Weekend Damage Report

[jdturtle02]

I know some of you guys feel the weekly polls don't mean much, and I agree that on the field on game day, they don't. But they do have a major impact on the college game -- program prestige, fan interest, recruiting, strength of schedule, RPI, media attention, television appeal, NCAA Tournament credentials.

Besides, someone has to do it … why not us?

Four of the Nike/IL and five of the USILA top ten teams lost this past week. No. 8 Delaware lost twice, to Georgetown and Stony Brook. No. 4 Hopkins lost its second straight overtime game to No. 5 Syracuse 14-13. No. 6 Maryland was upset in a three-overtime thriller at resurgent No. 19 UMBC, 9-8. And No. 3 Carolina was the latest to face the Duke buzz saw. Hofstra, which entered the USILA poll at No. 10 last week after an overtime win over Hopkins, fell at Princeton 11-6 to drop to 2-2. I don't think the carnage will shake up the top ten too much, but the next five may look a lot different:

1. Duke (7-0)
2. Virginia (8-0)
3. Syracuse (4-1)
4. North Carolina (5-1)
5. Notre Dame (5-1)
6. Johns Hopkins (3-2)
7. Navy (6-1)
8. Cornell (3-1)
9. Maryland (5-2)
10. Georgetown (3-2)

11. Princeton (2-2)
12. Drexel (6-1)
13. Army (3-2)
14. Delaware (5-2)
15. UMBC (3-3)

[spenny]

i havent seen ND so i cant really comment on how good they are but, above hopkins?
they lost a tight one to UNC, but have they beaten any quality teams? theyve put up a lot of goals tho.

[HotShotLacrosse]

1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. Syracuse
4. Johns Hopkins
5. North Carolina
6. Notre Dame
7. Navy
8. Cornell
9. Georgetown
10. Princeton
11. Maryland
12. Delaware
13. Army
14. UMBC
15. Drexel

[laxer6]

Johns Hopkins is really high on these polls. They only have one quality win so far this season against Princeton. I am not doubting their talent because there is plenty of it there but right now Notre Dame is playing on their A game so I would have to put them higher.

[Stormlax]

Unless Syracuse is back for real and Hopkins is having a slow start does anybody see any other serious contenders for the final four? UVA and Duke seem to be in a different class then all others. I'll throw out some ducks to shoot at; Georgetown? Navy? Notre Dame? Some one from the Ivy other than Princeton? The Terps?

[Terpsrunlax]

I haven't seen anyone who can hang with Duke yet(unfortunately). I'd like to sit here and say Virginia can handle them but with Dino back and Greer being gangster on the lax field I just don't see it. Yes Hop is in a slump. Their last three games have been way close. Only beating UMBC by 2 points was their first scare and I don't think they were mentally prepared for Hofstra. Syracuse is a good team. They're not the greatest but they're a solid squad. I agree with the Maryland placement of 9th. They lost a big one friday night, but as for Georgetown being so high I'm not so sure. They beat Hobart, which is an unranked team. But besides dealing Delaware its first loss they haven't done anything else of great quality. They lost to the other two top tens on their schedule thus far. I think they're overrated

[Fire_Truck]

Is it just me or does umbc have marylands number? They beat them last year in the tourney and now this
And I'm sorry but there is no way hop can be put above unc or nd because of the fact that they have TWO losses and only 3 wins but watch out for them come tourney time because if anyone knows how to help a team win a championship its coach petro

[helix28]

I hate when people say is syracuse back for real? they never left! they had one bad year its not like their gone for 10 yrs and are having some good quality wins. Syracuse is a great team and should be ranked where they are.

[Stormlax]

I hate when people say is syracuse back for real? they never left! they had one bad year its not like their gone for 10 yrs and are having some good quality wins. Syracuse is a great team and should be ranked where they are.

If Coach "D" gets the team through the season with no off the field stuff and finishes in the top five, I'll believe you.

[stegmakk]

If Coach "D" gets the team through the season with no off the field stuff and finishes in the top five, I'll believe you.

I was saying the same thing for preseason right up until this win against Hopkins...
Why has my spirit turned from eternal doubter to believer?
There is a played out saying up here...I swear if I heard it one more time in the preseason I was going to scream..."HHH" all the cuse fans/alums would say...thats what last years team lacked...
...I finally believe it...
Of 5 games...4 have been decided by 1 goal...3 of them wins...
Not to take away from skill, or to give them too much credit...but there is something to be said for gut check time...
Against UVA they were down by 1 with 3 min left...tied it with 28seconds to force OT (unfortunately couldn't pull off the W)
Against GT they tied the game with 2 seconds left...forcing OT and winning in 2OT.
Against Hop down by 3 with 8mins left they tied it and held Hop to force OT...

[HoosUrDaddy]

Idk... There seems to be great debate between people saying Hopkins shouldn't be where they're ranked and people saying different. I believe Hopkins came out flat against UMBC and Hofstra and had enough in them for UMBC but not for Hofstra. I knew a loss was coming sooner or later. I respect Syracuse this year. They're really fighting a tough battle. Congrads to them fairly beating Hopkins. I on the other hand don't think Georgetown and ND will stay where they are ranked for long. I just don't see them being able to compete with the other top teams. (Thus meaning I think they are both good teams but should be somewhere by 9th-12th ranked)

Duke continues to make everyone look silly. I think Hopkins may be able to give them a loss if they ever get back on game. Virginia on the other hand is stacked just a little less than Duke is. So I say that Virginia, if any team, will give Duke the biggest run for their money. Merely because Virginia has the fire power to put up points with any player on the field.

As for the NCAA tournament.... Expect Duke, Virginia, Hopkins/Syracuse to make appearances. Plus a surprise team. I think with the competition being so close between teams not ranked in the top 3 or 4 that this one will only emerge during an upset in the 1st round of the bracket.