MLAX : With 6 weeks until tournament, SU downplays No. 1 ranking
John Desko has a lot more microphones in front of him these days.
In his first interview session since his Syracuse men’s lacrosse team moved up to the top spot in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media poll, the 10-year head coach had a sober approach about the No. 1 ranking, in front of a noticeably larger media contingent.
Desko was brief when speaking about what it means for his team.
‘It doesn’t mean a whole lot this time of year,’ Desko said.
He was excited about what it means for the area.
‘The way things have been going for the Syracuse area, I think it’s good for the community, too, to see one of their teams in the area, especially at the university, be No. 1 in the country.’
He was concerned with what it means for his opponents.
‘It’s a real feather in your cap if you can beat the No.1 team in the country, so everybody’s shooting for you.’
With increased competition to make the NCAA tournament in recent years, which starts in a mere six weeks, Desko said his team’s upcoming opponents are looking for resume-building wins at the expense of the Orange.
Following Desko’s lead, his players mostly brushed off the team’s top billing in both the media poll and the USILA coaches’ poll. Instead of taking accolades for the rankings, the Orange is setting out to prove that the ranking is deserved.
‘We are honored to be No. 1 right now, but we’re just going to keep working even harder,’ attack Kenny Nims said. ‘We’re going to practice like the No. 1 team and hopefully play like it.’
Although it may seem like the culmination of the long road back, from 5-12 last year to 7-1 this year, the players say last year isn’t redeemed until the end of the NCAA tournament.
Three teams (Johns Hopkins, Duke, Virginia) have occupied the No. 1 spot in the nation at one point in the season before losing.
‘You really have to show the nation now that you deserve that spot,’ goalie John Galloway said.
While there has been plenty to be pleased with for the No. 1 Syracuse men’s lacrosse team, there’s one thing defenseman Evan Brady isn’t satisfied with: The fact that he often turns around during home games to see more students cheering for SU’s opponents than for the Orange.
‘Football’s over now, they had a rough season,’ Brady said. ‘Basketball just ended. We’re a good team, No. 1 in the country right now, we’d love to have more fans, especially student fans.’
The Orange is averaging 4,682 fans at home this year, on pace for the third-lowest average in the past 20 years. Attendance numbers have dipped recently through the team’s 22-19 stretch from 2005-07 after strong numbers when the Orange won three NCAA titles from 2000-2004.
With Monday’s No.1 ranking, Brady and his teammates are hoping to see more students showing as the team enters the home stretch, with three games remaining in the Dome.
‘Hopefully maybe now with the No. 1 ranking they’ll want to come out and see what we can do and support us,’ midfielder Pat Perritt said.
Syracuse will face off against another slower-paced, defensive-minded team this weekend when it takes on Princeton Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Dome. In Syracuse’s most recent game, a 13-8 win over Loyola, the Orange struggled early against the Greyhounds’ slow-it down style before a five-goal second period helped propel the team to a win.
For Perritt, the experience will help his team as it prepares for Saturday.
‘It was a good learning experience,’ Perritt said. ‘We know turning the ball over can’t happen this weekend. We need to possess the ball and not give these guys a chance on offense.’
Looking ahead at the games left on Syracuse’s schedule, Desko said his squad will see plenty of teams trying to slow it down against the potent Orange offense.
‘I think especially with our remaining schedule, some of the teams are going to be a little more patient with us,’ Desko said. ‘Loyola was certainly patient with us for three, three and a half periods. Princeton’s never been a team to want to run up and down the field against Syracuse.’
Published on April 2, 2008 at 12:00 pm
