Seibald, Martinez as a frosh in net
JHop-Rabil, Kimmel,sick
Duke-Dino, Greer
Umass-Balise, Connolly, Schnider in the net. This team is nasty with a great recruiting class and great middies.

ALmost- Hofstra
may be UNC
UVA
Princeton
ND

watch out for
harvard-no joke
cuse- come on d sucks
albany-thompson is back
delaware-still have sweet o


It will not be a great year for the almosts, hofstra will surprise with sick offense

Correct me if im wrong but Thompson was a senior last year and he also was drafted into the NLL so im pretty sure he isnt back

Harvard are you kidding me? finished 5-7 last year and wasn't even ranked in the top 20

I wouldn't say UDelaware has a sick O when they graduated over 120 pts of offense last year in addition to the loss of Alex Smith.

and as for your comments on the almost's like UVA who only graduated Kip Turner and Drew Thompson they return everyone and had a record of 12-4 with only an early season upset from drexel, 2 losses from duke and an upset by UDelaware

and as for UNC refer to THALAX's post

[lax-crazy]

I love how people are picking Gtown even though they have yet to make it past the Quarterfinals in recent years

so? what does that have to do with anything? last year they had a decent team, this year they have a better one. I fail to see why there past is affecting this.

[lax-crazy]

I love how almost nobody thinks UNC will make it farther than teams like Notre Dame, Gtown, or Cuse. UNC is going to go very far next season, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they made it into the final four.
We are returning 37 out of 41 players from last season and got a very helpful recruiting class (mostly defensemen, which the Tar Heels were lacking in last year). Last year they had a 10-6 season, which doesn't seem all that impressive, but when you look at Carolina's SOS, which was #4 according to Laxpower, and factor in that half of their losses came from the #1 seed in the NCAA (Duke).
UNC also has the best face-off man in the country in Shane Walterhoefer (#1 according to Inside Lacrosse), and have a very solid bunch of guys starting for the Tar Heels. Every one of the starters from last year is coming back too. UNC will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

My Final 4 predictions:
Duke
UNC
Johns Hopkins
UVA

Maybe the chances are slim that 3 ACC teams would be able to make the final four, but I think those 4 teams are going to be the most talented teams next season.

I Love UNC (and DUKE also) hoping UNC takes it as far as they can, they have few recent struggling years, but this is a great team and can accomplish a lot.

[jonesylax2234]

Dude it doesn't matter how many points u lost, UD brings back Giardano and they still have run it and gun it mids. u can argue bout zuder havens, and smith, but those are only 2 guys. Thompson did leave, my bad

Dean gibbons at harvard, along with three other yop 10 classes could be a suprise.
UVA will rely too much n the brattons and they need to get it together in net and on d

[RidingThePine]

Obviously UVa with Rubeor, Glading, and the Bratton Twins, Duke will get in but won't get to the Championships probably because of Danowski's injury and the extent to which it could hinder him, plus he chokes over Memorial Day Weekend. Hopkins has a shot, and will definitely get to the quarters, but Gvodzen's progression as an NCAA keeper will define their season no matter how well Rabil plays. I think UNC has too much talent to stop, but too much youth to win it all. So here's my list: UVA beats UNC, and goes on to win the Championship over the winner of, here's the shocker, Notre Dame-Hopkins, which will be Notre Dame. Joey Kemp is the heart and soul of a team that took the eventual champs to the brink in a game that could have gone either way, and Yeatman's only gotten bigger and stronger.

[Bretmac]

jonesy what about jordan hall dan decklebaum thats there midfeild gone

[MaKiMaKi13]

Dude it doesn't matter how many points u lost, UD brings back Giardano and they still have run it and gun it mids. u can argue bout zuder havens, and smith, but those are only 2 guys. Thompson did leave, my bad

Dean gibbons at harvard, along with three other yop 10 classes could be a suprise.
UVA will rely too much n the brattons and they need to get it together in net and on d

are you kidding me it doesn't matter how many points they lost? are you telling me you think that Cornell who graduated 150 pts last year in addition to McMonagle have a chance at being undefeated again

That would be like taking Greer and Danowski away from last years duke team and your still going to tell me points don't matter?

UDelaware did not just graduate 2 guys they graduated Jordan Hall, Dan Deckelbaum, Adam Zuder Havens and Alex Smith in addition to others that contributed a handful of goals

Yes you make a valid point with Giordano and Dickson are still there but that leaves other positions that need to be filled


as for the Brattons both non UVA/UVA fans alike could care less about them at the moment THEY ARE STACKED .They return Rubeor Gladdings and Billings in addition to there whole first middie line and from what I hear Ghitleman is legit

so? what does that have to do with anything? last year they had a decent team, this year they have a better one. I fail to see why there past is affecting this. Yes, Gtown does return everyone from last year but the fact is they always choke look at the 04 season when the had Hajj,Casey,Merrill etc. who then lost to the 'Cuse by 1 point. Just pointing out a fact that something always happen maybe they'll finally be able to break through this year maybe they won't but it is definitely something to think about

[jonesylax2234]

listen delaware is just a maybe, I dont get the argument. Harvard is not a joke, they have had 4 top 10 recruting classes-and they gave me a etter so thats cool

[lsilaxer131]

marist
sacred heart
bellarmine
hartford

[QBYattackmen15]

marist
sacred heart
bellarmine
hartford

hahahahaha. good picks. id lay some cash down on those picks.

[lax-crazy]

UVA will rely too much n the brattons and they need to get it together in net and on d

Please tell me you can't be serious? UVA has rubeor and glading..... RUBEOR AND GLADING! those are the they are both in the top 4 attackmen in the nation. Saying that they will rely to much on the brattons and not on there star studded team is a joke. They also have Lamade from duke last year. And a good Defence to boot. Just a toss up in cage. I mean they have top four written all over them. They just have to worry about keeping there head in the game and not getting to cocky.

[laxer6]

Duke,Uva and Hopkins are def in. UNC will have a big year and I think Brain Conners is going to have a big season for them. Also Bucknell is going to have a good year but I think talent on other teams is too deep for them to make it to the FF. And the fact that Georgetown can't make it past the quarters is huge. Do you honestly think the players aren't going to have that in their heads? Once they start losing their gonna think here we go again. But the fourth team is Notre Dame. Will Yeatman is an animal plus they return a good defense and a solid faceoff man. I would honestly be surprised if I didn't see those four teams.

[laxmister22]

JHU, Duke, Virginia and 'Cuse.

[saintsmiddie]

Duke

Hopkins

Virginia

Maryland, G,Town, or Cornell

[Amber Alert]

Final 4
Johns Hopkins vs Towson
Duke vs UVA

Championship Game
Johns Hopkins vs UVA

Champions: Johns Hopkins

[EastCoastDeft]

for a bday present im going to all 5 games......PM if your going

hopkins v navy

duke v gtown
-------------
hopkins vs duke
-------------
ntl. champs, DUKE

[BLUEJAYSFAN9]

yes...
uva - just stacked
denver - the start of the "go west" lacrosse migration
duke - the key players are back
unc - i think they are this year's shocker but a very young squad that gave alot folks fits maybe ready for prime time

no...
jhu - alot of big hits to graduation esp peyser & schwartzman
syracuse - beefed up the goal scoring but the defense is still a big ??
georgetown - i don't care how well they recruit, they seem to come up small in big-time games
cornell - steinwald can't do it by himself

Peyser is a senior this year buddy

[CHLaxMaster]

Hopkins
Duke
UVA
Cuse

let's say final 4 without duke hand hopkins, then itd look like this in my oppinion:

UVA
Navy
Cuse
Maryland

[ccattack15]

id say JHU, Duke, UVA, and Cornell.

all had pretty good seasons

That's exactly what i think

[Lurker]

The givens are, of course, Hopkins and Duke. Beyond that, I'm pretty confident that North Carolina will get in there somewhere. As for the fourth spot, it's pretty much a crapshoot. I'd like to give the edge to my boys from Ithaca simply because of Coach Tambroni's superb coaching and ability to get the most out of the talent he has available. However, some other teams I think might be able to procure a final four bid would be:

Maryland - Fabulous recruiting class and great coaching staff. Not to mention Brian Phipps, who will be positively electric with a season of experience under him.

Massachusetts - They have some experience in big games, and I have a feeling about Schneider. If the Doc shows up big for the tourny, they're got a fighting chance.

Georgetown - We'll see if this fairly young team can mature enough to win the big games. However, with the quarterfinal curse lingering, it'll be a lot tougher.

Virginia - Their attack (Ben Rubeor, Dan Glading, and Garrett Billings) is more than solid (with Danowski's lingering foot injury I'd say better than Duke's), but every other position is suspect. Sure, they're got great recruits, but can you win a championship on the backs of freshmen? I doubt it.

Syracuse - Obviously their defense is suspect, but with Leveille, Perritt, Nims, Brooks, and Hardy, their talent is undeniable. Hopefully Lesko will be able to revive them. This is probably the weakest team out of all of the ones listed, but one must remember: the last time the Orange missed the tournament, the following year they went undefeated and scored over 20 points a game.

Navy - The Midshipmen will be, beyond a doubt, the most conditioned team on the field. Knowing that, their talent, or lackthereof, becomes less of an issue. This team always works hard, they'll probably make a splash somewhere.

Princeton - It goes without saying that Princeton will have a suffocating D this year. Probably the best in the nation. With Cocoziello up front and Hewit in the net, expect their GAA to float around five. The real question is whether or not they'll be able to get their offense going. If they can figure out how to score, they'll be a serious threat.

[Wildcaaats]

UVA. DUKE. JHU. MARYLAND

[charlie12315]

Im just going to say that if duke dosn't win this year thats going to be hilarious.
But I think its going to be
Duke
North Carolina
Hopkins
Virginia

[riv19]

Without being able to include Duke, and Hopkins.

My GUESS is that the final four going to Foxboro will be
Cornell
UMass
Syracuse
U of Maryland

That would make for a fun weekend and I can't wait to be there. No matter who the actual teams will be.

[BLUEJAYSFAN9]

Hop
UVA
Duke
I want to say UNC, but im thinking SU or MD

[twin58]

This is the thread for discussing what teams you feel will be in Foxboro for the tournament. For discussing what your plans are for this weekend, please see Championship Weekend 2008 - Foxboro (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=105144).

[Hovallax41]

yea ND, i say the same thing, its gonna be Duke vs. UVA final.
I like those Bratton boys

[bee_laxer5]

Duke
UVA
Princeton
and G'town

[Terpsrunlax]

I'm going with Terps coming out on top...or at least close to...

My final four stays mostly ACC with Maryland, Duke, and Virginia. Even though Rubeor is out Glading is going to carry that team. Lamade is going to ease the Brattons transition into D1 lax. Duke brought back Danowski so they're going back and Maryland besides being complete gangsters has Ryan Young and Travis Reid. Plus their D is huge. Out of the 49 dudes on their team only like 11 are under 6 ft. My last choice is going to either Hop with Rabil carrying everybody or Loyola randomly coming in a rocking out with Finnerty stepping up.

[AM14]

I really love how everyone automatically puts in duke, but a quarter don't have hopkins. JHU was better than duke last year, and lost less people than duke,and return matt drenan, Am I missing something? JHU is better than your beloved overhyped duke, get over it. hahaha had to get that out of my system.
But my final 4 is JHU, Duke, UVA and someone out of these 3 (Gtown,UNC,'Cuse)

[MDlaxin69]

Duke
UNC
Navy
UVA

[McLaxGoalie]

Hopkins, UVA, G-town, Princeton. I have a strang feeling Duke is gonna be upset this year

[laxer6]

I had Notre Dame on my first list but I am going to have to change that.
Duke
Hopkins
G-town
Virginia
I think Hopkins and Duke will be the top 2 seeds and meet again in the final.

[D_Pole2010]

hopkins, duke, virginia, and cuse