Conference Previews for the 2022 season - SSC

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is Mr. Sunshine himself, Danny Moran. How are you doing, Danny?

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Well, it's not too sunshiny here in New York today. It was cold as hell, man. It was like 19 degrees and gonna be colder tomorrow. I'm doing really good tonight, Kevin. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 0:40

I'm doing well. Uh it was cold down here, not that cold in Northern Virginia, hitting the 30s today. But there's a couple of actually three reasons why I started off with that intro. Number one, you are always positive, especially when we're talking D2 lacrosse. Number two, you used to live in Florida, the Sunshine State. Yes, I did. Number three, I thought I'd throw in a little foreshadowing for this podcast since we are going to be previewing the Sunshine State Conference.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

You're you're unbelievable tonight, Kev. You are on a complete podcast roll.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Um I'm done for 2022. Just uh mail it in for the rest of the year for me, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 1:21

Sounds great. Me too, me too. Sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

All right, so why don't we just get started? Uh, where do you want to start? Right at the top at uh the team that uh we had to eat crow on uh last season.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Yeah, the Sunshine State Conference. Um, you know, last year Tampa was the top dog, of course. You know, they went 6-0 in conference and 10 and 1 overall. And yes, yes, you and I have discussed many times. And

SSC Preview

SPEAKER_02 1:47

and uh, you know, we said that maybe Tampa was overrated, maybe they didn't have the you know the schedule last year due to COVID. And boy, they proved us wrong when they just destroyed Mount Olive and the NCAA's. Tampa's got a new coach in JB Clark, and um, you know what he brings to the table. He's um, you know, a perennial coach for years and years and just has done nothing but won everywhere he's gone.

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_02 2:14

And and and but you know what this year I counted only 34 on their roster when usually they carry a lot more.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:26

So that's interesting. That might be a new a new phase um for Tampa this year.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Well, it's it's kind of interesting that you say that. So if you look at let's look at first some of the players they lost. They lost Ben French, yeah. He's a great player, they lost their face-off specialist, Ross Dickerson. Now they have Jack Wood returning, and he's he had 62 points last year. That's certainly nothing uh to cry about. That's unbelievable. 62 points. And their goalkeeper returns Blake Ulmer. So, and he was like at 60% save percentage. So they've got a little bit of a core, but I'll tell you what's interesting, and you kind of hit upon it when you said 34 on their roster, right? They have a coaching change. Now we talked to to Coach Clark, he says the team is uh he's been really excited about them because they've bought in, they've been great to work with. But just that change, it's something that the players have to adjust to and the coach has to adjust to. It's something new, and that just could be a little bit of a a red flag or something to watch during this year to see how they can adjust. And and I think it'll take time as the as the season builds.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

Well, that I I I agree with you on that. But again, I was kind of surprised to only see 34 listed on their roster. Um, when again, they used to carry, you know, 48, 50 guys. Yeah. So that, like I said, that's a new, that's something new for Tampa. And you're you're right, Jake is gone, and Ben French is gone, and Brian Wright is gone. Daniel Fitzpatrick's coming back, and that kid's a six foot two, 200-pound attackman. He's a big boy in front of the crease there. So, and you know what? Tampa's got they got a couple of good games um on their schedule. Some, you know, teams that, you know, Tampa's gonna have to really come out and play. They got they got Lenore Ryan on their schedule, and and Lenore Ryan's a very good team this year. They're gonna be very good. Um, they got Frostburg State on their schedule this year, Tampa does. They also have Lindenwood on their schedule. And, you know, Lindenwood's a good team, you know. They're a ranked team, and uh they're gonna come out east and they're gonna look to get wins. You know what I'm saying? Right. And then they got Seton Hill. Then they got Seton Hill. So they have some games on their schedule, Tampa, that you know, they're gonna have to come out and play for sure.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

And and I also think you look at Colorado Mesa, so they played Colorado Mesa, and if you look at past records of both teams, you'd say, okay, Tampa should have that game easily. But Colorado Mesa, as we discussed, they are stacked this year. So I don't think that's an easy game either.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

No, it's not gonna be an easy game for Tampa. Colorado Mesa is a good squad, and you know what? They're only gonna get better, but you know, they're getting better and better every year. And they come out east and they want to play all those big boys. So I give a lot of kudos to Mesa for coming out east.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

And, you know, and playing the Tampa Spartans and Coach Clark and his his new look Spartans. It's gonna be interesting to see Tampa this year. Yeah, I think. I still think they're gonna be a very good team, though.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

Oh, without a doubt. Without a doubt, they're gonna be good. I it just is are they at the same level as as last year? They're still gonna be in the in the hunt at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_02 5:47

Well, let's see what happens after about week five, and where they're seeing what what they're looking like, what kind of numbers they have. So we're gonna have to give them a couple of games, the Tampa Spartans, and and then we'll have a better idea of where they might be headed.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Exactly, exactly. So let's move on. Uh let's talk about Lynn, the Fighting Knights.

SPEAKER_02 6:10

Yeah, the Fighting Knights of Lynn. Coach uh Brian Kingsbury does a really, really good job at Lynn. Um they lost one of their big boys in Dryden Browse. But you know what? Jalen Stanton's coming back, and they share the rock, Lynn. You know, they're a good, solid, fundamental team. And um, when you play fundamental teams like that, you're always going to be in for a tough game. You know, they might be one or two players short, but they get 50-50 ground balls, they play hard defense. And, you know, Lynn last year twice gave Tampa all they could handle.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

And I always felt the losses were to Tampa and they were close too. It wasn't like right.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

No, they were really good games. And I said the first time Lynn played Tampa, I said to myself, man, if Lynn just had one real sniper from out our top, because they that's what they were lacking. They were lacking that one just sniper. You know what I mean? And I kept saying to myself, if they had one sniper, they'd get a win on this game. So, you know what? They they lost a few players, but they're bringing back some good players.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Yeah, they're goalie. Colin Casey returns, and they've got some scores coming back, and they have a few uh players coming back on D, like their long stick midi uh Mikey Tross. So I think I think they're gonna be right up there again. You know, like you talked about, they led their opponents in ground balls and cost turnovers last year. And of course, their face-off was like 68-70% with Dryden Gross. So yeah, that's probably their gap, I would say, this year.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

You know, having a face-off got win close to 70% is not an easy number to achieve at any level, at any level. So um it's gonna be interesting. It's you know, it's next man up. So who's gonna step up on Lynn?

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Which which one of those um, you know, maybe underclassmen gonna get some more minutes and get his chance to shine? But like I said, they they share the ball well, they play fundamental and they play hard defense, and they got a pretty good, you know, uh schedule on there. They play Tampa, of course, because they're in conference, but they have Queens, they also have Lyndon Wood, they have Colorado Mesa. You know what? They went five and one in in conference last year and six and two overall. And that was the conference that we discussed many times. They only played each other. And you know what? This is Lynn's year to really do good. I like the fighting nights. I like what the coach Kingsbury's done with the with Lynn, and um, I'm interested to hear what he's got to say.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

Yeah, it'll be good. It'll be good. So let's move on. Let's talk about Rollins.

SPEAKER_02 8:58

Yeah, Rollins um last year went three and three in conference, but they had an overall winning record. They went seven and three. You know, they

cut

SPEAKER_02 9:06

you know, they had a pretty good season, but two of their big guys are gone. Ronnie Dunn is gone, Grant Long is done. But Bailey Pringle's coming back, he was a top score for them. So they led most of their opponents in most categories last year. But this is a team that has to do better on man-ups. When they get those man-up opportunities, they have to do a better job of finding the back of the net.

SPEAKER_00 9:31

Yeah, what I would say is you know, I looked at their stats from last year, they were all solid. Their 2021 team stats are solid. Nothing really standing out. So they're they're always a team that's above 500 and is dangerous.

unknown 9:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:46

You know, we talk, I've talked about it before, some wild cards. Rollins is always one that's gonna give you fits, and I think they're gonna be doing the same thing in in the Sunshine State Conferences this year. Now, you know, like last year, they split with Florida Tech and then they lost to Tampa and Lynn. So, and you the way it went last year, you got that was the way it was. They're you know, they were kind of in the middle of the road, but there's so many teams like that, it seems like in the Sunshine State Conference that are they're stacked in the middle that and that they can go eat any way. And Rollins has has been that way, and I think they'll be that way this year. They're always in the mix, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:27

Right, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

And the close D remains intact this year with Justin Eisenhower, Charlie Rask, and Connor Thornton. So they've got that's that's great to see.

SPEAKER_02 10:37

Yeah, they got a solid core there. And like I said, like you know, they they're they're a solid ball club, like they led most of their opponents in most of the categories. If they just get better on man up, you know, um, if they can work on their man ups and get that ball in the back of the net when they have the advantage, they they could uh be poised to have a really good season. Yeah, and Rollins goes to Rockhurst, yes, yes, they do, and they play Colorado Mesa, and they got, you know, they're gonna have a decent uh out of conference schedule.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

So yeah, it's interesting. They they're playing uh two the two top teams in the RMAC with uh Colorado Mesa and Westminster, and they've got Rockhurst, and all three of those are tough teams. So that will be uh interesting to see how they come out of outcome out of conference and then and then play in conference this year.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Yes. I'm missing my paper on St. Leo. Why all right?

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Let me talk a little bit about St. Leo. And the first thing I would say is throw out the stats and the record out the window for last year. We talked to Coach Jorgensen about this. You know, they were three and seven last year, three and three in conference is what I had. But you know, they were two and two on April 8th, and then their season just derailed, right? They had three postponed games in a row, they could get no rhythm. We talked about this several times. You know, talking to Coach Jorgensen, he also talked about how uh based on what was going on down there, they really didn't get together as a team until they until they started practicing in January. Right, right. So and St. Leo's always been such a strong team that last year, when I remember watching them, it just seems such an anomaly. Like I couldn't believe it.

SPEAKER_02 12:25

Yeah, they win a national championship a couple of years ago, you know.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

And actually, there was one game last year where they were bringing back like 20 players off the COVID list.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

How can you I know, I know, I know. So I agree with you when you say take out last year's stats and their schedule and just throw them away, because that's not really who St. Leo is. And then, you know, they had a bunch of games canceled last year. They could not find a rhythm in any way, shape, or form. But, you know, Coach Jorgensen said he goes, I got my guys coming back. Yeah, and they're gonna be hungry. You know, Tyler Amst is coming back, Guy Bistro is coming back, Justin Williams is coming back, Evan Ray, who's a really, really good player, is coming back.

SPEAKER_00 13:13

And yeah, that whole thing's a whole there's an attack line, just is all returning. So you would think that's where they're gonna run their their offense through, but they are strong there.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

Yep. And you know, coach talked about his uh his uh his 21 recruiting season. He said he had a really good recruiting that that his recruiting wasn't hurt in any way, shape, or form by COVID, that they actually did really well in their recruiting. So they probably have some nice good freshmen there, and um, I expect St. Leo to be much better than what they did last year.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

Yeah, and that and their out-of-conference schedule includes Limestone, Montevallo, Frostburg State, and Newberry. And then they've got they're playing uh a few others in uh the Peach Belt with uh Young Harris and Alabama, Huntsville, and Flagler. So they're playing a lot of Peach Belt, but they've got some tough teams that they've got they've mixed in there in their schedule.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

You're right. And you know what? That's what St. Leo needs. They need those tough teams, you know, to stay in that national hunt, so to speak. So I expect Coach Jurgensen to do good things with St. Leo this year. I really do. I think they're gonna be a pretty good squad.

SPEAKER_00 14:24

Yeah, I don't think they're gonna look anything like last year.

SPEAKER_02 14:27

I agree.

SPEAKER_00 14:29

Okay, so let's talk Florida Tech.

SPEAKER_02 14:33

All right, the Florida Tech Panthers. Um, they went one and three in conference and three and five. They struggled a little bit last year. Um, they were relatively even with most of their uh teams in the categories, you know, ground balls, turnovers, face-offs, cause turnovers and whatnot. Their problem was in goal last year. They they couldn't, their goalies couldn't find a rhythm. They they used two different goalies in a lot of games, and there was they had actually four goalies C action in during the season. And that's a lot for a team, you know, yeah, to have four goalie C action. So um two of their big guys, Reed Shakonis and Chandler Haik, are gone. But they're bringing back Zach Ragoni and Justin Williams is coming back. So they got a good little you know cork.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

Right, and they've got Josh Vetter, uh, who is an all-conference player also on the defensive side, returning.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

Right, right. And you know what? They're you know, they're a middle of the road team right now, Florida Tech. And again, if they can um just, you know, try to keep the ball out of goal. You know, they had problems in goal last year. So yeah, if they can if they can clean up, I expect them to do a little bit better, but I think they're gonna kind of be sort of the same type of team.

SPEAKER_00 15:52

I think that they had a really good core coming back. Um now what we have to talk about a little bit there is their situation right now, right? So in December, Coach Mark Penn was was fired by the new AD, uh Jamie Josnow, the baseball coach was let go at the same time.

unknown 16:12

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

And, you know, just a tough situation, right? From everything that I've read, and actually, we had uh a few people, parents reach out to us on In the Crease and message us about about this. That's the first time that's how I heard about it first. And there was a uh, you know, it was just a weird situation of when it happened. Now, obviously, the way they talked about it, you know, was that it was an evaluation period. Uh the new AD came in this summer, so an evaluation period from the summer until December when these two coaches were let go. We don't know the real reasons why, but they were let go. Happened right around finals. The players found out via an email. Uh some not the communication didn't seem that great. And then fairly strong outcry, not fairly, a very strong outcry from parents, players, alumni, and even some other coaches out there. And like I said, we even received a few messages on it. So in the end, you you just got to feel for the players that are there that went through that, right? And well, yes, that's gonna have some sort of a effect.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

To get notified via email instead of having the AD or the coach at least address the team. But hey, you know what? I know.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

They did address the team after that. They did address the team after that, but once again, there was no from what I've seen, I wasn't there. There wasn't much new information except that he was let go.

SPEAKER_02 17:44

Um, so have they have they named a new coach?

SPEAKER_00 17:48

They have not. I checked today before we did it. They have not. They the only thing that there was an inside lacrosse article that came out that said that the administration is their goal is to name a new head coach in January. Well, guess what? These players are coming back right now. You know, they've gotten a few assistants that are still there, but God, that's a tough situation.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

Yeah, that's tough. I mean, the first games are February 4th in the Sunshine State. You know, that weekend, February 4th, February 5th. So that's less than 30 days away. And they still haven't named a head coach. So something's going on there, Florida Tech. And like you said, and I agree with you. I feel bad for the players. I mean, to get notified via email that your coach was let go, I don't know. I just think that kind of stinks. So yeah, hopefully, you know, these these men, you know, step up in the face of adversity, these young fellas, and and get to and get to get their season in. And hopefully, you know, they name a coach soon and and get these kids back on track. Because I agree with you. It's a hell of a way to find out.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

Exactly. Exactly. All right. So with that, let's move on. Let's talk about Florida Southern.

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Yeah, Coach Marty Ward and the Mox. Um, they've been they were ranked for a little while last year, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Yeah, they always seem to be in the mix there, too.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

Yeah, they're always a pretty good team. They went, they didn't do well last year. But again, you know, this whole COVID thing, it's it's hard to get a line on a team when you're just playing in conference and there's stops and starts and COVIDs and kids with COVIDs and coaches with COVIDs and contacts with COVIDs and COVIDs with contacts. What just a crazy year, you know, and and and in the mix is are these young kids playing lacrosse. You know, all they want to do is just go to class, be a college kid, you know, have chicken wings and and gator eight and uh and play some lacrosse, you know, and Florida Southern didn't do too good last year, uh, one and four in conference, two and six in the overall. But again, like you said, Kev, there's their that team was ranked a little bit last year in the beginning, and they've always been in the mix in the top 20 for the last couple of years.

SPEAKER_01 20:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:10

So they have a tough schedule. They they host Lemoyne, I think, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

Yeah, they've got Lemoyne on their schedule, they've got Anderson, Catawba, Belmont Abbey, Lyndonwood, Flagler, and Young Harris. So they've got, you know, that's a that's a tough out-of-conference schedule, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_02 20:30

Yeah, that certainly is. So, you know what? Let's see if Coach Ward can get this balls, uh, boys ball.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

Yeah, so interestingly, you said about that. I I went back and looked at the Nike USA lacrosse poll or the the preseason top 20. Uh and once again, it's more for giggles, but you know, in consideration, uh, was Florida Southern also. Because why? Why? Because they always seem to be in the mix in the top 20 at some time during the year.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

Yeah, and they play teams like Lemoyne and you know, yeah, and they're playing the big boys.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

So yeah, and also, yeah, it'll be interesting to see, you know, their their offense went through their attack of Jeff Adams, Sean Nolan, and and Cody Byler, and they're all returning. Looks like they have to reload a little bit at MIDI. Um, and most of their close D seems to be returning. So there is a chance in that they could make a good run in this conference this year. But like we said, it all depends on how they do. It'll be interesting to see how they play their out of conference schedule. That could make or break them.

SPEAKER_02 21:37

Yeah, they got a pretty interesting schedule for the southern. Good for them. Good for them.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 21:42

The boys are gonna be tested for sure.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Now let's let's move on to the school. I've always if if I didn't go to a northeastern school, I'd probably want to go to Palm Beach Atlantic. But uh let's talk about the sailfish.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Yeah, the sailfish. Oof. They had a rough year last year. 0-5 in conference, 1-8 overall. They struggled to score goals last year. You know, they they just they just didn't click offensively. They struggled to score goals, but their top players are coming back, all four of them. Austin Evans, Zach Figura, Ben Justice, and Henry Sloyan. They're all coming back. And these kids are good ball players. Um I don't know where they went wrong last year.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

It's uh their face-off was only at 30%. They got killed in ground balls. And obviously, like you said, they they just couldn't score last year, only about eight eight point four goals per game is what they were getting. So they got two of their top defenders coming back with Gunnar Gebline and and Tagan Harsh. I hope I said that right. Tagan Hirsch, I should say. So they're returning. Um, it just looks like they need to improve on the face-off ground balls and goalkeeping. The other thing I'd point out though is they have an interim head coach, which is their assistant, uh Jesse Venata. Now they're yeah, so they're uh he took over as interim head coach two days after their um head coach Steven Tempone resigned, and he resigned to take over the University of Bridge Pro Bridgeport program. So now Jesse is Coach Venata has been an assistant there since he graduated in 2013. He transitioned it to the varsity sport in 2018. So he has been there and he knows the program, which is a good thing. The thing that I didn't see is any assistance uh listed. Okay. So here he is as an interim taking on the whole thing and having it make some improvements. Now, maybe, you know, maybe that's just what they need is is a change and they go from there. We'll see. But there's some things that you know that makes it a little bit tough for them again this year. This could be still another transition year for Palm Beach.

SPEAKER_02 23:57

They need some, they need some players and they need they need some help. Um, hopefully they did they had a good 21 recruiting season, and maybe some freshmen get on the field and can make a little difference for Palm Beach. They they have a tough out-of-conference schedule as well, Kev. They open with Flagler, okay? Now we've discussed Flagler, and Flagler's new, they're a new program, but they were a club team.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:23

And they were a good club team. And their coach has pedigree. I could see Flagler winning this game.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

I could, you know, in the season, you never know. We we've talked about that. That we have the caveat that no one can can really make us eat crow until the fifth week because you know it's all toss up until then. But you're right, it could be one of those games that flags.

SPEAKER_02 24:49

Flagler's coming into the NCAA for the first time, you know, coach is gonna have them boys pumped. You know, hey boys, here we go. We've won at this level. Now we got this team. Here's our first game. Let's get after it. And I can see Flagler upsetting Palm Beach Atlantic in that first game. I could see Palm Beach Atlantic losing their first couple of games. They've got North Greenville, they got Colorado Mesa, they've got Montevallo.

SPEAKER_00 25:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:19

Montevallo. They're that's a tough, that's a tough opening season, man. That's you know, I could see them struggling and to get that first win. And then they open Sunshine State Conference play with Tampa. So they got uh the sailfish having upstream climbs, so to speak, I think. And uh not to make fun of them or not to poke fun, but I just think that it's gonna be that that's a tough opening.

SPEAKER_00 25:52

Yeah. Yeah. It is. We'll see how they they fare. I mean, if they you know, now they could just flip it around and do well out of conference and give them confidence going into the thing. But you're right, I think it's gonna be somewhat of an uphill climb, like you said, upstream climb for them this year. Uh let's oh say, last team to look at is Embry Riddle.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

I don't know much about Emory Riddle.

SPEAKER_00 26:18

They didn't even play last year, they did not play in 2021. They're a fairly new team, young program. They started in 2018. Their head coach is Spencer Wims, who is part of that uh Chris Barrett coaching tree. We get to talk to Coach Barrett next week. Uh well, I is I also find it interesting that on their out-of-conference schedule is Lewis with Peruzzi as another on the coaching tree. Yeah and then Lander. Right? So he's he's playing both of his his his buddies that were assistants. Yeah. That's coach before Lander. Yeah, I think it's great. In fact, I'm gonna I gotta watch those games now just because it's gonna be interesting to see the assistant coaches going against each other. Interestingly, their 2022 roster's not out yet still. Um, so I don't know what that makeup is and who who's coming back or not, but you know, obviously not playing in 2021 puts them at a disadvantage for this season. Now they actually went eight-nine in 2019 as a as a new program. So it's not like they don't have uh um some experience winning. It's not like they've been in the uh, you know, the the kind of the oh and ten, one and eleven uh you know, uh every year. So I you know they well, it it's this is a big question mark. Emory Riddle's a big question mark this year, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_02 27:45

Well, you know, I don't see many players leaving because Emory Riddle is more of an aeronautical school, if I'm not mistaken. So I think I think players that choose to go there are going there for a specific reason. Um, and probably it's in the aeronautical field. I'm not gonna say all the players are, but I would say a good number of them are. So I don't see them leaving. So let's see what they do this year. You know, not having a season last year, that's tough, you know.

SPEAKER_00 28:14

Yeah, now they they they're out of conferences. Interesting. And I think it actually probably suits them well because they have a good mix. You know, they're playing Flagler, they're playing Alabama, Huntsville, Montevallo, North Greenville, Anderson, and Davenport. They've got then they've got Lewis, Maryville, and Lander. So they've got a good mix of they've got some tough teams to play, and they've got some up-and-coming teams to play, and that, you know, so it'll be interesting to see.

SPEAKER_02 28:41

Yeah, Montevallo is not going to be an easy game for them. You know, uh Maryville, uh any of them, you know, right now at this juncture. I think that's a team that's you know climbing up a mountain right now.

SPEAKER_00 28:55

Yep, yep. Like I said, they're a young program. They've had some winning ways in the past. They didn't get to play last year, so it'll be uphill. Not upstream at all.

SPEAKER_02 29:04

Maybe they're a little hungry, and uh, you know, maybe they'll yeah, let's see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 29:10

All right, so there's the roundup, and now let's get a coach that knows what he's talking about in the Sunshine State Conference, and let's welcome in Coach Brian Kingsbury of Lynn. Welcome, coach. How are you doing tonight?

SPEAKER_02 29:24

Doing great. Thanks for having me on. Coach Brian Kingsbury from the Lynn Fighting Nights. So thankful for you to come on the show tonight with us. Uh, know you're a busy man, and uh, we really appreciate you taking the time with us tonight. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 29:39

Yeah, it's an honor. Really appreciate you all having on.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

So let me get it started, Coach. You know, you

Coach Kingsbury

SPEAKER_00 29:45

really made a run of it last year in the SSE, almost beating Tampa twice and really taking care of the rest of the conference. Are you able to build on that for this year?

SPEAKER_04 29:56

Yeah, uh last year was, you know, uh hosh posh for everyone, and only playing in conference uh was a challenge, and it definitely hurt our conference with national rankings and uh RAC um points and being able to possibly make the NCAs. Um it was it was definitely heartbreaking to lose those two games. Uh first game by a goal at the time they were number two in the country, and then uh our last game, some people call it the conference championship without the championship because it was number one v2, right? And losing to them by two. We were up on them at halftime, and uh third quarter just we we couldn't connect on offense. I don't know what really happened in that game. Well, I do, but you know, we just didn't get it done in the third quarter, and then uh yeah, it was a great game. It's it's been uh within our conference, it's just constant battles, uh in and out, day in, day out. Um that I absolutely love from top of the bottom. It's one of the most competitive conferences in division two.

SPEAKER_02 31:00

No doubt.

SPEAKER_04 31:01

With uh us towards the top and everyone in the middle, you know, one year, you know, anyone can be in the middle and or at the bottom because the competition is so tough, and you just you're in here and you're beating each other up uh day in and day out, and that hurt us with the the conference-only schedule that uh COVID, the COVID year provided. It was uh it was fun. You know, I love coaching this conference, I love lovely university. And it's uh I grew up in Maryland, uh playing the MIAA, where you know you're playing every two games a week against really stiff competition. I love it. Who doesn't want to play for that? You know, when you're challenged every uh every week or if not twice a week.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

Exactly, exactly. That's what makes your teams better when you play in top-notch quality lacrosse on a week in or week out basis. Um, coach, a couple of your big boys scoring-wise, are gone. You had Nick McCabe and Davis Diamond last year, really put up a lot of points, but you got Jalen Stanton back. He's coming back, and the guy who I think really did great for Lynn is your face-off guy, Draden Browse. Let's talk about Draden. Number two in the country overall. How he was third string, uh, third team All-American is beyond me. He should have been second, if you ask me. Let's talk about Draden Browse.

SPEAKER_04 32:26

Yeah, Browse, um, four-time All-American, first time in Lynn history. He's definitely a future Hall of Famer. Um, was face-off player of the year for Division II. Um frankly, I got lucky with Dryden, uh current player at the times. Dad told us about this face-off guy up and coming, and he was in the class where freshmen were committing uh you know to the top.

SPEAKER_01 32:53

Right.

SPEAKER_04 32:53

And he has something that you can't really teach. Uh that's hand speed and work ethic. And his desire to just grind day in, day out, uh, and learn the face-off uh position with counters. Um, and it's kind of funny, our our first all-com first team all-conference guy was Chris Aspergata at the face-off position. Uh, was a freshman, got the first team, uh, and then Dryden came in as a freshman and beat Chris out, and Dryden became our second first all-conference player. So that relationship that Chris had with uh Dryden, they they fought every day, uh, day in, day out. It was it's actually comical now, but the way that uh Chris as a leader just took Dryden under his wing and selflessly guided him to his greatness was uh pretty awesome, you know. And for Chris to be able to do that with Dryden. And he took that uh throughout his years and passed that on uh with the last um two years with face-off guys, and hopefully that knowledge that Dryden had is being passed down to our current face-off guys.

SPEAKER_02 34:02

It's awesome.

SPEAKER_04 34:03

You mentioned some other guys in there too. Uh Davis Diamond last year, great feeder, great vision, great ball protector. Uh Nick McCabe just finished his opportunities. Um and Jalen Stanton was freshman of the year for our conference. Um two-time uh Baltimore Sun uh athlete of the year. Uh he was at Century High School, and you know, just he ran track, he played football, uh, he played the cross.

SPEAKER_02 34:32

Love those kids.

SPEAKER_04 34:33

Yeah, he did everything. I'm surprised you missed out on your Long Island routes with uh Xander Casenza from Bayshore.

SPEAKER_02 34:39

Yeah, I'm surprised too. I gotta do a little bit more homework. I'm I'm guilty, guilty as charged.

SPEAKER_04 34:45

Yeah, but Xander, I mean, he was um he he's a stud. He's our senior, fifth year senior in grad school, finishing up this year, captain. Um he pretty much single-handedly beat Belmont Abbey at their place as a freshman. Um got four or five goals, and all clutch clutch goals would beat Belmont by uh a goal up there, whatever how many five years ago were. Um but he's uh he's a guy that draws the pole, he draws the slide right away. Uh he gets the hockey assist, you know, and that's how McCabe and Diamond got all their points because Xander was drawing the slide and creating offense and it was going through Diamond stick to McCabe and McCabe was cashing in. Our two guys with McCabe are with uh Xander and Jalen back. I mean, good luck. I mean, I know Jalen, I always put it down that Jalen is the best athlete in division two. He's a stud. And Xander's a big old, big old boy. He's like two, was he two fifteen right now? Six six one, six two, two fifteen, can shoot.

SPEAKER_02 35:48

Boy, boy. Yeah, wow, 98.

SPEAKER_04 35:51

Yeah, we did we we it's pretty cool during the fall. We uh you know, draft teams, our coaches, our managers, we draft four teams and we compete all fall. And uh and like off-campus team building type stuff, like box across that's not played with lacrosse balls. Uh right. You know, we go to the beach and do uh team building activities, uh like 4v4, full contact. You have to dump this ball in the garbage cans called Willie Ball. Now we do relay releases, we do uh riddles, you know, for these teams to earn points throughout the whole fall. And uh the last day we do Olympics, you know. Uh we have a ping pong tournament, we do longest jump, we do uh swim races, we do fastest shot, and that's where uh Xander clocked 98, but our long pole, Joseph Cranbeer, clocked 106. Oh my lord. Oh my lord. This dude's 6'6, 25-year-old military vet, served his years. I saw the flag up behind Kevin. Uh love the veterans.

SPEAKER_02 36:56

He's Navy man.

SPEAKER_04 36:57

Yeah, yeah. You know, he's he's a dude. He's 6'6, big, big defenseman.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

That's like the bowl. You can't beat it.

SPEAKER_02 37:04

How would you like to sit and goal with that coming at you? No. Oh my lord. So who what let's talk about your defense? What do you got coming back on defense, coach?

SPEAKER_04 37:15

Yeah, Shane Dodge. Uh he's coming back. Uh Joey Drafita, um, he should be back. Uh, our all-conference goalie, uh, Colin Casey, uh, from uh Bishop Gurtain, uh, Toma Hall goalie, really came into his own last year. Um, he had a teammate helping him out, Cam Holt from back in the day. He since graduated, uh, but Cam sort of gave uh Colin the ability to relax and cage and keep his mind, you know, the six inches between the ears, the biggest battle for most people. And Colin's upper classman, understanding that and really maturing. So between the pipes, Colin is is uh a standout in my mind. Um, and then we have that guy Joseph Cranbeer that I that I mentioned. Uh he was at Killer Mine, then Anadaga, then joined the military, and now he's here uh with uh with the fighting knights. Uh Jake Richter came in from Pace, uh, a grad student, and uh West Ice Lip guy, another Long Island guy.

SPEAKER_02 38:17

All right.

SPEAKER_04 38:18

Um, you know, we have some freshmen that were working into the system as well. Uh some underclassmen that are are stepping up the roles, and you know, there's defense is discipline and how how effective can you do it day in day out, and opening the mouth when you're tired and communicating.

SPEAKER_02 38:35

So you got most of your most of your squad back from last year, it seems like.

SPEAKER_04 38:41

Yeah, I mean, we don't have Dryden, that's our biggest hole, you know, where you're you're getting 80. What is it? What do you finish up at one year? Cut pandemic years 86 percent. Uh, and then last year, I believe it was around 76%.

SPEAKER_02 38:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:56

I mean, you're gaining that possession. We just we have to make it a battle or just be ready to play defense, as uh Lar uh Lar Stephanie said. We just start on defense, we don't win the faceoff. Yeah, that's right. Gotta get used to playing defense.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

Well, and it sounds like, like you said, coach, you're pretty well poised with your team coming back. But as you talked about earlier, you also get to play out of conference, which I think does make a difference for the Sunshine State Conference because even Danny and I, when we were started the podcast, we ate crow with Tampa when they got to the NCAAs because we were saying, you know, they only played in conference, they had some some tough games, Lynn got them close. We don't think they're gonna do anything. And then the first game against UMO, they just showed what the Sunshine State Conference can do. And we talked to Coach Jorgensen about the same thing. Like you said, you guys beat each other up day in and day out when you play in conference. So now you get the out-of-conference schedule. You've got some key matchups with Lindenwood, Queens, Newberry, and even Westminster. I would think this will help you not only in conference play, but as you said, looking towards the NCAAs. W what do you say to that?

SPEAKER_04 40:11

Yeah, it was needed, and it definitely hurt us with last year's NCAA bid. I mean, Tampa was they were unbelievable in transition. Uh, and the amount of points that they were putting up in the beginning of the year was really, really scary. Uh my assistant coach Mark Miller just did a great job with the defensive end of the field and being able to know how to use our tools to go against their tools, you know, and it was uh a great job by Mark uh to be able to do that and our defense buying in. Um but I mean, yeah, Mount Olive got smacked. And then they go into the next game.

SPEAKER_00 40:49

Uh they take Lenore Ryan to overtime.

SPEAKER_04 40:52

Yeah, on a questionable call at the midfield that should have been either a loose ball push or uh hit from behind on Boo. Yeah, and he was right in the middle of the field and got hit from behind. There was no flag.

SPEAKER_02 41:03

I mean, that was LR home call.

SPEAKER_04 41:06

Yeah, definitely an LR home call. He made an LR home call. I played up there and they get those LR home calls for sure.

SPEAKER_02 41:14

Yeah, I know. I've seen a couple of calls that way up there, especially, you know, they they held the tournament last year. So they had that home field. And let me tell you something. I went for one of the games and it was packed. It was packed there. There was a lot of people there, and they were all rooting for LR. So that Tampa game and that LR game. But anyway, getting back to where Lynn played Tampa, you guys, I watched the first game and I I caught a little bit of the second game. But that first game, man, you guys gave them everything that they could handle. You were one shot away from winning that game. I know. And it it was it was a great game. I haven't watched it. It was a good it was a good game. It went back and forth. You guys played, you guys balled out. You played physical, you're scrapping for ground balls. They weren't ready for that. You know, I always say, I always said that good teams hate those teams that just don't go away. And just that that gnat, you know, that gnat that won't go away. You were that team, you were that team that night against Tampa and the second game. I I think that uh Lynn is poised. I think last season helped you in those games. That's my opinion. Just a dad who never played the game but watches a lot of lacrosse. I saw what that did for your program, and you got your studs coming back. And and I think you're gonna make noise again in the Sunshine State conference this season, coach.

SPEAKER_04 42:44

I really hope so. You know, um it's tough, you know. It's gonna be really tough. Where you know, Florida Southern was a close game. We sort of pulled out uh at the end, Rollins pulled out at the end. Uh Florida Tech, it was a shootout battle, uh 17, it was 18-17 or something like that. Against tech, you know, and that's sort of how we just continue to beat each other up, and you never know. Like you could go, you know, eight, seven and oh in conference, and then you know you feel like you have a great team and a great year, and you end up three and four. You're like, how exist? You know, just a few calls, few balls go the wrong way, and it's yeah, it's a game changer. And it's uh I really I mean, if we're healthy and we can check the ego at the door and play for each other, it should be a pretty promising year. We're definitely well balanced all over the field, and uh, I've been coaching the offense, and this is one of the this is a fun year to be coaching the offense, I'll tell you that.

SPEAKER_00 43:46

Sounds great. We're looking forward to it, coach, without a doubt. And we wish you the best, and we really appreciate you coming on tonight to give us your insight, not only on your team, but on the conference. I think all the other conferences better look out for. Sunshine State this year as you play out of conference and look to see what you bring to the NCAA tournament.

SPEAKER_02 44:09

They're a squad. They're a squad to be dealt with. And the Sunshine State is uh the Sunshine State Conference is no joke of a conference. I mean, they they they have teams every year, you know, in the top 10, top 20. So, you know, Lynn finished at 16th in the country this year. I just think that Lynn is just going to continue to grow on what they uh Coach Kingsbury's got going on with them.

SPEAKER_00 44:34

Without a doubt. So thanks, Coach. Appreciate it. Uh maybe we can bring you on during the season sometime.

SPEAKER_04 44:40

Yeah, that'd be great. Make sure it's uh non-midweek game.

SPEAKER_00 44:45

We'll plan it out, coach. We'll plan it out with you.

SPEAKER_02 44:48

Great. Hey, that's Brian Kingsbury, Lynn Fighting Nights. Thanks again, Coach. Good luck this season and uh hope to get you back on soon. Thanks. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 45:00

Well, Danny, I I have to say, to talking about the Sunshine State Conference and getting Coach Kingsbury's thoughts kind of warmed me up on this cold January day and got me ready to watch the Sunshine State.

SPEAKER_02 45:13

Yeah, I don't, you know, I don't feel bad for the Florida coaches too much. You know, I don't, you know, they could tell me it's a little cold down there. And I've but Coach Kingsbury, you know, again, he was a phenomenal guest tonight. Um, great insight on the Sunshine State conference and the Lynn Knights. And um again, we discussed about how well they played against Tampa last year. And and you know something? I think Lynn is really poised. They got a really good coach, and and uh I really appreciated having Coach on tonight. He was great.

SPEAKER_00 45:45

Yeah, and one of the things he actually talked to uh us about in in email format is he said, Hey, it was I'm so glad to be on with you guys. Love to see what you guys have as a top 20. You and I talked about, well, let's let's get our top 20. Your top 20 and my top 20. Let's talk about so let's I thought it'd be fun to do that right

In the Crease Preseason Top 20

SPEAKER_00 46:07

now since it was Coach Kingsbury's idea. Yeah I will start it off, Danny, and tell you that when that when the uh Nike uh USA Lacrosse preseason poll came out for Division II, my first thoughts were hmm, this is interesting. I wonder how they came up with this this list. Like, how did you get one through 20? And then I try to read the article, which was like a paragraph and a half that didn't say. That said that you know, Lemoyne is Lemoine and Lenore Ryan is still stacked, which are both true statements, right? So when when I got we got that request for Coach Kingsbury, I'm like, oh cool, it'll be fun. Well, you know, really to me it became more of a challenge. Like, this is not easy to do. So, once again, this is more for fun because I have no idea how you close. Mine is different one than than uh USA Lacrosse's, but it was fun to try to do. And and I th I talked to you uh just before we get on, and I started recording that you know, you can mix up probably my top 12 any way you want in the top 12.

SPEAKER_02 47:14

And no, you can't. You can't mix up the top 12 any way you want.

SPEAKER_00 47:18

Come close to it.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

You can't have like if you have like let's say you have U India at 10, you can't put them at one, you can't mix them up that much.

SPEAKER_00 47:27

You know, there's been pretty high, as a matter of fact. So let's go. Let's go. What's your what's your first what's your top five?

SPEAKER_02 47:34

So no, no, no. See, the funny part was uh you sent me yours. So I started looking at it and I was like, hmm. And then I started to do my thinking about it, you know, and I watched a lot of games last year, Kat. A lot of games, a ton of games. I have no life. I come home from work, I take a shower at four o'clock. I stream a game. It's Wednesday afternoon, you know. I feed the dog a bone, and I sit there and I snack on cookies and milk and watch a game at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Wednesday. And I watched a lot. Lemoyne's the top dog. They're great.

SPEAKER_01 48:14

I agree.

SPEAKER_02 48:14

Yeah, they're so well coached. Their defense is beyond anything, you know, and I just can't see any team right now not other than Lemoyne being at number one. I just I couldn't put any other team at Le Moyne. Who'd you have at one?

SPEAKER_00 48:32

I had the same thing. I don't think you can, you know, until they get someone topples them, they've got to be there.

SPEAKER_02 48:40

Yeah, and uh Nike had them at what? One? Nike had them at one.

SPEAKER_00 48:44

I've got the list of two, yeah. So we are all in agreement there.

SPEAKER_02 48:46

Okay, so who did Nike have? Who did Nike have at two?

SPEAKER_00 48:50

So USA Lacrosse, Nike Paul, Lenore Ryan.

SPEAKER_02 48:55

Okay. Um, they're my second choice as well, Lenore Ryan. Mine too. Hey, listen, you know, last year they had yeah, well, last year they had Eric Dickerson, and he's one of the best players in the country, hands down. But in a basketball, in a basketball sense type of uh the way I look at lacrosse, I felt that sometimes the ball stopped when Dickerson got it. Now that he's not there, with all the guys with Miles Moffitt and and all the guys that they caught coming back, I think they're gonna be scarier. I think they're gonna dish the ball and move the ball, and I think you're gonna see multiple players be all Americans at that team uh off that team this year.

SPEAKER_00 49:40

Yeah, I that's a great way to look at it. I will tell you what I kind of did as I went through this and I try to look at the notes we put together as we did these previews. And when I went back to Lenore Ryan, just like you said, they've got so many players coming back that they shared the ball well last year. Like you said, I agree with you that sometimes with Dickerson, it's like they were gonna feed it through Dickerson. And he had some of those games where you could do that, but now if they share it even more, I I I would say, yeah, I put out the. It's like who do you lock down, you know?

SPEAKER_02 50:13

Yeah, like last year, you knew you had to lock down Dickerson, you know, and you and you were putting with with Bryce and Miles and the other kids on LR. LR is a really good team, they're just stacked all over the place. And again, like I said, I think they're gonna share the ball more, and I think they're gonna be scary good. Yeah. So I have LR at two.

SPEAKER_00 50:34

But do you have a three?

SPEAKER_02 50:36

Okay, let's who Nike have at three?

SPEAKER_00 50:38

They have Wingate.

SPEAKER_02 50:40

Yeah, the Wingate Bulldogs with Coach Tim Boyle. Well, I have Wingate at number three as well. And I'll tell you why I have winged, because of that attack unit. Three All-Americans on that attack unit. They can score and score in bunches. And now they're all seasoned veterans, all of them. They have a good MIDI in Danny Riley and the air defense, although they lost some guys on D, they're as good as anybody in the country, I think. That you know, Coach Tim Boyle does an amazing job. His defenses are amazing.

SPEAKER_00 51:22

Yeah, so I'll tell you, I dropped them down one, I put Wingate at four, and I put Mercy at three. And the reason why I did that is basically what you just said that Wingate, there's a little bit of a question mark on who's gonna come in on D. Not short stick D Mitty, but the the close D. And Mercy seemed to me, as I went through my notes, to be loaded across the board.

SPEAKER_02 51:51

Now, who who Nike now Nike had Wingate as three as well.

SPEAKER_00 51:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 51:55

So you have Mercy at three.

SPEAKER_00 51:58

I do.

SPEAKER_02 51:59

They're stacked, you know. They're gonna be really good.

SPEAKER_00 52:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 52:02

And you know, they got the rug pulled out from under them last year in the MCAA tournament. So I expect them to be very good. They do have a pretty good schedule.

SPEAKER_00 52:12

So I had I had four, I had Wingate at four. So who'd you have it four?

SPEAKER_02 52:17

I have the Tampa Spartans at four.

SPEAKER_00 52:20

So you're going right down, uh you're you're Mr. uh conformity with uh Nike USA lacrosse.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

Well, that's just the way I feel right now. That's just the way I feel. So, so uh uh USA lacrosse had Tampa at four as well.

SPEAKER_00 52:37

Yeah, they did. They did.

SPEAKER_02 52:38

Okay. I didn't realize that.

SPEAKER_00 52:39

But I you know, mine obviously I I pushed Wingate down to four when I put Mercy up at three. Uh and I and I kept Wingate around that level because, like you said, even though there's a little bit of a question mark in D, it's it's Coach Tim Boyle who runs the D. I think they'll be fine.

SPEAKER_02 52:56

Yeah, his defenses are among the best in the defense uh in the in the country, especially at man down. They're just like their numbers are great in man down. Yeah, it's hard to score against the Wingate Bulldogs. Their defense is just big, tough, strong, fast, uh, athletic, gnarly, aggressive. All of everything that a coach would want in a defense, that's what Wingate has. That's why I have them more or less for me. I have them at three because of their attacking and of their offense. They're prolific, and yeah, them boys are good players. And then I had Tampa at four, and you have Wingate at four. So we've flip-flop. So USA had Lemoyne LR, Wingate, Tampa, and who'd they have at five?

SPEAKER_00 53:44

They have mercy.

SPEAKER_02 53:46

They have mercy at five. Well, guess who I have at five?

SPEAKER_00 53:50

Mercy.

SPEAKER_02 53:50

I have mercy at five.

SPEAKER_00 53:55

Okay, so this is where I go totally off the reservation.

unknown 53:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 54:00

Totally off the reservation. Okay. I have at five, you indie.

SPEAKER_02 54:04

That's a good pick, Kev.

SPEAKER_00 54:06

Now, the reason here's the reason why I did that. Once again, I'm going more off of, you know, a lot what I saw last year, but kind of our notes. They have a lot of returning players.

SPEAKER_02 54:16

Yeah, they're a good team.

SPEAKER_00 54:17

And I look at what we talked about, like, I just don't think the GLVC gets the love that they should as a conference. I think that Undie is going to be really strong. This is great. This is so this is me, this is my preseason run. You know, here we go. I think U Indy can be up there.

SPEAKER_02 54:34

Well, hey, they were one goal away from going to the final four last year.

SPEAKER_01 54:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:39

So, you know, I understand why you I completely understand why you have them at at five, right? Is that who you have?

SPEAKER_00 54:48

Yeah, that's who I have. I have Undy at five.

SPEAKER_02 54:50

Okay, we have a mercy at five. You you indie's a great pick. So I mean, again, one goal away from the NCAA. So that's a pick'em. That's a pick. I would love to see U Indie play Mercy.

SPEAKER_00 55:05

Yeah, it'd be a good game.

SPEAKER_02 55:07

That would be a really good game, but that's uh maybe in the future. All right, so we got our one through fives.

SPEAKER_00 55:14

Yeah. Okay, so who do you have?

SPEAKER_02 55:18

Who does Nike have at six?

SPEAKER_00 55:20

Uh Mercy Hurst.

SPEAKER_02 55:22

Good pick. Good pick. Who do you got?

SPEAKER_00 55:25

I have Mercy Hurst.

SPEAKER_02 55:27

Okay. That's a good pick.

SPEAKER_00 55:30

I want status quo on that one. Well, I I couldn't I I think Mercy Hurst is is definitely close to that top five. I just they always are, in my estimation. Just uh you can't pull with with Coach Ryan. What he's done there, they've got to be close.

SPEAKER_02 55:47

So I have at six, you Wendy.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

Oh, there you go. So we were fairly close to each other.

SPEAKER_02 55:56

Yeah. So like, you know, I just couldn't give him the nod over Mercy. Um, you know, Mercy beat Mercy Hurst last year. Yeah. And I think that was the one game I think that made me say Mercy might be a little bit better than Undy.

SPEAKER_01 56:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 56:12

But but not by much.

SPEAKER_01 56:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 56:14

You know, again, U Indy was one goal away from being the final four team. So I have Undy at six.

SPEAKER_00 56:24

Who do you have at seven?

SPEAKER_02 56:25

Okay, at seven, that's I have Mercy Hurst at seven.

SPEAKER_00 56:28

Okay, that makes sense. You can't, like we talked about, you're not going to drop Mercy Hurst down that far. This is where I make a big, big change also. I put St. Anselm at seven.

SPEAKER_02 56:38

Wow, same ace, huh?

SPEAKER_00 56:41

I did, uh, you know, I go back to their, they've got a core on both offense and defense returning. I'm probably out to lunch, but I just think that, you know, I I I think they're definitely in the top ten. I don't know where to put them. I just I just think that they're they play any 10. I just think they're they gotta be in that mix, and so I put them at seven.

SPEAKER_02 57:02

Yeah, I don't know if St. A's should be at seven. Who does um U.S. lacrosse have?

SPEAKER_00 57:09

Seton Hill.

SPEAKER_02 57:10

Okay. That's who I have. I have Seton Hill as well. That's uh at the eighth spot.

SPEAKER_00 57:17

Oh, at seven or at eight?

SPEAKER_02 57:19

Uh seven. Well, U Indy is six. Mercy Hurst I have at seven.

SPEAKER_00 57:23

Okay, yeah, and I had St. A's at seven, and then at eight, you have Seton Hill. Seton Hill. All right, so Nike USA Lacrosse has Seton Hill at seven, and they have U Indy at eight.

SPEAKER_02 57:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 57:36

At eight, I had Belmont Abbey.

SPEAKER_02 57:39

Ooh. I don't know. I don't know if they're as good as Seton Hill was last year.

SPEAKER_00 57:46

No, I'm not talking about last year. I'm talking about what they're bringing back this year. So if I look at what's what Belmont Abbey is returning, I look at what Seton Hill has. I think Seton Hill's I have them, no, I have them at 11, but they could be. I mean, like I said, this is a this is where I get into trouble right here. Probably my 7 through 12 picks are a crapshoot. But I had I had Belmont Abbey at eight. I had Tampa at nine. So I had them a lot lower than what you and and USA Lacrosse had. I had Tampa at nine because kind of what we talked about today, right? Uh, new coach, great coach, lost some key players. Just a little bit more of a what's gonna happen this year. They could end up being number one, but yeah, I just I just dropped them a little bit lower. That makes sense. I understand to round out my top ten, I had a Delphi.

SPEAKER_02 58:44

Okay, that's a good pick. That's a good pick. Um, so yeah, from six through ten for me, I had U Indy at six, Mercy Hurst at seven. I like I like the Seton Hill Griffiths that they're at eighth. And I bet you after three weeks, they might be in the top five. Um at ninth, that's where I put C's.

SPEAKER_01 59:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 59:06

I put them at nine.

SPEAKER_01 59:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 59:08

You know, and I think they're gonna be a very good team again. And I think last year gave them a whole lot of confidence, and I expect them to do pretty well this year. So I have them starting out in the ninth. And uh rounding out the top ten, I have a Delphi at the top ten. But you know something I was looking at a Delphi's record. I mean, not record, but their schedule, and they have a favorable schedule. I see a Delphi doing pretty well.

SPEAKER_00 59:39

Yeah, they they could be one of those teams that, like you just talking about Seton Hill, can move up very quickly. Exactly. That's right. I think that's what I was talking about when I said originally 1 to 12. I think there's there's teams that can move up. It all depends on how they they do, especially out of conferences start it off. Now let's go let's go 11 through 15. So I have in that order, I have uh Seton Hill 11, limestone 12, Mount Olive 13, and then Pace 14, and then Frostburg State 15. And the reason why I had limestone at 12 and the other ones, uh Mount Olive Pace and Frostburg below them, was they've got uh, although they've got a new coach with Coach Storyer, he's been there before, they have a lot of grad students returning, so they've got experience, and that's why I had them a little bit high.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:29

Yeah, makes sense to me.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:30

You know, because Nike USA Lacrosse had limestone at 16, so I had them a little bit higher.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:36

Okay. Um, so you had Seaton Hill at 11, you're saying I did.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:42

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:42

That's uh hey, you know what? They're they're a top 10 team, if you ask me, Kev. Yeah, they gotta be yeah, if you ask me, they gotta be in the top 10. Um, I have pace at 11.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:55

Oh, wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:57

Yeah, you know what? I always used to say to myself, why is pace fifth? Why are they sixth? You know, they've only played two games, everybody else played six. You know, they start later up in the northeast. Yeah. And then you see the end of the season why they're so good. Yeah, and they're ranked, you know. So you know, I got pace at 11, and um, I expect them, I could I expect Coach Mariano to do pretty good things with that team, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the top 10 within the first couple of weeks. So I have pace at 11. Now, here's my here's my big surprise. I got Lyndonwood at 12. Wow. Wow. You know, just I just think they're ready to make that move. And I just think that they're good enough, and I have them at the 12th spot. That's who does USA Lacrosse have at 12?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:56

Uh so their list from 11 to 15 is 11 is St. Anselm, 12 is a Delphi, 13 is Lindenwood, okay, 14 is Frostburg, and 15 is Pace.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:12

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:12

Okay. Now here's what's interesting. You talk about Lindenwood. Yeah, and I I didn't think so. In fact, Lindenwood, call me crazy, they were not my top 20.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:28

Yeah, I don't know. I don't I disagree.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:30

I you're you could be right. Uh, there's the reasons I once again I'm looking at what I saw from what they're bringing back. Knowing that they're always strong, knowing what they did last year, it's probably and I I'm looking at other teams. I'm looking at teams like Lynn and Newberry. There's other ones that I kind of put in there that I could be wrong.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:50

But it's just think about you know Lyndon Woods conference. They're all ranked.

unknown 1:02:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:55

Maryville, Rockhurst, you know, their their conference schedule, forget out of conference. Their conference schedule may be just as tough as their other conference.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:05

That's what I'm saying. So I have Maryville still in there. I think there could be other teams in the GLVC that that break out, and maybe Lindenwood this year takes a step back.

unknown 1:03:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:17

And this is just my fun top 20. It's possible.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:20

So you have limestone at 12, huh?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:24

Okay, that's a good pick. That's a good pick.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:26

So, I mean, I can see why uh Nike USA Lacrosse had him at 16 based on what happened last year. I think we talked about this when we did the sack. I think they're gonna be stronger this year.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:40

Yeah, they're gonna be good. Limestone, yeah. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:44

All right, so we've gotten through 15. Uh what's hold on.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:48

I didn't do my 13th.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:50

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:51

I didn't do I didn't do 13, 14, or 15.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:53

Give me your 13, 14, and 15.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:55

So who do you have for 13?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:56

I had Mount Olive.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:58

I have Belmont Abbey.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:00

Okay.

unknown 1:04:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:02

George Barrett's boys. You know, I think, you know, he's got no Haas, man. That kid's a beast.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:10

So I have him up at eight instead of 13.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:12

So, you know what? I it wouldn't surprise me to see them pop up real quick as well. So I have them starting out at 13. Just because Lindenwood and Pace and even St. A's, they did better last year than Belmont Abbey. They did. They did.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:27

So I'm kind of going off a little bit of last year, but it wouldn't be like I said, it wouldn't surprise me if Coach Barrett had the Crusaders up in that top 10 within the first few weeks.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:38

Yeah. Well, we won't tell them when we talk to them next week where you put them then. So that's all right.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:46

I don't care. So 14. Who did USA have at 14?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:51

14, they had Frostburg.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:53

They had Frostburg, okay. And who'd you have at 14?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:57

I had Pace.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:58

Okay, good choice. I have limestone at the 14th.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:01

Okay. So we have some differences, but we're we're kind of close in a lot. So who'd you have at 15 then?

SPEAKER_02 1:05:08

I have Frostburg State as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:10

Yeah, I have Frostburg as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:11

So I think Coach Garleman, you know, I just I really liked him, you know, and I couldn't I couldn't talk enough about that team. I even mentioned Frostburg State to certain players that, you know, were getting, you know, looking at recruits and uh, you know, recruiting, and I said, hey, this is a school to look at, just give it a look, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:32

I don't know if uh, you know whatever happens, but there was a couple of kids that my son played with that I just feel could play there, you know, and and and and so I like Frostburg State. And I think I think they're poised to make a lot of noise this year. And coaches, even other coaches, were were talking about Frostburg State. They're like, wow, you know, Coach Garleman's really done a great job there. So I got them and figured. And again, it wouldn't surprise me to see them move up rather quickly as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:04

Yeah. Okay, so now we're down to our last five.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:07

Okay. So who does USA have at 16?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:11

16, they have limestone. So here's here's USA Lacrosse. We'll we'll start off with theirs. 16 through 20 is Limestone, Queens, Rockhurst, Newberry, and Lynn.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:27

Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:30

So now here's my list.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:32

Now at 16, who do you have?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:34

I have Maryville.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:35

That's a good choice.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:37

They have a good core returning. I go back to what we talked about. I mean, Linenwood, like I said, I dropped him out. I maybe I shouldn't have it, just the way the cookie crumbled in this one. I think Maryville's ready and poised to make that move and keep it in there. Interestingly, I'm if you look at who sh would be in consideration, I think it's it's Rockhurst and Linenwood that I didn't have on here. But I think Mary will Maryville, based on looking at my notes, once again have a good core attorney. That's who I had at 16. How about you?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:06

Oh, that makes no makes perfect sense. At 16, I have a little surprise. Uh I have Colorado Mesa and at 16.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:18

Wow, that's a good choice, my friend. That's a good choice.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:21

You know, I just uh team is stacked. Yeah. You know, he's got uh you know, they're deep, they're stacked. Um, they're not afraid to travel. They've they travel a lot of miles. Yeah, um, they're used to it. They've come out east and they've done well against ranked opponents. They've got themselves ranked a bunch of times all throughout last year. They've been ranked. And I I have them at 16. I think they're gonna have a good year.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:50

Yeah, I put them, I had them in, I put them in also, but I put them in at 20. But like I talked about in this 16 to 20 are probably interchangeable in my mind. You you can you can move them around. I agree. But I had them, I had them at 20, but that's a that's a very interesting choice at 16. Who do you have at 17?

SPEAKER_02 1:08:09

I have Chestnut Hill at 17.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:12

Wow, okay. I had Lynn. I put Lynn now, so like I said, Nike USA Lacrosse had Lynn at 20. They had Queens at 17. I think Lynn is strong this year.

unknown 1:08:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:27

So I I had them, I had them at 17.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:30

And so is Chestnut Hill. They're a strong team as well. But they went 10 and 2 last year, you know. They're a good squad.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:36

Yep. Oh no, they are. And I looked at once again, this is going through my notes and what we had and what we talked about. And I this is just the way it fell out for me. But there are certain teams. That's why I said when I said this was a challenge for me, this was a challenge for me.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:52

Yeah, because once you start getting into the meeting and the balls of it, you're like, you can say, well, if they did this and they played this one last year and then they yeah, you know, it it could it gets kind of like uh complicated and intricate and intricate, you know. So but yeah, it's definitely no, it took me a little while to come up with this list.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:12

Yeah, so who did you have at 18?

SPEAKER_02 1:09:14

I I have Rockhurst at 18.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:17

Okay. I had Queens. I'm I I started to kind of stack up a little more of the South Atlantic Conference near the end just because I think that conference is so we talk about GLVC. I think you could do the same thing. I think you could put rock, you could change these with Rockhurst and and Linwood. I had Queens and then Newberry at 19.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:35

Oh, you have Newberry in New York.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:37

Yeah, I put Newberry in there.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:39

Wow, that's surprising to me. I have Queens at 19.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:45

Okay, and you're probably good.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:47

As I think through this, you have a more logical 18-19 than I do.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:53

I don't know. You have Queens and then Newberry.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:57

I have, you know, I have Queens at 19. I just have Rock Rockhurst in there. Um, I think they're a little bit better than Newberry than right now. Right now.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:06

But but Newberry's a good squad, and they were making noise last year. You know what? They might just turn some heads. I don't have them in my top 20 at all.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:15

So then, like I said, rounding out for me was Colorado Mesa. Who'd you have at 20?

SPEAKER_02 1:10:20

I have Lynn at 20.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:21

Okay, so that's what uh Nike USA Lacrosse had, Lynn at 20. So that's a it's a good list. You have a very, very strong list there, uh, Mr. Moran. I as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:32

You you as well. The only really surprise that I saw that you have CNA's pretty high.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:38

But you know what? I have them, you have them at seven, I have them at nine.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:41

Right.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:41

You know, that's no big deal.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:43

Yeah, and so all I would say as we move forward with this is that anyone listening to this, you can't make a Seat Pro on preseason. This was just for fun.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:52

That's right, Kev. Put it out there, put it out there first.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:58

Before I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it was a I'll tell you, it was a tough, tough thing to try to do.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:06

Yeah, but you know what? You and I have been dug in now for about eight months in this, and uh we kind of have a good, a good idea. I mean, as good as anybody else, if you ask me. You know, I we don't sit on the USILA, you know, and we don't get to crunch the numbers and stuff, but you know what? We're we've been around long enough. We have we know the eye candy, we know the good squads, we know the good well-coached teams. And you know what?

SPEAKER_00 1:11:34

We have that crack research team too.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:36

Yeah, and they get paid a lot of money.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:38

That's right. And our big budget.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:42

Yeah, so no, that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:44

All right, well, Danny, that was a lot of fun. That was a lot of fun. I I appreciate uh Coach Kingsbury giving us that suggestion. Once again, we listen to people's suggestions. That's people may not like what we what we say when we do the suggestion, but it it was uh it was uh it was like I said, it was a fun challenge. So with that, Danny, I think we've gone over. This is gonna be a long one, but I think it'll be fun. It'll be a fun one to have people listen to. I'm glad we were able to get this uh the the top 20 in for Coach Kingsbury since he had a request.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:14

That's that's awesome. Hey, and to all you listeners out there, thank you so much. Appreciate um you listening and again keep the comments coming, and uh we'll try to uh accommodate you if we can.