Episode 2 - It's tourney time!

SPEAKER_01 0:06

Here we go.

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Here we go. Here we go. In the crease again. Episode two. How you doing, Danny?

SPEAKER_01 0:13

I'm doing good, Kevin. How are you tonight?

SPEAKER_00 0:16

I'm uh I'm doing really great. It's been uh it's been a fast and furious a little bit over week since we did our first episode. Uh, I will tell you, um, I was blown away uh by the amount of downloads and interest that is shown and all the feedback we got. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 0:34

What with the first podcast you're talking about?

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Um, yeah, I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of responses that we got, and overwhelmed with the amount of downloads that we got for a couple of uh old crickety lacrosse dads.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 0:53

Sitting there shooting the stuff about about the division two lacrosse. And you know, people seem to like it, and we had positive feedback, and um, I just hope we can uh keep it up and keep the people coming back.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Well, you know, what's funny is I think you know, after doing the podcast, uh, the the first episode, I I, you know, listened to it before I uploaded it. And you know, I I thought it was good, but it's like you and me always talking anyway. So, you know, that's always fun for me. I didn't know if it would be fun for other people. And uh and the feedback really brought me back to say, okay, let's try another one and see how this one goes.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Yeah, no, it was great. I uh like I said, I was just overwhelmed and I'm excited to do the next one. Let's see what we can uh let's well if we could stir some more people up.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

That's right, that's great. Okay, so let's let's get right into it then. Um, first of all, you know, uh as you and I kind of did the pre-production on on Monday night, there was a bunch of games that we wanted to highlight. And what's even funnier is since we're in the middle of tournament time, it's gotten even crazier. I mean, there have been games every night, and there's games through the the rest of the week, you know, for for different uh conference tournaments. But I thought maybe we could start off on a few of the games that uh we saw over this past weekend. How does that sound?

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Sounds great, sounds great.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

All right, so let's let's start with the the the big daddy, I think, is the one because it was the um conference championships uh for for the peach belt. Um that was against university, first year uh against you know, it was Montevelo's number one seed and number two seed, uh University of Alabama, Huntsville. I'll I'll shorten that to Uah, but um what were you thought? Did you get to see you watched that game, right?

SPEAKER_01 2:35

I watched the whole game. I thought it was a great game.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Yeah, yeah. What what what what stood out to you?

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Um I'll tell you that you know, the speed of both teams, they were both quick, both teams were good defensively. Um, again, we've talked about this conference, it's a new conference. The teams might not be the greatest teams as far as rankings and nationals, but we talked about how competitive they are. And for this first, you know, tournament championship, these teams were playing like it was a championship game.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

There was fans there and they were allowed, and it had all the the elements of championship lacrosse.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

And it was a close game. The 12th. Well, I'll tell you, that's what stood out to me is uh they were both were in it to win it, right? I mean, if you look at Uah, they were down by I think four or five goals, and they did not quit, they did not give up, and and they came back, and it was a it was a two-goal game in the end. And and and the other thing, just like you said, is uh these teams are are uh are like we talked about before, could be a few uh players away from being competitive against a lot of the schools in the south. Um, but I'll tell you what, I was I I loved it at the end. I was I was I love to see the excitement uh and the pride that the the Montevello players had after winning. And and to be honest, the UAH players, you know, they were really disappointed. They wanted to win that, and that will show you what what these conference championships mean. And I thought it was fantastic. I I it was it was a fun game to watch, especially because I couldn't take my eyes off it when UAH started coming back.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Yeah, I reiterated had all the elements of a championship across game. And like these, like you said, these two teams are getting after it. They both wanted it in their every way, and that midfielder, that Montevello Falcons, the midfielder Fred Connor, he had himself a game with four goals. You know, and uh, you know, the the there's there's kids out there that are balling out that you know are playing at these D2 schools and doing a fantastic job. That was a great game. That was a great first championship for that conference, the Beach Belt Conference.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yeah, it was. And I I think we're gonna see more good things to come. Uh, another game I'd like to touch on. I I know I talked, you didn't watch this. I got to watch Colorado Mesa against Westminster. Um, it kind of could be a prelude to uh, you know, the their conference championship that's coming up this weekend, uh, as they're the one and two seeds right now. But um the things that stood out to me on that game was once again goalie play. So goalie play um for CMU, but their goalie uh Nolan Hoffman did a phenomenal job. And I think the difference um in that game was I think CMU's defense were winning their matchups against the Westminster offense, um uh, which uh you know was what was I think somewhat the difference. And then CMU, what's really other interesting thing I found out as I started research a little bit more, CMU has a lot of off offensive starters that are freshmen. So if you don't think Colorado Mesa, who right now, and we'll get to the NCA seeding right now, the first seating came out today. Colorado Mesa's seven, and and they're seven, and they've got a lot of freshmen playing, uh starting for them. Let's let's see what happens in the next few years, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:07

It's it's very that tells you the future's bright at the Colorado Mesa. They they've been right on the bubble 18, 19, 20, 15, yeah, you know, nationally ranked. You know what? They're balling out out there, and good for them. And this should be an exciting uh tournament for that for that tour, uh, for that conference coming up.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Yeah, and so uh the next game uh I think you and I both watched, which I found really exciting, uh, was an early matchup in the NET NE 10 conference, Pace Bentley.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

Great game.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

What did you think of that?

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Great game, great game, great game, and that's that had elements of championship lacrosse. Uh you know, you want to talk about goalie play? That oh yeah, goalie for pace. Uh what's his last name? Ragusa, my man, the ragu in the cage. He had 18 saves that night. He was a he was stellar, and especially at the end of the game.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Oh, that was that was sick. That the the the bang bang stops. I mean, that's what it was.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

Two doorstep stops in a row, bang, bang, like you said.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Ward center highlight.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Absolutely, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

I don't care what any right, any division, any any level, any level of lacrosse that you can talk.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

That was as good as goalie plays you can get the ragoo in my eyes were popping out when I saw that.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

I I was shaken. It was it was so cool to see the other thing I noticed about that game was it it was uh a game of runs, right? So uh kind of back and forth. Uh you know, each team would get a couple goals. Interestingly, pace did not score a goal in the third quarter, did not score a goal, and I thought Bentley had it then. I I mean, and I will tell you what's great about the sport, and especially even in D2, right? Don't count anyone out. Pace came back and outscored Bentley 5-1 in the fourth.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

You know, yeah. Pace Pace is not, you know, they're a good team, they're they're ranked for a reason. And and Bentley's a great team. That that was one of the better games I've seen this season.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

Well, yeah, because it's funny. You get you get uh uh they were they were four and five seed in the NE10, and the they played like they were well matched, right? They they were well matched, they were that was a good one, yeah. So then I I think you know, maybe um one more game to just kind of highlight. Um uh just because it's it's the it's the conference, it's not having a conference championship. Um, and it was uh and the kind of reason why I want to point out is is Tampa Florida Tech, and and the reason why is because I think I said I we talked about this about the uh Sunshine State conference, and that teams like Florida Tech and Florida Southern, even though they have they don't have winning seasons right now and they only played in in conference this year, you cannot dismiss them. So you cannot dismiss Florida Tech, and Florida Tech hung with Tampa almost all the way through the third quarter, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:10

Yeah, yeah, that was a pretty good game. Florida Tech, you know, they they played hard, and like you said, it went into about the third quarter, and then Tampa started to, I guess, figure it all out. Yeah, you know, yeah, but at that time I didn't feel that Tampa was playing all their best. Again, these teams have been shut down for a couple of weeks because of COVID protocols and issues in the Sunshine State Conference. So, you know, it's it's only natural that first game back, you might be a little rusty. And Tampa looked a little rusty to me in that game. I mean, again, they won the game, they're still undefeated, but you know, they they but they they didn't look like a number three team against that Florida Tech team, which goes to tell me that Florida Tech's a pretty good squad. Yeah, like that, you know, and they're going out and they're playing hungry and and they're they're going after ground balls, and then they're they're not intimidated.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Yeah, they they they had some uh they started to get some uh turnovers, almost some unforced turnovers, the way I saw it, you know, in that end of that third quarter in the fourth, that just they couldn't come, they couldn't come back from um because they just couldn't get the ball on the offensive side to try to get get back. But um I think, you know, just like you said, I mean, it I think it goes to show you that that conference is is you know, you you can't take any teams lightly. Um and it was just good good to see. I mean, um it, you know, so we'll see how the next few, you know, that they're still interesting, they're not playing Sun Sunshine State is not playing uh a tournament, but they are still playing games. I mean, uh St. Leo and and um and Tampa are playing tonight, so it kind of interests.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

It'll be and Lynn and Rawl, Lynn and Rollins played tonight too.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

And I think Lynn beat Rollins 13 to 11.

SPEAKER_00 11:06

There you go. Another I I didn't get a chance to see that game at all. I may have to go back and look at it because that that would probably be a fun game to watch. Um, all right. So any uh I think you know now let's kind of shift, let's shift to kind of where we are in the conference tournament, uh, the championships for each conference. Because it's it's hot and heavy in almost all of them. The the there's two that and we'll get to them uh that haven't started play. We can talk about those a little bit, but I might as well start with uh any 10 because they actually started their their tournament play last Wednesday, April 28th, right? Um because all teams, all teams in the conference, all 11, were we're getting a chance to play, but we're we're now you know interesting. So let's look at at one side of the bracket where now St. Anselm's uh beat pace today in in the semifinals. What I find interesting about that is um, you know, I watched the St. Anselm's Assumption game, and St. Anselm's dominated that game. So you're like, okay, I can see why that there and us the assumption St. Michael's game was pretty close, you know. It is it was another one of those eight-nine seeds. You can see where it's a pretty close game. But St. Anselm's against Pace today was uh just it was their first real test, and they passed the test. Yeah, once again, a a game of runs, right? Um, a game of runs, and and in the end, they had the run at the in the in the fourth quarter to put them up, right?

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Yes, yes, yes. You know, it was uh like you said, a game of runs, and um St. Anselm had their first real test today, and they and they passed the test.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Well, yeah, because look at that, they were down by three goals and they and and they did not stop.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

No, it was a defensive game. It was kind of low scoring in that first half, you know, 4-3, 4-2 kind of you know, defensive game. Um, both goalies making saves again, and and but St. Asclim's big, they were big, they were they were strong defensively. They were so they didn't surprise me, but today was their first real test.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

Well, and the other thing is that St. A's did is they had uh they spread the scoring around.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

That's what good teams do.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Yeah, they had a you know, so you know it I think the matchup now. Let's go to the other side of the bracket. Um, Lemoyne, uh, you know, really no surprise, I think that Lemoyne and Adelphi ended up today in the in the semifinals. Uh and and uh Lemoyne came out on top on that one too. Uh I don't I don't I watched it. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

Yeah, Lemoyne's a good squad. And and and a Delphi was good though. Delphi played hard. They played hard today. Um, Lemoyne was just a little bit better, you know. They're just a better team than Pace, and I'm not taking anything away from the setters of Pace University up there.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

I mean uh when they played at uh uh Adelphi, Lemoyne and Adelphi.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

Sorry, I'm sorry, I meant you're right, Adelphi. My bad. Um I got so many teams in my head. Um Lemoyne, Lemoyne looked bigger than a Delphi, and they looked better, they were just a better team today, you know, just a better team. Yeah, Delphi Adelphi's had a little bit of struggles this year. They're they didn't have the year that they're used used to having, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_00 14:40

But they were in the mix, and I think I mean it was it was 10-9 at one point, so I mean it was close.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Today's loss might hurt a Delphi in the NCAA. That that might have been the one that make maybe he maybe they don't get in now.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

Yeah, it'll be interesting. You know, we'll get to that um when we get through these. We'll kind of go through the where they had, they just came out with the seating today. It'll be uh I think we'll get to once we go through these uh tournaments. And I I like your thoughts on that as well.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

But um getting at is like even in a semifinal game, it can have implications, yeah. Nationally, yeah. So we're talking about a semifinal game in a conference that has national implications on it. So, what does that tell you about that conference? That tells you that conference is pretty darn good.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Yep, yep, yep, yeah, exactly. Um, you know, several teams, obviously. I think they've got uh they've got several that are uh seated, right? They got three, I think. Uh St. A's, uh uh Adelphi and Lemoyne that are in the mix for the making the tournament. So I'll tell you how how good they are, right? Um they're good up there. They're good. All right, so let's move to um the Central Atlantic uh collegiate conference, the CAC. So the uh the semifinals are set, they're actually to play tomorrow. So we got games tomorrow too, which you know you can't beat that, right? Uh I I gotta I actually have to work though. I I I can't just be watching, but uh yeah, I know it's crazy. But the funny the the the that's the thing that's great, though, is a lot of these like the the access to we have to games with streaming nowadays is um fantastic as because a lot of them are now on demand. So if I miss one, I want to go look at it, I can go look at it. That's the other great thing about this. And I don't think I mean I remember when when my son was uh looking at schools, I don't think the number of games that were streaming. This is just three years ago, three, four years ago was as um as prevalent.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

All right, six years ago, my son started Deep Division II. There was probably four or five games that were not streamed at all.

SPEAKER_00 17:00

Yeah, and now you multiply that. Now you get almost every every game uh is streamed, practically everyone, and like you said, they have on demand.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

You can go back and watch a game if you missed one.

SPEAKER_00 17:12

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

So awesome, great, and that you know that helps in the recruiting part of things too. Oh yeah, you know, we'll get into that another time, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

So um CAC, the the semifinals are Chestnut Hill against uh Dominican. Now, Dominican won their their their kind of their play-in game against Caldwell um as the fifth versus the fourth seed in overtime, which was kind of interesting. Both teams were going at it, and and and Dominican came up, yeah. So uh, and then on the other side, we've got uh Wilmington against Georgian Court. Now, Georgian Court just dominated against post to get in there, so you know. So the number two in the number three seeds, you've got Wilmington against Georgian Court, and then Chestnut Hill against Dominican. My personal opinion is I I wouldn't bet anything against Chestnut Hill.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

No, they're they're the top dog in that conference, I think, right now. It's gonna take a lot, but we spoke about this last week at tournament time, any given Sunday. You know, you never know that ball's gonna bounce, but it it looks like Chestnut Hill has got a clear path to taking that championship.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

I'll tell you though, the fun game to watch is gonna be Wilmington, Georgia Court, Georgian Court. That would be a fun game to watch.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

That Georgian court team is a pretty darn good team, they're not too bad. I watched them, they're out of Jersey, I think, right? Georgian court.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

I think so, yeah. And then and then Will, obviously Wilmington's out of Delaware, but uh they uh they uh I've seen them play a little bit too. Like I said, I you know I said it last week. I I've just watched them against Felicia, and they you know they they dominated that game, but it was you saw that they had some they had some players. They were you know they could definitely uh put up, you know, compete against most teams in D2. Absolutely, absolutely. All right, so um next is uh on my list is Great Lakes, uh Great Lakes Valley uh conference. Now they don't start until they they really do it quickly. They're doing their semis on Friday. It's Lindenwood against Meryville, and then U Indy against Rockhurst, and then they do their championship game on Sunday, right? Same day that they do the the final NCAA uh show to to see who's in. Yeah, yeah. So um, you know, I you saw Linenwood last week beat Rockhurst by a fairly good amount, which kind of surprised me. Um, so we I think Undie Rockhurst game will be interesting. I think Linenwood will get by Meryville. And if it's Linenwood Undie, I think whoever wins that we'll see what happens come NCAAs.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

Well, there we go. Here we go again, talking about a conference out west and have having a championship game, possibly setting up for a championship game that could have implications nationally at the end for tour for the NCAA tournament. Um, you Indy Lindenwood, if that's to be in that conference, I think that's gonna be one heck of a game to watch.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Oh, yeah, yeah, because um they I think I'm sure they don't like it, but they've split this year, right? They both won against each other. So and this is for all the marbles. This is probably more than just for all the marbles, just for the the conference tournament championship. This could be getting in in for the NCAAs, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:53

You know, you're talking about the rubber match, the rubber match, with all with with two with two implications, conference championship being on one side and a possible national seeding being on the other side. So you don't think those boys are getting after it on Sunday?

SPEAKER_00 21:11

Yeah, it'll be a good game to watch. Good game to watch.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

In there, again, they gotta get in there, they gotta get past Maryville, and you know, they got to get past those teams first.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

That's true, that's true.

SPEAKER_01 21:24

I don't want to put them in just yet, right? You know, but uh if those two were to get at it, there's gonna be a lot of implications. That should be a good one, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

So let's move on to the GMAC, great Midwest. Uh um, we've got uh Mercyhurst and Lake Erie played today, uh, and then Seton Hill Walsh played. Both Seton Hill and Mercyhurst um won dom pretty pretty pretty much dominated those games, that both the games that they they won. Um obviously has the one and two seeds, Mercyhurst being One Seton Hill being two. You may have expected that.

SPEAKER_01 22:04

I mean, and both of them, both of them being top five teams nationally.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Yeah. Yeah, it's tough. Walsh and Lake Erie had the uh uh you know had a big hill to climb. But here's what I love. So I was I was uh watching on the D2 lacrosse Facebook page today, uh, and I think it was a parent of of someone on from the Walsh team who said, Hey, we're coming back in 2022. And you gotta love that, right? It's gotta be like, you know, come on, it's great, great pride in your team, you know. The the better team won today, but we're coming, we're we're all ready to come back for 2022.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

Yeah, that's what's college ball is all about, isn't it? Spirit and wearing your colors and and doing all of that. And and and you know what, Walsh, congratulate Walsh. You know, that a tough season, but you know what? You're in a big boy, you're in a big boy uh conference there, you know.

SPEAKER_00 22:59

So yeah, good for you guys. We'll see them some more. They're that yeah, we'll yeah, they're they're a good team. They're a good team. They're just not at the Seton Hill level right now.

SPEAKER_01 23:09

No, that that mercy hearst, Seton Hill, those two teams are they're good, man. They're good.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

So any any predictions between those two?

SPEAKER_01 23:19

Ooh, you know, Mercy Hearst beat Seton Hill, but that was early in the season. Mercy Hearst got that loss from Mercy a couple of weeks ago. They've been playing really good, Mercy Hearst, since then, but Seton Hill seems to be on fire, man. They seem to be hitting on all cylinders right now, and they're just playing really good lacrosse, yeah, putting up lots of points, um, sharing the ball. They're gonna be tough to beat, no matter who plays them from here on out.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

Yeah, yeah. Yep. So, okay, let's let's move on to the uh uh Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Armak. Um, they're they're talk about a quick turnaround. Their semifinals are Friday and their finals then on Saturday. So the semifinals are is Adams State against Colorado Mesa and uh CSU Pueblo against uh Westminster and the championship on Saturday. And and once again, that you know, that's why I I was kind of interested in the the CMU Westminster game from last weekend, just because those are the two top seeds in the in the conference, um, with the best records. Um, but I'll tell you, I I would love to see the both sets of games because I haven't seen Adam State play yet, and I've seen a little bit of CSU Pueblo, but I think it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top. I I would think the Colorado Mesa will take care of Adam State. I don't know between CSU Pueblo and Westminster, uh, but uh it'll be a good contest.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

Yeah, I think that's Colorado Mesa's conference, though. They seem to be they seem to be a step uh higher than the you know, one rung up the ladder than the other squads in that conference right now, as far as talent is concerned.

SPEAKER_00 25:10

Yeah, I would agree with you there. I would agree with you there. I mean, it I was kind of show when I watched the like I said, the CMU game against Westminster this this past weekend. So um, but just like we saw in the Peach Belt, right? Peach Belt Conference, the championship game.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

That's right, because it's a championship game and it's college, it's NCAA, and it means you know, these kids get to hold up the trophy. It means a lot to them, you know, and they're gonna be balling out for sure.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

Yeah, so like we said, um Sunshine State's not having a conference tournament. We already have you know, Conference Carolinas, Belmont Abbey won that, and Lenore Ryan won for the sacks. So the last one is the East Coast Conference. Uh Roberts Wesleyan just beat Malloy today in in the semifinal match. Um, and they're they go to meet Mercy on on Saturday. Good luck. Yeah, that's what I would say too.

SPEAKER_01 26:12

Mercy Mercy's good, they're good. I they're they're the top dog in that conference by far, by far. And anybody that has to play mercy at this point in the season is climbing a big mountain. And I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's gonna be hard pressed to go out and beat the Mavericks from Mercy. They're pretty good.

SPEAKER_00 26:36

Yeah, so that kind of wraps up where we are on the on the tournament uh uh sheet there for all the conferences. Um, but I think that's a good segue right into where we are, you know. So today the NCAA uh published uh the seedings. Uh prior to this, as you know, they had teams on seven teams in each region under consideration. Now they put in a seeding. So let's start with the North, because I think we just talked about that, you know, Merc with Mercy and Seton Hill. Um Seton Hill is seeded one, Mercy is seeded two, and then it goes Lemoyne, Mercyhurst, and St. Anselm as the top five seeds, followed by a Delphi and Chestnut Hill. So, like we talked about, I'd like to get your opinion on this because this is what I think. I think St. Anselm, St. Aides has got to play a they have to play well against Lemoyne in the championship. They don't have to necessarily win, but they can't, it can't be it can't necessarily be a blowout, or else maybe a Chestnut Hill or an Adelphi, especially if Chestnut Hill wins their conference turma, there's a shot that they can move up. What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_01 27:49

I don't see Chestnut Hill getting in just based on schedule and strength of schedule and and talent uh at right now. Um that win today for Saint Anselms might have pushed a Delphi out. That that's that's a big win for for for St. Anselm and a big loss, you know, for Delphi. Uh you know, it might it might have hurt them.

SPEAKER_00 28:15

I I see yeah, they Delphi sits well that the big difference just in in games, Saint A's is 12 and 0 and a Delphi 7 and 3 now.

SPEAKER_01 28:24

So yeah, I see St. Anselm getting that fifth spot.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

That's you think you think in the North that those five top seeds are pretty well set then?

SPEAKER_01 28:34

I do, I do. Um, like I said to you just before, uh Seton Hill right now, they're on fire.

SPEAKER_00 28:41

Right.

SPEAKER_01 28:42

And and they're they're they're they're putting the biscuit in the basket, and they they they score, they score early and often, they're fast, they ride, they cause turnovers, they're a good squad. They they they at every aspect of the game, there's no holes in their game. Mercy at two, hmm, it could be a toss-up between them and mercy hearst, in my opinion, at that two. It's a toss-up. So maybe the the committee's looking at, well, mercy beat mercy hearst. Maybe they're looking at that game and saying, hey, we're gonna give the nod to mercy. But if you ask me, it's it's a toss-up between those two teams. And and I think I think the committee, I think the committee got got that seating right, and I think St. Anslim gets in with that win, too.

SPEAKER_00 29:36

Yeah, uh, it's uh you know, I it's interesting. I I kind of was surprised to see Lemoyne at at three, but um, you know, let's see what happens in the rest of the the the conference tournaments. I I think those seeds may could shift a little bit, but I think those those four are solid in the top four. It's the fifth. You you think all five. I think there's a chance for St.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

A's, but yeah, when you think, you know, um the seeding there, like when you talk about uh who's who's number one in the uh in the north. The amount of points that they're just putting up. I mean Mercyhurst is putting up big points too, but I I love that Seton Hill pick. I I think that's a good pick.

SPEAKER_00 30:28

No, I I I agree with you for number one. I I definitely do. And and uh, you know, I I've been trying to look at in in their in their strength, you know, the the PDFs that they show on the on the website where you kind of go by you know strength of schedule and RPIs. I I try to figure out the math and how they get the rankings. I haven't been able to do that, but you know, um all kinds of algorithms.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

It's it's a there's a lot to it. You know, there's a lot. You have to um St.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

A's, Adelphi, and Chess and the Hill are only a couple spots away from each other and kind of the rankings there. So it'll it'll the other ones are are kind of on the top. So um, so let's move to the south now. Let's move to the south. So here they are in in seated seated order. So number one seat is Lenore Rhine, number two is Wingate, number three is Mount Olive, number four is Belmont Abbey, number five, Tampa, six is U Indy, and rounding it out is number seven is Colorado Mesa. So a couple interesting things on on that I see is uh SAC and Conference Carolinas in the top four. There are no other conferences in there, and I and I think that goes to the strength of schedule and the strength of those conferences above some of the other South region conferences right now.

SPEAKER_01 31:50

No doubt, absolutely 100%. Those conferences are stronger conferences. You know, you're talking multi-ranked teams in in both conferences.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

I mean, the the NCA right now has Bellman Abbey, which has a record of 10 and 4, seated higher than Tampa, who's undefeated.

SPEAKER_01 32:07

Well, there you go. Strength of schedule. I think the committee is starting to look at schedules like we we talked about Tampa last week. Um, we talked about no top five wins, no top 10 wins, no top 15 wins, one top 20 win. And now they've played eight games, I believe. They've played eight games where most of the teams have played 13. So again, I'm not taking anything away from Tampa, but their body of work right now doesn't match up to some of the other ones. We said the same thing last week. I think you know, Belmont Abbey and Mount Olive personally have a better, better strength of schedule.

SPEAKER_00 32:52

Oh, yeah. Yeah. The other interesting thing, the other interesting thing I think is I think if U Indy wins out and wins the their conference tournament, they could displace Tampa.

SPEAKER_01 33:07

That's a very big possibility. That's a very, very big possibility. Now I think Tampa has one more game against Lynn, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_00 33:20

Yeah, they've they're playing St. Leo now, and then they have one more game against Lynn, supposedly on Saturday.

SPEAKER_01 33:25

Beat Lynn last time by one goal. That was that game could have gone either way. That game could have gone either way. I'm not saying that you know Lynn is going to be a pushover this time or Tampa's gonna roll over them, but there you go. That's only two. If let's say they beat Lynn, that's only two top 20 wins. I just don't see. And if U Indy wins, their body of work is better. They got more more ranked wins. So, you know, the committee, I think, got it right. I I do, and I think let's see what happens with the U Indy, you know, with that conference tournament this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 34:05

Yeah, I mean it will be really entertaining to see the the how it how it plays out because I I agree with you. I think um I'll I'll admit that I Belmont Abbey in at four was a little bit surprising to me, but that the more you you know you you talk, I I definitely saw LR Wingate Mount Olive. I I I can see that now but Belmont Abbey then won their conference tournament against Mount Olive. So it makes it makes a lot of sense. Does.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

And and if you ask me, and again, I'm not I don't sit on the committee, but I've watched a lot of games and a lot of these teams I've watched. And you know, not only do numbers matter and wins and losses and strength of schedule, but the eye candy matters too. It's like what you see in your eye. And in the south, I think Lenore Ryan and Wingate are two of the best teams in the country. In the country.

SPEAKER_00 35:01

Yeah, I I I would agree.

SPEAKER_01 35:03

When you're watching those, they I think anybody that plays either one of those teams from the north, south. If you're gonna play Wingate, you're gonna be in, you're gonna have a rough afternoon. It's gonna be physical, they're fast. I think they have the best attack unit in the country with the three kids that attack. There's three of them in the top 14 in the country and scores and goals and points, and that attack unit is is is lethal.

SPEAKER_00 35:32

Yeah, and and then you look at Lenore Ryan with uh, you know, a lot of their their pieces on offense too, right?

SPEAKER_01 35:40

I mean yes, you have Dickerson, you have Moffitt, you have the kid Kanada who had five goals in the SAC championship game. These kids are all Americans, they're all Americans, right?

SPEAKER_00 35:53

You can't just focus in on one of them, and you know, like uh one one or two at times. There's always there's a third, there's a third option at all times.

SPEAKER_01 36:01

So I think any team in the country, take from the north or the south, any team, you play Lenore, Ryan or Wingate, you're you're you're you're gonna be in a tough afternoon. You're gonna you're gonna be playing, uh in my eyes, in my opinion, those are the two two best teams that I can in in this country that I can see. They're the strength, size, defense, goalie play, face-off, they have it all.

SPEAKER_00 36:30

And very few, very few unforced turnovers by those teams, too, right? Like, you know, you just don't see it. They don't in fact, you don't see as many four. I mean, I've seen more forced turnovers in other games than I have against when you watch Lenore Reiner Wingate. You know, they protect the ball pretty well.

SPEAKER_01 36:48

You don't make mistakes, those two teams right there, you know. That's that, and that's just my one man's opinion, one dad, one dad's opinion. And like I said, out of the north, Seton Hill is on fire. You know, like I think anybody that plays Seton Hill, you're gonna be in a tough game. Those those kids are quick, their attack units great, their face-off guy is great, they're gonna be good. It's gonna be a great yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:15

Here's what I say the my my final thought on the the the scene right now. I I look at the way the NCA has us on both regions right now, and all I can think of is it is going to be a great D2 tournament, all the way from the you know the the the the first game all the way to the the final uh that happens in East Hartford. You know, you just I don't see how they're not gonna be uh close competitive games.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

Every single team right now in Division II that's under consideration for the tournament is a phenomenal team. Yeah, there's there's talent all over the place, you know, and a lot of them is division one talent, division one type talent. Oh, without a doubt. These kids are big. I mean, if you look at the kid uh Kluber from Mercyhurst, he's a big boy. I mean, he's over six foot, he's gotta be 200 pounds if he's an ounce and he's playing attack. I mean, these these kids are good, man, and they're big, and they're division one type players on every single one of these teams. They're there, we talked about last week how Division II is playing competitive ball. And we we even mentioned some of the smaller schools, the Adam States, and and those types of schools and and where they're going. But when you get to this level, what these teams in the north and the south, you got Seton Hill, Mercy, Lemoyne, Mercyhurst, St. Ann's Delphi, and Chestnut Hill, all those teams are very good teams with all conference kids, first team all-conference kids on that on their squads. You know, um, there might be even some high school All-Americans on those squads. And then, like out of the South region, Lenore Ryan, Wingate, Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey, Tampa, UND, and Colorado Mesa. Again, every team is a great team. They're all great, despite what their record says, whether they have two losses, three losses, one loss.

SPEAKER_00 39:21

Yeah. Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, and and I think that's probably, I mean, I'm just getting excited again to to to watch these uh conference tournament games and then watch the show on Sunday, see how it uh plays out, and then get to watch the the conference, the the NCA games. Because I I I just in fact, I'm already going, I'm already dreading the withdrawal I'm gonna go through after after uh Memorial Day weekend. I'm gonna have to you know go start doing go back to on-demand games, I think, just to watch the games that I missed.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

Well, I have a high school kid, so he'll be playing travel across all summer. So there you go. It'll be going right to football season with us, but all right, and there we go. I I think that's about it, Kev. I mean, we we banged through it.

SPEAKER_00 40:10

Yeah, well, once again, uh Danny, uh, we we said we wanted to keep it to 30 minutes. We blew right through that. So perfect, perfect. We didn't get to all the subjects we wanted. We'll cut it there because and I thank you for uh coming up coming uh on the on the show with me today and tonight, and and hopefully uh you know we'll get this loaded up and see what see what everyone thinks about episode two.

SPEAKER_01 40:34

Uh yeah, and and I look forward to the next one. I think we can have um a little bit more in-depth discussion with some of these teams, maybe get into some of the players on these squads and and some of the coaches and talk about the coaches and and maybe do some of that and and see where we're going because it's tourney time. It's tourning time, baby. It's sad, it's bittersweet. It's like the best time of the year because you got all the conferences going on and all these great games, and even in the division one and the division three level. I know that we speak about division two, and I watch a whole heck of a lot of division two lacrosse. I still watch division one and I still watch division three. So this is like the greatest time of year for me, right? But it's also sad because it's coming to an end.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

Coming to an end. But let's uh so unfortunately, let's end that here. We could I know you and I could go on forever. Let's let's uh leave it for episode two, tourney time, and and uh we'll uh today.

SPEAKER_01 41:39

Say again, it's it's Cinco de Mayo today. It is, it is yeah, no.

SPEAKER_00 41:45

All right, so on that, I'll go have some uh a beer and uh some chips and guac.

SPEAKER_01 41:52

All right, see you later, Kev. Yeah.