Cornell lax — 2025 playoffs

[The Rancor]

BL, does your family come from a religion where the holy trinity is suffering, guilt and "let's eat"?

His is one where he's put in a burlap sack and beaten with reeds.

[mike1960]

I think the attitude should be: We'll play anyone. Bring it on.

[ugarte]

I think the attitude should be: We'll play anyone. Bring it on.

one can simultaneously believe "we'll play anyone" and "i want as few obstacles as possible." in retrospect, there is probably greater historical appreciation for a tough path and even some marginally greater satisfaction as a fan, the overarching thing is "flags fly forever."

that said, i am not going to waste a lot of breath or mental energy hoping for the glide path because i think this team is good enough to win regardless and shit happens no matter what. there's nothing left to do strategically but win and arguing over whether there is some objectively "better" result for us in a game between two ACC teams is dumb unless you are arguing in person with a beer in front of you.

[upprdeck]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

[mike1960]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

I totally agree about depth. Should we make it to the championship game, we'd have to play on one-day rest. That's not something teams do all year, and so you don't know how you'll respond. Better conditioned teams with better depth will probably have an advantage. The Albany game was helpful for us in this respect.

But I'm getting ahead. One game at a time.

[Swampy]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

I totally agree about depth. Should we make it to the championship game, we'd have to play on one-day rest. That's not something teams do all year, and so you don't know how you'll respond. Better conditioned teams with better depth will probably have an advantage. The Albany game was helpful for us in this respect. [\\quote]

You're right! It's almost as if our coaches thought of this when they scheduled the Albany game. (Although Albany turned out to be a weaker team than expected.)

[BearLover]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

I totally agree about depth. Should we make it to the championship game, we'd have to play on one-day rest. That's not something teams do all year, and so you don't know how you'll respond. Better conditioned teams with better depth will probably have an advantage. The Albany game was helpful for us in this respect.

But I'm getting ahead. One game at a time.

I'd like an easier path, but by far the most important thing is guys staying healthy. We have all the pieces, but we need those pieces on the field.

I feel like the missing link the last few years has been a great FOGO guy. We have that now. Nothing is more frustrating than being the better team in all facets except for one, but losing because the other team got way more possessions.

This is the most complete Cornell team I can remember, but let's stay healthy and keep it that way.

[mike1960]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

I totally agree about depth. Should we make it to the championship game, we'd have to play on one-day rest. That's not something teams do all year, and so you don't know how you'll respond. Better conditioned teams with better depth will probably have an advantage. The Albany game was helpful for us in this respect.

But I'm getting ahead. One game at a time.

I'd like an easier path, but by far the most important thing is guys staying healthy. We have all the pieces, but we need those pieces on the field.

I feel like the missing link the last few years has been a great FOGO guy. We have that now. Nothing is more frustrating than being the better team in all facets except for one, but losing because the other team got way more possessions.

This is the most complete Cornell team I can remember, but let's stay healthy and keep it that way.

Yes, of course an easier path is better to get to the championship game. I'm just not sure if anyone knows what that is. A lot depends on how teams match up with each other, whether a team has a hot goalie, how teams respond to the pressure, etc. -- in other words, the wonders of sport. Is Maryland really that good (with losses to Rutgers and Michigan), or might there be some irrational fear of Maryland after 2022? Hard to say.

That's why I think the better attitude is a confident "whoever, let's play." "WD>WS."

[Swampy]

Sure you can schedule super hard.

Very few teams get to the playoffs undefeated no matter how good they are and once you reach that last 4 games most anyone can beat you.

Depth is huge though.   Some good teams are not deep enough to schedule really hard, where losing 1-2 guys dumps the season.

I totally agree about depth. Should we make it to the championship game, we'd have to play on one-day rest. That's not something teams do all year, and so you don't know how you'll respond. Better conditioned teams with better depth will probably have an advantage. The Albany game was helpful for us in this respect.

But I'm getting ahead. One game at a time.

I'd like an easier path, but by far the most important thing is guys staying healthy. We have all the pieces, but we need those pieces on the field.

I feel like the missing link the last few years has been a great FOGO guy. We have that now. Nothing is more frustrating than being the better team in all facets except for one, but losing because the other team got way more possessions.

This is the most complete Cornell team I can remember, but let's stay healthy and keep it that way.

Yes, of course an easier path is better to get to the championship game. I'm just not sure if anyone knows what that is. A lot depends on how teams match up with each other, whether a team has a hot goalie, how teams respond to the pressure, etc. -- in other words, the wonders of sport. Is Maryland really that good (with losses to Rutgers and Michigan), or might there be some irrational fear of Maryland after 2022? Hard to say.

That's why I think the better attitude is a confident "whoever, let's play." "WD>WS."

Agreed!

However, a fear of Maryland (and Syracuse) may be rational yet desirable nonetheless. Think of it as unfinished business, revenge, or finally and successfully confronting the bully who stole your lunch money. ::flipc::

[CU77]

I think Cornell matches up well with any team in the country, but the two teams I worry the most about are Maryland and Notre Dame, which are (not coincidentally!) ranked #2 and #3 by Massey (IMO the most reliable computer ranking system).

Maryland gets the absolute best pre-game and in-game scheming from Tillman, and ND is the two-time defending national champ, still with tons of talent on the roster. Two days ago, ND trailed UNC 4-1 at halftime, then exploded to outscore them 11-2 in the 2nd half. I feel that ND is a lot like Cuse in often sitting back, unless it really matters. Which it would in the NCAAs.

[CU2007]

I might be alone in this but I'd really like to avoid playing Army

[scoop85]

I might be alone in this but I'd really like to avoid playing Army

You're not alone. Army would be a tough matchup. 2 years ago AJ Pilate played Kirst about as well as any defenseman (including Lavelle) has played CJ. They have a top-tier FOGO, and with Eicher and Plunkett they have a couple of the best scorers in the country. Playing our best I think we'd prevail, but it would be a battle.

[dbilmes]

I might be alone in this but I'd really like to avoid playing Army

You're not alone. Army would be a tough matchup. 2 years ago AJ Pilate played Kirst about as well as any defenseman (including Lavelle) has played CJ. They have a top-tier FOGO, and with Eicher and Plunkett they have a couple of the best scorers in the country. Playing our best I think we'd prevail, but it would be a battle.

I saw Army beat Yale in person early in the season and was really impressed. They just came out and took it to Yale right from the start. They're going to be a tough out for anyone in the tourney.

[upprdeck]

they still have to win that Conf title to make sure they even get in

[djk26]

they still have to win that Conf title to make sure they even get in

Even if Cornell loses to Yale in the next game, I'd be surprised if they didn't get in to the NCAAs.  Not sure if this was sacrasm; the committee does have a tendency to underseed/snub the Big Red.

Which makes me wonder: what has to happen for Cornell to get the #1 seed this year?  Win the Ivy League Tournament at a minimum, then the rest of it is out of their hands.  

Top eight in RPI right now (I'd be very surprised if a team not on this list got the #1 seed): 1. Maryland, 2. Princeton, 3. Cornell, 4. Penn State, 5. North Carolina, 6. Notre Dame, 7. Duke, 8. Ohio State.

I think Ohio State is better than #8.  Overly penalized for that loss to Utah at the beginning of the year.  I wouldn't be hoping for a game against them.

Going on the basis of Cornell winning the ILT (it will hard to do, but it's the only chance of Cornell getting a #1 seed):

If Maryland wins the Big Ten Tournament, I would be shocked if they are not the #1 seed.  Their resume is better than Cornell's (even with Maryland's two lossses), and it will remain that way even should Cornell pick up another win against Princeton on the way to an ILT title.  Should Penn State pick up wins against Maryland and Ohio State on their way to winning a Big Ten Tournament (BTT?) title, I think they would have a compelling case for a #1 seed, even with three losses, given their win against Cornell.  Even though I think #8 is too low for Ohio State, I don't know if a even BTT title would bump them up enough in RPI to let them have the #1 seed.

Of course, I would never dismiss the ACC.  Notre Dame could get the #1 seed if they win their tournament and if Maryland doesn't win the BTT.  It'd be a stretch, but I could see it.
Harder to see North Carolina doing the same, but I guess it's possible.  Duke's four losses this year, including one to Denver, is probably too much to overcome to get the #1 seed, even if they win the ACC tournament.

So, if Cornell wants the #1 seed (and yes, they can only control their own games, but stuff like this is what message boards are made for), they need to win the ILT and root for Rutgers and Duke in the other two top league tournaments.  Rutgers is a big underdog, of course, so really, root for anyone but Maryland.  In the ACC tournament, really anyone but Notre Dame.   I think Princeton, too, could absolutley get the #1 seed if they win the ILT.

There's also (this has gone on too long already) a compelling case to be made that Cornell is better off as a #2 seed.  So, of course, just win and let the rest take care of itself.