Loyola University Lacrosse 2020

[Peter Brown]

For anyone perusing this thread: is Volante coming back for another season? I thought he was a senior? I don't think he played his freshman year, potentially allowing him a 4th season to play, but thatsmell's post was the first I had heard of this.

If Volante does come back, tbh, polls have us way too low...even without Volante, we have one of the best defenses in the country next year; with him, forget it, we have the best.

According to Loyola's website, he's played 3 full seasons (2017-2019) so it would appear he has one more season left which could be done in a grad year.

A lot of optimism PB about the defense

Wyers, King, LeBlanc, Bonser, Hughes, Railey, Johnson at Defense is stellar. Add Volante, whoa...that is a legit squad of defenders. I can't think of any defense in D1 I would take over this group. We can even afford an injury or two. Now to be sure, we will have a new GK, so we will need every ounce of effort from all of these folks becasue we will likely not get 12-16 saves per game like we were used to with Stover.

Then looking at LSM: Middleton, McNulty, Shires are phenomenal athletes.

I can't think of any D1 team whose defense coming back next year that is better than Loyola's. Happy to be corrected. I just don't see any. We have 7, possibly 8, legitimate D1 starting defenders, and with McNulty, at least one AA 1st teamer LSM.

[houndace1]

For anyone perusing this thread: is Volante coming back for another season? I thought he was a senior? I don't think he played his freshman year, potentially allowing him a 4th season to play, but thatsmell's post was the first I had heard of this.

If Volante does come back, tbh, polls have us way too low...even without Volante, we have one of the best defenses in the country next year; with him, forget it, we have the best.

According to Loyola's website, he's played 3 full seasons (2017-2019) so it would appear he has one more season left which could be done in a grad year.

A lot of optimism PB about the defense

Wyers, King, LeBlanc, Bonser, Hughes, Railey, Johnson at Defense is stellar. Add Volante, whoa...that is a legit squad of defenders. I can't think of any defense in D1 I would take over this group. We can even afford an injury or two. Now to be sure, we will have a new GK, so we will need every ounce of effort from all of these folks becasue we will likely not get 12-16 saves per game like we were used to with Stover.

Then looking at LSM: Middleton, McNulty, Shires are phenomenal athletes.

I can't think of any D1 team whose defense coming back next year that is better than Loyola's. Happy to be corrected. I just don't see any. We have 7, possibly 8, legitimate D1 starting defenders, and with McNulty, at least one AA 1st teamer LSM.

How many of the defenders mentioned have logged game time minutes? Then again, perhaps the ones who didn't log minutes rode the bench and played on the scout team in practice against the starters. Toomey mentioned in an interview that theres been days where the scout team kicked the crap out of the starters in their practices.

Another thing to note. A good amount of these guys are mainly sophs/juniors so they have a couple years to really learn the system.
Example: Mcnulty has 2 more years due to a redshirt. Railey, i believe has 3 more years due to 2 redshirts of ACL tears in in the same knee. Wyers has 3 years left. Hughes has 3 years due to an injury.
Any news on Middleton, King, LeBlanc and their tendencies

[Peter Brown]

For anyone perusing this thread: is Volante coming back for another season? I thought he was a senior? I don't think he played his freshman year, potentially allowing him a 4th season to play, but thatsmell's post was the first I had heard of this.

If Volante does come back, tbh, polls have us way too low...even without Volante, we have one of the best defenses in the country next year; with him, forget it, we have the best.

According to Loyola's website, he's played 3 full seasons (2017-2019) so it would appear he has one more season left which could be done in a grad year.

A lot of optimism PB about the defense

Wyers, King, LeBlanc, Bonser, Hughes, Railey, Johnson at Defense is stellar. Add Volante, whoa...that is a legit squad of defenders. I can't think of any defense in D1 I would take over this group. We can even afford an injury or two. Now to be sure, we will have a new GK, so we will need every ounce of effort from all of these folks becasue we will likely not get 12-16 saves per game like we were used to with Stover.

Then looking at LSM: Middleton, McNulty, Shires are phenomenal athletes.

I can't think of any D1 team whose defense coming back next year that is better than Loyola's. Happy to be corrected. I just don't see any. We have 7, possibly 8, legitimate D1 starting defenders, and with McNulty, at least one AA 1st teamer LSM.

How many of the defenders mentioned have logged game time minutes? Then again, perhaps the ones who didn't log minutes rode the bench and played on the scout team in practice against the starters. Toomey mentioned in an interview that theres been days where the scout team kicked the dump out of the starters in their practices.

Another thing to note. A good amount of these guys are mainly sophs/juniors so they have a couple years to really learn the system.
Example: Mcnulty has 2 more years due to a redshirt. Railey, i believe has 3 more years due to 2 redshirts of ACL tears in in the same knee. Wyers has 3 years left. Hughes has 3 years due to an injury.
Any news on Middleton, King, LeBlanc and their tendencies

On Hughes, don't forget he was Mercer;'s best D man as a freshman. He will be vying for a starting role next year.

Middleton got some serious PT this year as a freshman...he will be formidable next year too as an LSM; fast and tough.

If you look at our defense, if you include Volante, we get everyone back of note. If you just gave me Wyers, I'd be happy; the kid is a first team AA soon.

But to also have Railley and Johnson too? This is an exceptionally talented defense. Teams will not score a ton on the Hounds next year. If Bailey and company get close to 60% on FO's, I don't see any drop off from this year at all, in fact the opposite. I trust Lindley and Olsmtead and Scanlan to do significant production. Bailey. Cottone, and Pacheco simply have to get their collective # to 60%. That is eminently doable given how Bailey closed out the year against the best out there.

[NovaHound]

Interesting thread. I just don't see Volante coming back I guess he could have a year of eligibility left if he didn't play as a Frosh but I highly suspect that he comes back. He had a good creeer and leaves with an outstanding group of Seniors. Having said that, the returning defense is loaded, athletic, and experienced as some of you have mentioned. And let's don't forget about Cam James at close D. He didn't play much last year but is legit. He's learned the system. I mean Toomey could really run these guys and give them a break if needed. So think about it - McNulty, Wyers, Railey, Hughes, Johnson, James, Middleton - all solid and all have game experience. Also believe that LeBlanc could have an impact as well. I hear Shafer looked really good in the matches against the English team they played against in Portugal. Good size and good clears.

I'd have to think that Coach Dwan likes what he has and what is coming in.

We can talk offense later on....

[houndace1]

Interesting thread. I just don't see Volante coming back I guess he could have a year of eligibility left if he didn't play as a Frosh but I highly suspect that he comes back. He had a good creeer and leaves with an outstanding group of Seniors. Having said that, the returning defense is loaded, athletic, and experienced as some of you have mentioned. And let's don't forget about Cam James at close D. He didn't play much last year but is legit. He's learned the system. I mean Toomey could really run these guys and give them a break if needed. So think about it - McNulty, Wyers, Railey, Hughes, Johnson, James, Middleton - all solid and all have game experience. Also believe that LeBlanc could have an impact as well. I hear Shafer looked really good in the matches against the English team they played against in Portugal. Good size and good clears.

I'd have to think that Coach Dwan likes what he has and what is coming in.

We can talk offense later on....

Are we allowed to talk about identity through possible strengths that's almost a given?

I believe it will be a defensive oriented team with all the LSM's and Close D getting game time experience who can put the ball on the carpet and thrive in transition, which is something that didn't happen for this year as compared to 2018. Bailey and the FO's will help gain possession, if they don't win it clean then i think the wings will be better for 2020 than they were for 2019.

Offense i still don't have that much confidence in yet

[houndace1]

Just saw this on twitter (DK how reliable this is) but Spencer just received a basketball offer to play at Northwestern University after working out with the team.

Also PB, what are your thoughts on Deveraux and Cox as the returning senior midfielders
IMO the lines could look something like this:
1st:
Scanlan, Swindell, Wigley

2nd:
Deveraux, Cox, Taylor? (or some other combos of the incoming freshman)

[thatsmell]

Just saw this on twitter (DK how reliable this is) but Spencer just received a basketball offer to play at Northwestern University after working out with the team.

Also PB, what are your thoughts on Deveraux and Cox as the returning senior midfielders
IMO the lines could look something like this:
1st:
Scanlan, Swindell, Wigley

2nd:
Deveraux, Cox, Taylor? (or some other combos of the incoming freshman)

Playing in the Big 10 basketball would be awesome.

As would playing with your brother.

[Peter Brown]

Just saw this on twitter (DK how reliable this is) but Spencer just received a basketball offer to play at Northwestern University after working out with the team.

Also PB, what are your thoughts on Deveraux and Cox as the returning senior midfielders
IMO the lines could look something like this:
1st:
Scanlan, Swindell, Wigley

2nd:
Deveraux, Cox, Taylor? (or some other combos of the incoming freshman)

I think those lines sound reasonable but you are skipping past the incoming freshmen. Pacheco especially seems physically ready to go Day 1.

BTW, I don't think Swindell gets the credit he deserves. The kid is a GB machine. Can also score. Look for him to break out next year as a senior.

I can not understand how Cox does not light up the scoreboard more. When you see him in warmups, his shot appears to be as fast as anybody's.

[jhu06]

Spencer going to Northwestern is a huge coup for your program because of the number of Northwestern alumni like Mike Greenberg, Wilbon etc who work throughout the sports media landscape and love new angles to publicize northwestern. You add in the cuse media who are always looking to drop the Jim Brown references for players who compete in sports beyond lax and there's more stories. Your national title was a bigger deal to you and w/in the lacrosse community but this will generate far more national exposure for you than it did.

[Peter Brown]

Spencer going to Northwestern is a huge coup for your program because of the number of Northwestern alumni like Mike Greenberg, Wilbon etc who work throughout the sports media landscape and love new angles to publicize northwestern. You add in the cuse media who are always looking to drop the Jim Brown references for players who compete in sports beyond lax and there's more stories. Your national title was a bigger deal to you and w/in the lacrosse community but this will generate far more national exposure for you than it did.

I agree but I just don't know if Pat will get playing time. I have zero idea if Northwestern needs a guard, or even if Pat is at that level. But his athleticism has never been in doubt, so who knows.

This article seems to capture the issue well:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/c ... story.html

[jhu06]

He's not going to win anymore games for you. He will garner dozens of stories and mentions for your program on national media and outlets and areas where your program might not otherwise get exposure which will help with recruiting and interest.

[houndace1]

He's not going to win anymore games for you. He will garner dozens of stories and mentions for your program on national media and outlets and areas where your program might not otherwise get exposure which will help with recruiting and interest.

^THIS. I looked at Northwestern's schedule for the past two years... Every game is either on BTN or ESPN. Huge national media coverage for sports. NW is also lacking a ton in their backcourt and the team is dominated by Freshman and Sophomores. Pat will start immediately for the team as their PG and will provide senior leadership.

Could very well be the next Chris Hogan will all the mention that he will garner when the announcers touch upon his story during games.

[NovaHound]

Think about it. Northwestern - great school. Nice town and surrounding area. Da Bears! Big Ten Basketball. Everything that others have said about pub for Loyola and lacrosse. That Pat Spencer is one lucky guy - and you see that hard work pays off. He's a baller. Geez....

[cantrelax]

I guess I'm a Northwestern mens hoops fan now! There was always buzz that Pat would light up the court in pickup games at LUM. This will be fun to watch + a Masters from Northwestern? Haters gonna hate, but this kids' got game in athletics and in life. Attack the hoop #7!!

[Peter Brown]

Interestingly, Gary Woodland (who just won golf's US Open) was a former D2 Basketball player for Washburn University, and was able to play against teams like Kansas in his one-year career on the hardcourt.

Maybe Pat should pick up some sticks next?

[houndace1]

The adrenaline all American game was last night and featured Eric Pacheco ‘19 as a FO guy for the event. All speculation, but maybe Toomey will really use a line of 3 FO guys with pacheco switching between face offs and an SSDM?

[New2lax]

Interestingly, Gary Woodland (who just won golf's US Open) was a former D2 Basketball player for Washburn University, and was able to play against teams like Kansas in his one-year career on the hardcourt.

Maybe Pat should pick up some sticks next?

Hi Peter Brown, and all the other Loyola faithful. This will be my last post, alas I will always love lacrosse, but time now to watch my nephews play b-ball. Will still be wearing the hound green, but will have to make room for the Wildcat purple . It was a wonderful 4 year ride with the Hounds and they are going to rock in 2020 for sure. Take care, keep writing and oh one last thing...Pat plays a mean 18 too!!! #gohounds #gowildcats

[NovaHound]

Nice sentiment New2Lax. I think Northwestern Basketball picked up quite a few new fans with Pat making the transition. I know I'll be following the team, as well as Greyhound Bball. Are there any more Spencer's out there?? Take care.

[thetruth]

Chase Scanlan has informed the Loyola staff that he is going to enter the transfer portal according to Ty Xanders.

[Dr. Tact]

Chase Scanlan has informed the Loyola staff that he is going to enter the transfer portal according to Ty Xanders.

Daughter (current Hound) just told me the same thing....Wow...