LaxPower Back-Up Stick

gymman1031 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:19 am Jacksonville, Mercer, and Lindenwood are the new programs. I could be very wrong. But I am going ahead and predicting Jacksonville and Utah to have the best seasons and meet in the conference tournament championships. Not only will they be talented, but they will have that "unfinished business" mentality due to experiencing painful one-goal losses in their conference title games in 2022.

Homer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 11:05 pm

gymman1031 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:19 am Jacksonville, Mercer, and Lindenwood are the new programs. I could be very wrong. But I am going ahead and predicting Jacksonville and Utah to have the best seasons and meet in the conference tournament championships. Not only will they be talented, but they will have that "unfinished business" mentality due to experiencing painful one-goal losses in their conference title games in 2022.

And Queens.

I think the operative question about the ASUN is whether it becomes anything other than a tediously predictable circuit where the only real action is the conference tournament.

Right now it sets up as a 10-team league with a marked gap between the top 4 (Jacksonville, Utah, Robert Morris, Air Force) and the rest (Bellarmine, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Lindenwood, Mercer, Queens). Playing a full conference schedule against that set of teams will likely torpedo everybody's RPI/SOS to the point that an AL is impossible.

So it sort of looks like the conference is getting one bid, it'll be decided between 4 teams known in advance over one weekend, and none of the rest of it really makes any difference. A bit boring, if it does shake out that way. The question is whether one or more of the 6 teams I've written off can step up and make things a little more fun.

gymman1031 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:19 am Jacksonville, Mercer, Lindenwood, and Queens are the new programs. I could be very wrong. But I am going ahead and predicting Jacksonville and Utah to have the best seasons and meet in the conference tournament championships. Not only will they be talented, but they will have that "unfinished business" mentality due to experiencing painful one-goal losses in their conference title games in 2022.

Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:16 am The other two are random new programs - maybe Queens in Charlotte can tap into some southern HS growth where Furman and Mercer havent. It’s a far better location than being in the Triad (HPU) part of the state or Macon. May be pro cyclical and fall off again but Truist is trying to backfill the gutting of Bank of America and Wachovia though they ibankers have stayed in Atlanta, NASCAR has come back a little towards ore crises (talking economic drivers for the city which was flying high pressure financial crisis ans had a harder fall than other southern cities)

Homer wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:17 pm

Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:16 am The other two are random new programs - maybe Queens in Charlotte can tap into some southern HS growth where Furman and Mercer havent. It’s a far better location than being in the Triad (HPU) part of the state or Macon. May be pro cyclical and fall off again but Truist is trying to backfill the gutting of Bank of America and Wachovia though they ibankers have stayed in Atlanta, NASCAR has come back a little towards ore crises (talking economic drivers for the city which was flying high pressure financial crisis ans had a harder fall than other southern cities)

I just went and looked at the rosters out of curiosity.

Queens is pretty close to dividing exactly 25% NC, 25% other Southern states (including Texas), 25% Canada, and 25% from anywhere else.

Lindenwood is interesting. I'm not sure we've ever had a D1 team quite like this, because previous promotions from D2 have generally been in the Northeast. Their current roster has essentially no recruiting nexus to "hotbeds" whatsoever. Their primary states/provinces for getting players are Illinois and Minnesota, followed by Indiana, Missouri, Ontario, and Texas. Curious to see if they can maintain that strategy going forward.

Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:44 pm Suppose if you can work TX, Il and waive in Canadians with marginal merit based academic prospects you could carve a path.

BearsLax wrote: ↑Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:24 pm D44A7E8B-7DAD-4D4B-82F4-32D70B2B189E.jpeg

Homer wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:17 pm

Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:16 am The other two are random new programs - maybe Queens in Charlotte can tap into some southern HS growth where Furman and Mercer havent. It’s a far better location than being in the Triad (HPU) part of the state or Macon. May be pro cyclical and fall off again but Truist is trying to backfill the gutting of Bank of America and Wachovia though they ibankers have stayed in Atlanta, NASCAR has come back a little towards ore crises (talking economic drivers for the city which was flying high pressure financial crisis ans had a harder fall than other southern cities)

I just went and looked at the rosters out of curiosity.

Queens is pretty close to dividing exactly 25% NC, 25% other Southern states (including Texas), 25% Canada, and 25% from anywhere else.

Lindenwood is interesting. I'm not sure we've ever had a D1 team quite like this, because previous promotions from D2 have generally been in the Northeast. Their current roster has essentially no recruiting nexus to "hotbeds" whatsoever. Their primary states/provinces for getting players are Illinois and Minnesota, followed by Indiana, Missouri, Ontario, and Texas. Curious to see if they can maintain that strategy going forward.

Tufts grad transfer Max Waldbaum led the way for the Dolphins last season with 72 points off 48 goals and 24 assists. Fellow attackmen Jacob Greiner (51G/18A) and Jackson Intrieri (31G/30A) were the Dolphins’ second and third-leading scorers with 69 and 61 points, respectively, to create what was one of the most productive attack units in college lacrosse with 202 points (130 goals) between the three.

Of that heralded attack, all three will be back in 2023.

In late May, it was announced that Georgetown star Dylan Watson would be heading to the Sunshine State to play his fifth and final season of eligibility of college lacrosse with the Jacksonville Dolphins.

Named the 2022 Big East Attackman of The Year, Watson 64 points off 58 goals and six assists for the Hoyas this past spring. He ended the year as the team’s leader in goals and second-leading point-getter.

In addition to Watson, the Dolphins have also added UMBC midfield grad transfer Brandon Galloway. A second-team All-America East selection in 2021, Galloway netted 24 goals and dished out three assists as the Retrievers’ leading goal-scorer and second-leading point-getter. He only played in one game this past season for UMBC.

BearsLax wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:08 am This conference alignment will be short-lived.

But I guess most will be for the foreseeable future.

10stone5 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:47 pm Good write up in Lacrosse Bucket on Jax,

Tufts grad transfer Max Waldbaum led the way for the Dolphins last season with 72 points off 48 goals and 24 assists. Fellow attackmen Jacob Greiner (51G/18A) and Jackson Intrieri (31G/30A) were the Dolphins’ second and third-leading scorers with 69 and 61 points, respectively, to create what was one of the most productive attack units in college lacrosse with 202 points (130 goals) between the three.

Of that heralded attack, all three will be back in 2023.

In late May, it was announced that Georgetown star Dylan Watson would be heading to the Sunshine State to play his fifth and final season of eligibility of college lacrosse with the Jacksonville Dolphins.

Named the 2022 Big East Attackman of The Year, Watson 64 points off 58 goals and six assists for the Hoyas this past spring. He ended the year as the team’s leader in goals and second-leading point-getter.

In addition to Watson, the Dolphins have also added UMBC midfield grad transfer Brandon Galloway. A second-team All-America East selection in 2021, Galloway netted 24 goals and dished out three assists as the Retrievers’ leading goal-scorer and second-leading point-getter. He only played in one game this past season for UMBC.

Exlaxbro wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 1:07 pm Who did Mercer get? They are close to a breakout year with the young talent they have.