LaxPower Back-Up Stick

I hope you're right. But there may be an adjustment period.
Hoping that adjustment occurs now in Portugal and this fall, not next spring.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:17 am

houndace1 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:06 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:54 am

houndace1 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:46 am the tough OOC every year (don't forget G'Town!) is probably done just to ensure if the team doesn't win the PL. The wins against UVA, Hopkins and Georgetown this year really helped to get us in since we slipped up in the Semis. I don't like the daunting OOC schedule either but when you're a top 20 team you need to book a top 20 SOS/RPI rated schedule as well. 2 Big 10, 2 ACC, 1 CAA, 1 Big East. That's 2 maybe 3 of the power 5 conferences in lacrosse that we play for OOC.

PB, with all the scouting and insight you have on these players mentioned i gotta ask-were you a coach for youth/club/highschool? Are you from the areas which these kids play? Because you have a keen eye for analysis and talent.

No, like a lot of washed up laxers, I spend too much time trying to figure out if my team will perform this year and next!

I do like the Hounds' chances next year. I like everything about the team, with that glaring hole in goal. One of those two players will need to step up. What makes me somewhat less animated than I would be otherwise about goalie is our defense will be lights out; our defense (ironically) might be our best position next year...and that's a huge change but one that any coach strives for.

I also love the fact that Savio kept getting better numbers as the season progressed, and helping there next year are two incoming FO's guys who can rest him every so often.

And let's not forget that when Pat had 'off' games, both Lindley and Olmstead really stepped up. These two are ready for prime time.

Given that you played lacrosse ( i never did, was a baseball guy growing up, been a fan since 2012 when my sister was a Hopkins undergrad so i'm a fan of them too but), do college offenses always need an X/QB attackman to put up points, draw doubles, etc? There were times this year where pat didn't initiate a dodge or draw a slide and let the teammates do their thing and the offense still scored. I believe that like basketball, rapid ball movement will break down defensive rotations, so circle passes with rapid sticks could work. This all is predicated by a hard dodge to beat the defender but still, just my thoughts

The only time it really matters is at season's end, when the competition heats up and gets toughest, it's nice to have that one guy you know can rely on to initiate. Otherwise, the season is a mix of various players trying their hand at the same thing. It takes many games for most teams to realize who their 'go-to' player is. And some teams, like this year's UVA, have several and not just one they can lean on.

Olmstead to me seemed like he broke out toward the end of the year. He really began to shake loose from his defenders. I'd expect him to have a breakout year next year.,

Scanlan seemed to not accelerate like I thought, but honestly, we probably wore the kid down. For a lot of the season, he ran up and down the field, plus was almost our primary dodger behind Pat.

Lindley is most useful with his off ball movement and ability to be in the right place at the right time. If you have three dodging threats in Olsmtead, Scanlan, and (for my money) Griffin, Lindley will rack up goals next year like a thief in a store with no security. Poitras is imo more of a feeder, and also an off ball movement guy, but Griffin can shake and bake. I'd use Lindley to put the ball in the net, again. If Pacheco is who I think he is, this team will be a handful for everyone; Charley arguably has more numbers of talent next year, though not the superstars. It's heresy to admit it, but I think we will be better next year.

Kind of like Towson, or UMD right? Not the absolute stars but returning solid players that find ways to win. Olmstead had a slow start due to the injury but there was one play that i really agree with you. I think it was against Army where he dodged from X to extended GLE on the left side. He torched the pole defending him and shot on the run as he was running up field and stung the upper left 90 corner. Super Impressive.

Perhaps we could have 4 dodgers in case the primary fails. poitras could dodge from up top and run down the alley to draw a hedge as the feeder? Lindley as a finisher on the inside. Olmstead dodge from X to get the slide from the crease. Scanlan dodges from the wing as his go to. Again these are thoughts but where could Griffin dodge that makes him effective with these guys on the field with him?

The phrase "speed kills" is appropriate for 2020 since these guys are rather shifty. I noticed Olmstead likes to feint first with a twitch when he dodges before accelerating further.

kramerica.inc wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:42 am I hope you're right. But there may be an adjustment period.
Hoping that adjustment occurs now in Portugal and this fall, not next spring.

Oh there's no question you are correct. They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but the Hounds certainly must know who they are as a team and culture ahead of that daye. If I had to guess who we are then, I would say a strong defensive team with elite scorers complemented by very athletic middies. Our question mark is in goal.

I really like Pacheco and Griffin as guys to come in and help immediately. Poitras as well.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also going out on a limb and saying that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also not going out on a limb to say that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Will the team thrive in transition? i didn't see the explosive amount of goals this year in transition as opposed to 2018 when we scored more transition than 6v6.
Do we have the talent and players to run and gun? we certainly don't want to go on a track meet for UVA given they play with "controlled chaos" now

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:07 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also not going out on a limb to say that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

again, these are all your takes.
anyone can counter with ---
previous year head to head matchups don't necessarily portend the following year? if they did, loyola would be staring at a 2 year losing streak coming up without much they could do about it... if the going pattern for uva (win twice, lose big, win twice, etc.) is repeated.
loyola didn't lose indispensable guys?
always starts slow means once every 2 years?
i believe the 'hoos are all just fine with the guys they have on the roster. hope dickson balls out.
fans also have a pretty good idea that conrad was very valuable.

my post was more about your take that your fogo was going to be fantastically improved, and that should win the day. given the cavs are in pretty good shape there -- including with a freshman who just might improve also, and a good backup. and not for nothing, but they also got roasted in this year's finals at the faceoff by the numbers, and yet still dominated play on that day. maybe they can do it again one day in february.
i expect loyola will come back just as ready to compete for hardware as they always do.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:40 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:07 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also not going out on a limb to say that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

again, these are all your takes.
anyone can counter with ---
previous year head to head matchups don't necessarily portend the following year? if they did, loyola would be staring at a 2 year losing streak coming up without much they could do about it... if the going pattern for uva (win twice, lose big, win twice, etc.) is repeated.
loyola didn't lose indispensable guys?
always starts slow means once every 2 years?
i believe the 'hoos are all just fine with the guys they have on the roster. hope dickson balls out.
fans also have a pretty good idea that conrad was very valuable.

my post was more about your take that your fogo was going to be fantastically improved, and that should win the day. given the cavs are in pretty good shape there -- including with a freshman who just might improve also, and a good backup. and not for nothing, but they also got roasted in this year's finals at the faceoff by the numbers, and yet still dominated play on that day. maybe they can do it again one day in february.
i expect loyola will come back just as ready to compete for hardware as they always do.

I'm not certain I understand your statement that 'Loyola would be staring at a 2 year losing streak with the Cavs'? In 2018, we split with UVA, losing regular season in 2OT's then beating them in the tourney. ?? This year, we beat them fairly badly.

So far as FOGO goes, if you offered me the choice of Savio or Lasalla, I'll take Savio today...I think most would. No disrespect to Petey, whom I thought did great against TD even though the #'s skewed badly, but Bailey drew Arceri and Gaffney to near draws, and for those who watched Loyola this year, Bailey's improvement from beginning of the season to the end was probably our biggest cause for celebration. I think he will excel next year.

So far as Yale goes when winning the FO's, I could go on about that game for hours; I think every star lined up for UVA to roll in that game (and also get by UMD and Duke...). And not for nothing, Yale's offense imo was not and is not the same as Loyola's; sorry, Morrill, Brandau, and Gaudet do not compare well with Spencer, Olsmtead, and Lindley. My opinions only, obviously, but not backing down on that observation.

ok. but you also don't care much for kraus it seems, who uva fans are fine with. actually, more than fine. actually, many of us are fine with all 3 guys. and are pumped to have guys like dickson, and whoever else shows up next year!
you also thought about a month ago the staff lost the team and didn't know what they were doing with their goalie situation. all good, all opinions.
uva also seems like they had a lot of lucky stars lining up in your view. cool.
i agree regarding one of yale's attackmen, but yale sure seemed to be able to win a lot of days on offense this year.

so anyway, hope petey keeps his nose to the grindstone and if he can't compete with savio, the wahoos can dial up lady luck if needed. and then the greyhounds take care of business all year and help give uva a nice rpi.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:46 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also going out on a limb and saying that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

You have had some outlandish takes before, but Dickson over Kraus? No way. With Moore's bright play down the stretch, I really feel that Kraus has been severely underestimated. It's understandable given he was never 100% this season and had bouts of inconsistency. But let's not forget that it was Kraus who was drawing the #1 pole every game, not Moore. He led the team in PPG (2nd overall in points because he missed a few games), and is going to break the UVA all-time scoring record next year. And yet people are treating him like chopped liver.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:10 pm ok. but you also don't care much for kraus it seems, who uva fans are fine with. actually, more than fine. actually, many of us are fine with all 3 guys. and are pumped to have guys like dickson, and whoever else shows up next year!
you also thought about a month ago the staff lost the team and didn't know what they were doing with their goalie situation. all good, all opinions.
uva also seems like they had a lot of lucky stars lining up in your view. cool.
i agree regarding one of yale's attackmen, but yale sure seemed to be able to win a lot of days on offense this year.

so anyway, hope petey keeps his nose to the grindstone and if he can't compete with savio, the wahoos can dial up lady luck if needed. and then the greyhounds take care of business all year and help give uva a nice rpi.

My actual quote on Krauss is "I don't know what to make of him". He's great. Just have a hard time figuring him out.

So far as the goalie situation there, I am happy for Rode, whom I think is a great kid. But Lars definitely went Alabama 8-ball on the Burkinshaw/Rode switch. That could have gone either way.

Yale won a lot in 2019 not because their offense was 'Cuse '90, but because TD Ierlan got them possessions more than any other FOGO in history.

Finally, so far as UVA and luck, let's just say you wouldn't be so sarcastic today had the referee in the Maryland game made the correct call on Krauss' shot. 100% pipe, we all know it.

random observer wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:16 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:46 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also going out on a limb and saying that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

You have had some outlandish takes before, but Dickson over Kraus? No way. With Moore's bright play down the stretch, I really feel that Kraus has been severely underestimated. It's understandable given he was never 100% this season and had bouts of inconsistency. But let's not forget that it was Kraus who was drawing the #1 pole every game, not Moore. He led the team in PPG (2nd overall in points because he missed a few games), and is going to break the UVA all-time scoring record next year. And yet people are treating him like chopped liver.

Can you point to me where I say I would take Dickson over Krauss? I said Dickson was the 2nd best attackman, but for Krauss "I have a hard time figuring out". That is due to his inconsistency. I think he is a great player. I happen to think Dickson is also a great player who will excel next year, but didn't get as much time this year to show it. I do know I'd have started him over one other attackman there.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:24 pm

random observer wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:16 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:46 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:07 pm They need to find their identity by January 1, or the first few games will be very difficult, UVA especially! UVA in essence returns their whole team. I still expect to beat them (mostly because I think Bailey Savio will be an elite FOGO next year, and if he takes the majority of balls against UVA, it doesn't matter who they play), but...

interesting take to say the least. let the message board smack talking begin!

Let's not forget that Loyola smoked UVA this past season and UVA didn't exactly steamroll through the NCAA's. I don't think this call is nearly the eye-roll as some might otherwise think. I am also going out on a limb and saying that Conrad was indispensable to that team and his absence will be felt in ways you can not imagine. Further, Rode always starts the season slow...

While I am on UVA, I think their best 2nd best attackman didn't even start: Dickson. Far better than Laviano, better than Herring, not as good as Moore, Krauss I can't figure out. Lars' biggest problem as evidenced by Burkinshaw leaving is he has too much individual talent, which is not necessarily a good thing.

You have had some outlandish takes before, but Dickson over Kraus? No way. With Moore's bright play down the stretch, I really feel that Kraus has been severely underestimated. It's understandable given he was never 100% this season and had bouts of inconsistency. But let's not forget that it was Kraus who was drawing the #1 pole every game, not Moore. He led the team in PPG (2nd overall in points because he missed a few games), and is going to break the UVA all-time scoring record next year. And yet people are treating him like chopped liver.

Can you point to me where I say I would take Dickson over Krauss? I said Dickson was the 2nd best attackman, but for Krauss "I have a hard time figuring out". That is due to his inconsistency. I think he is a great player. I happen to think Dickson is also a great player who will excel next year, but didn't get as much time this year to show it. I do know I'd have started him over one other attackman there.

You said Dickson was their 2nd best attackman, and you said that he was not as good as Moore. Logically it would follow that you think Dickson is better than Kraus.

damn, man.
go loyola.
your other quote was that a high-potential freshman, underline potential, was our 2nd best guy. hope you're right eventually, in 2021. kraus is likely to finish with close to 300 points, mostly going against the other team's #1 since his freshman year, sometimes banged up. his shooting hopefully is back on track, and again --- we'll go ahead and take the rest of his game, including late-game heroics.
as far as the pipe --- if you watched the game, there's a good deal more context. that was not a last second shot. uva had scored on their previous 3 possessions, and chased the rebound to retain possession. then they scored in their next must-make possession in ot.
had that call (and others in the game) not been missed, any number of things could have happened. as i'm sure you well know.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:41 pm damn, man.
go loyola.
your other quote was that a high-potential freshman, underline potential, was our 2nd best guy. hope you're right eventually, in 2021. kraus is likely to finish with close to 300 points, mostly going against the other team's #1 since his freshman year, sometimes banged up. his shooting hopefully is back on track, and again --- we'll go ahead and take the rest of his game, including late-game heroics.
as far as the pipe --- if you watched the game, there's a good deal more context. that was not a last second shot. uva had scored on their previous 3 possessions, and chased the rebound to retain possession. then they scored in their next must-make possession in ot.
had that call (and others in the game) not been missed, any number of things could have happened. as i'm sure you well know.

UVA reloads year in year out due to the recruits that Starsia mined, and Lars will be mining too. What year will his first full recruiting class come to campus? Lars has done a great job with changing the culture and getting all the men to buy in. Good coach who is spiritually connected to the game and plays it free flow

Personally UVA every year scares me, Duke for good measure gives me fits too. Solely because you guys had the talent to beat us, and you have (records is like 24-11 pro UVA). Now you have the talent, athletes, and positive culture to repeat as champs again. Do i believe that UVA can win Feb 8. 2020 at Klockner? Yeah given the history of 1 goal games and OT games. Who knows maybe it could be a blowout. I just want Loyola to put up a good fight with the team we have coming back minus Spencer/Stover. Maybe they win, maybe they lose. Either way, its a quality game against a quality team in an early season barometer test. It helps the RPI for both anyway

Lacrosse was played between goals miles apart with significant wagers on the result as I recall

I think PS was as good as everyone has claimed. That is a given to me. A couple of players are going to miss his vision, passes and foresight. Maybe LC can make up for it and the loss of Stover. LC has talent and will be in the discussion. Does the compensation come from better defense or face offs or ... not looking for an answer just thinking out loud

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:10 pm ok. but you also don't care much for kraus it seems, who uva fans are fine with. actually, more than fine. actually, many of us are fine with all 3 guys. and are pumped to have guys like dickson, and whoever else shows up next year!
you also thought about a month ago the staff lost the team and didn't know what they were doing with their goalie situation. all good, all opinions.
uva also seems like they had a lot of lucky stars lining up in your view. cool.
i agree regarding one of yale's attackmen, but yale sure seemed to be able to win a lot of days on offense this year.

so anyway, hope petey keeps his nose to the grindstone and if he can't compete with savio, the wahoos can dial up lady luck if needed. and then the greyhounds take care of business all year and help give uva a nice rpi.

UVA fans will take it personally but it'll be hard for a team to ever have as much luck as the current champions. 7-1 in one goal games, 5-0 in OT, two tourney OT wins including one where the game was never actually tied up. None of that takes away the title but it's a level of magic that has rarely been seen before and might not be seen again.

Lasalla being a hero from the national title game is weird since he went 4 for 17. He just scored on 2 of those 4. Wasnt as much of an x factor or whatever you want to call it as was made out imo. But he is solid outside of Ierlan so that'll be a good early season battle for Savio and hopefully a real tooled unit for Loyola.

lmao.

OCanada wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 5:44 pm Lacrosse was played between goals miles apart with significant wagers on the result as I recall

I think PS was as good as everyone has claimed. That is a given to me. A couple of players are going to miss his vision, passes and foresight. Maybe LC can make up for it and the loss of Stover. LC has talent and will be in the discussion. Does the compensation come from better defense or face offs or ... not looking for an answer just thinking out loud

This is a really good point and one that I am guilty of overlooking. Pat's vision and foresight no question led to goals and advantages that are easy to overlook if he doesn't show up in the stat sheet for that play. I think UVA's Conrad shared the same impact on his team.

It's likely that there will be initial growing pains to start the season next year. This will be a junior-led offense, with Lindley, Olmstead, and to some extent Savio being the core nucleus, and a sophomore, Scanlan, right behind. The defense will be senior and junior heavy, and middies are all over the board class-wise. I don't know who will be the on field leader, but if I had to guess, it'll be Lindley; he's such a smart lacrosse player, and he seems to be a kid whom others gravitate toward.

UVA's Laviano had something to say in the post Duke game presser about Conrad and leadership which was very interesting, and very revealing, and imo, posisbly a clue to why the Cavs did so well in tight games and in the tourney. I'm paraphrasing here, but he went something like this: 'When Ryan (Conrad) is on the field, you just feel like good things are going to happen to us'. I think that's as high a compliment you can pay someone whom you consider a leader; his very presence gives you confidence, to exert yourself even more (reason for the Cav's superlative ride?) and to possibly even make mistakes, because 'he' will make it okay.

Do the Hounds have that guy in 2020?