CU @ Duke lax

[RichH]

[quote FarEastLax]It's definitely a big game for us, and I hope that we can get some support in two key areas:

1.  Our goaler needs to have a solid day.[/quote]

I'd say a 17-save performance qualifies.  :-)

 

2.  We need to avoid the type of extendo-scoring-drought crisis that has plagued us in certain games.

Eh.  Whatever works.  10 goals, 5 from Hurley, 3 from Seibald, and 2 from Glynn.  Big win.  Aren't we now 3-0 down there in the last 4 years?

[Germ]

Nighty night Duke.  

Ok..seriously..we're 3-0 in our last three at Durham so memo to Tambroni: "Please stop scheduling Duke unless they come to our crib. It's time they realized that we own them down there and it's now their turn to schlep it up our way."

What a great win.  I think this will give us a lot of confidence moving forward.

Memo to Harer:  "I take back everything I said about you after the UVA game.  Keep it up the good work."

[semsox]

From what I've read here and elsewhere, it seems most of Duke's shots were pretty weak (outside shots, not much up close) which could explain Harer's saves total.  That being said, 17 saves is 17 saves, good to see him have a really good game.  I also thought it was great for Seibald establish himself early.  In the game against UVa, he didn't even get on the score sheet until the game is out of hand, which is frustrating because he can get into a scoring position at will.  If we're going to do some real damage this year, he's going to need to play like this every game.

[Josh '99]

[quote Germ]Nighty night Duke.  

Ok..seriously..we're 3-0 in our last three at Durham so memo to Tambroni: "Please stop scheduling Duke unless they come to our crib. It's time they realized that we own them down there and it's now their turn to schlep it up our way."[/quote]If we actually own Duke down there, then A) why would we stop going there, and B) why would they want to play us in Ithaca?

[Flyers1037]

[quote Josh '99][quote Germ]Nighty night Duke.  

Ok..seriously..we're 3-0 in our last three at Durham so memo to Tambroni: "Please stop scheduling Duke unless they come to our crib. It's time they realized that we own them down there and it's now their turn to schlep it up our way."[/quote]If we actually own Duke down there, then A) why would we stop going there, and B) why would they want to play us in Ithaca?[/quote]

If we keep beating quality Duke teams down there, then why would we stop doing it?  It only helps our team.

[TimV]

Also, our schedule is more flexible early in the season, when our weather sucks.  That's a lot of the reason for playing there around spring break.  It's not like football, where you might have an advantage playing in bad weather to which your opponent is unacclimatized.  Or like hockey where your home crowd can be a factor.

I don't care about the home venue, I'd rather have the strength of schedule boost.

[RichH]

[quote TimV]It's not like football, where you might have an advantage playing in bad weather to which your opponent is unacclimatized.[/quote]

Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Typical Syracuse Fan...

[JasonN95]

[quote TimV]Also, our schedule is more flexible early in the season, when our weather sucks.  That's a lot of the reason for playing there around spring break.  It's not like football, where you might have an advantage playing in bad weather to which your opponent is unacclimatized.  Or like hockey where your home crowd can be a factor.

I don't care about the home venue, I'd rather have the strength of schedule boost.[/quote]

I disagree with on the weather point; I don't see why it would be much different from football.

I've said it before, but I can't help repeating myself: I'd rather lose some of the SoS boost and see Cornell schedule another program that doesn't require Cornell to kowtow to them and only play at their field. Given where the two programs are and what they've done over the last several seasons, there's no reason why Duke shouldn't return the favor and play games in Ithaca.

[TimV]

[quote JasonN95] I disagree with on the weather point; I don't see why it would be much different from football.[/quote]

I see your and Rich H's point, and with respect to Syracuse (or other indoor teams, if there are any) you're both right and I'm wrong.  That exception acknowledged, I think both teams otherwise involved have their game degraded fairly equally by bad weather.  With regard to Duke specifically we may be more like Syracuse (faster, more uptempo) than they, and therefore more adversely affected.

[quote JasonN95] I've said it before, but I can't help repeating myself: I'd rather lose some of the SoS boost and see Cornell schedule another program that doesn't require Cornell to kowtow to them and only play at their field. Given where the two programs are and what they've done over the last several seasons, there's no reason why Duke shouldn't return the favor and play games in Ithaca.[/quote]


Can't buy this part of the argument. Especially this year, with two or three other strong teams that might win the Ivy title, that strength of schedule factor becomes very important either for seeding or for making the NCAA tournament at all.

[Al DeFlorio]

As long as the NCAA's selection and seeding criteria are so heavily (and wrongly, IMO) biased toward strength of schedule, it's hard to argue with Tim's logic.  While I'm as annoyed as Jason at the onesidedness in our scheduling with Duke, what matters most is getting teams on the schedule that will boost Cornell's SOS.

[ugarte]

[quote Al DeFlorio]As long as the NCAA's selection and seeding criteria are so heavily (and wrongly, IMO) biased toward strength of schedule, it's hard to argue with Tim's logic.  While I'm as annoyed as Jason at the onesidedness in our scheduling with Duke, what matters most is getting teams on the schedule that will boost Cornell's SOS.[/quote]
And, just as importantly Duke doesn't have to care about scheduling us. The ACC has their tight little Power SOS Generator. Any OOC games they play are more or less gifts bestowed on the poors. If we want Duke on our schedule - and I think it has been convincingly argued that we do - it is going to be on their terms.

[JasonN95]

[quote ugarte][quote Al DeFlorio]As long as the NCAA's selection and seeding criteria are so heavily (and wrongly, IMO) biased toward strength of schedule, it's hard to argue with Tim's logic.  While I'm as annoyed as Jason at the onesidedness in our scheduling with Duke, what matters most is getting teams on the schedule that will boost Cornell's SOS.[/quote]
And, just as importantly Duke doesn't have to care about scheduling us. The ACC has their tight little Power SOS Generator. Any OOC games they play are more or less gifts bestowed on the poors. If we want Duke on our schedule - and I think it has been convincingly argued that we do - it is going to be on their terms.[/quote]

Yes, but now the Ivies have constructed their own SoS dynamo. It may not be as potent as the ACC's --although with only UVA really pulling their weight so far, I wonder if the potency of the ACC tournament this year may be less than prior years-- it should help. I would think perception of the program would be an important factor when recruiting; having to always play at Duke makes Cornell look second tier.

[RichH]

[quote ugarte][quote Al DeFlorio]As long as the NCAA's selection and seeding criteria are so heavily (and wrongly, IMO) biased toward strength of schedule, it's hard to argue with Tim's logic.  While I'm as annoyed as Jason at the onesidedness in our scheduling with Duke, what matters most is getting teams on the schedule that will boost Cornell's SOS.[/quote]
And, just as importantly Duke doesn't have to care about scheduling us. The ACC has their tight little Power SOS Generator. Any OOC games they play are more or less gifts bestowed on the poors. If we want Duke on our schedule - and I think it has been convincingly argued that we do - it is going to be on their terms.[/quote]

Well, maybe we can start some change by scheduling a neutral-site game vs. Duke similar to how we played Navy on Long Island or Denver in TX or participate in an event like the Big City Classic.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote JasonN95]
Yes, but now the Ivies have constructed their own SoS dynamo. It may not be as potent as the ACC's --although with only UVA really pulling their weight so far, I wonder if the potency of the ACC tournament this year may be less than prior years-- it should help.[/quote]
I'm not sure how much another game against a fourth-place Ivy League team is gonna boost strength of schedule.  What's especially stupid is that the Ivy League champion will be determined by the regular season round-robin while the tournament will choose the autobid.  So the league champion could stay home?

[peterg]

There are benefits, other than just an SOS boost, from these mid-week games far from Ithaca during spring break.  It's an opportunity to take the team on the road to a good weather site, getting a LOT of outdoor practice time, getting a big time game in, AND doing some team building during the trips down and back and when they're all together without other distractions.  Add that it usually happens just before the start of the IVY season.  Coach Tambroni is VERY big on the idea of the "team" concept and from what I understand, these trips have always been valuable in that regard as well.