Originally Posted by Anonymous
Let's all wave good bye to UVA, Duke, Hop and very shortly UNC. You heard it here, earlier in the year. You had folks saying "they'll all be in the final four". Truth be told, Hop didn't even belong in the tournament, they are simply a .500 lacrosse team. The biggest offenders of recruiting holdbacks and double holds as well as 14 year olds are all on the tournament scrap heap. UNC with all it's "top" recruits (not) could barley get by a team that's only been around for 4 years. Don't know for sure, but I'm sure MU didn't have any Inside Lacrosse ranked or Ty X ranked kids on the team. Yet somehow they nearly knocked off a team loaded with kids who were committed to UNC before MU even had a D1 program!!! A total and utter affirmation of the ill's of ER recruiting and Holdbacks. These kids are not panning out for the most part, true some are, but most aren't. The best 8th graders are not the best college players, now a fact. Kids who excel at playing down one two to years cannot compete at the next level. Proven fact. Not sure why these coaches continue to recruit from this pool, its just not working out for the most part. Quite frankly, I'm loving it. Only wish MU got rid of UNC, pretty sure that happens next week. It's great for the sport! Go, Brown, Loyola, Towson and Yale!


Although you make some good points, again I do not believe ER is the root cause of these programs not doing well. In the case of the Hop, they were missing 5 of their top midfielders due to injuries and one suspension. If they are not in the mix next season I will concede to you that their early recruits did not work out. As for UNC, coaching is clearly the problem there. They have plenty of talent and always have and they consistently underachieve. Marquette's coaching staff did an amazing job and they should be commended and I think their program is a prime example of the parity that exists in the sport. In the case of UVA, coaching is DEFINITELY their problem, as evidenced by the AD's comments recently. Starsia's days are clearly numbered. UVAs roster is filled with talent, no reason they should be missing the tournament or losing ACC games as they are. Brown and Yale are experiencing a resurgence this season which is great for the sport. Loyola and Towson have always been solid programs so no surprise there. I think it remains to be seen what effect if any ER has had on the sport, I personally think it has more to do with parity and coaching.