MLAX : Syracuse looks to challenge for national title despite inexperienced roster
Bobby Eilers didn’t hesitate. The senior midfielder was quick to say he and his teammates have noticed Syracuse’s place in the preseason media polls.
They aren’t pleased with their No. 7 ranking in the 2012 Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Top 20. After entering the previous season as the No. 1 team in the country, the Orange begins this year trying to earn respect as a national-championship contender. Syracuse opened its 2012 season and began that quest at the team’s media day on Thursday.
Eilers points to the last time SU was ranked outside the top two during the preseason — in 2008 — as proof this unheralded group can challenge any team.
‘We see those rankings, we’re not happy about them, but this is like the 2008 year,’ Eilers said. ‘They came in preseason ranked No. 11 and ended up winning a national championship. So they can rank us whatever they want, but all we have to do is climb that hill and we will be successful.’
SU head coach John Desko acknowledged his players are hungry after being ranked lower than the program has been accustomed to in recent years. Orange defender Brian Megill said he doesn’t pay attention to the preseason rankings.
But he also said he believed the ranking was pretty low. Megill knows the ranking is based on Syracuse’s depleted starting lineup, which lost seven All-Americans.
‘All the rankings are about is what we’ve lost,’ Megill said. ‘What we’ve done last year, what’s coming back this year, so those rankings are a little skewed, but a lot of teams are going to be surprised when it comes spring time.’
The 2008 team that was ranked No. 11 by Inside Lacrosse in its preseason rankings received its ranking based on prior performance. SU won just five games in 2007 and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 25 years.
But the Orange bounced back and went on to win the national title, as Eilers said. And just as that team did, he believes SU has the talent to move up the rankings and prove the doubters wrong.
‘I think that we can only go up from here, and I know we’re going to go up,’ Eilers said. ‘We’re Syracuse lacrosse. We always play well.’
Orange enters preseason with plenty of competition
Tommy Palasek recognizes the numerous holes in SU’s starting lineup after the departure of the winningest class in school history. But he’s still confident about what this year’s team can achieve with the current pieces in place.
‘With such a strong senior class last year it seems like there’s a lot of holes to fill, but I feel like we’re just reloading,’ the senior attack said. ‘We’ve got speed, we’ve got size, we’ve got the talent, and it’s going to be hopefully another good Syracuse team that we produce every year.’
Desko is faced with an unfamiliar situation entering the season. With just four returning players seeing extensive action in the starting lineup last year, the Syracuse head coach has an open competition at every position on the field.
He admitted that the number of available starting roles on the team this season has created a unique practice environment. He said the competition gives him the ability to evaluate players for how they would fit into the lineup, regardless of their natural position.
It’s a process he hasn’t been able to implement in recent years, and he’s glad to finally have the opportunity to do so.
‘The fall has been a lot of fun,’ Desko said. ‘A little more hop in our step the first two weeks of fall ball with guys running around out there seeing there is a lot of starting sports and second midfield sports wide open.’
But the absence of those highly regarded seniors has led to tempered expectations for the first time in recent memory. Although there are numerous unsettled position battles heading into the preseason, this year’s team is focused on forging its own identity.
The goal remains the same as any other year despite the circumstances: win a national championship.
‘To the outside public, yes, you would think that we would be the underdog this year, and I’m more than willing to accept that,’ Palasek said, ‘only because I know we have the capabilities to beat anyone.’
Bratek not on SU roster
Midfielder Jake Bratek is not currently with the Orange, Desko said Thursday. The SU head coach said it seems doubtful that Bratek will be with Syracuse for the 2012 season.
‘Right now, Jake Bratek is not with us,’ Desko said. ‘We’re under the assumption he’s probably going to move on here with us. We wish him all the best if that’s the case. I haven’t had any conversation with Jake yet.’
Bratek played in six games as a freshman last season. He attempted seven shots and did not register a single point. He played lacrosse at Jamesville-DeWitt High School and was rated the No. 7 midfielder and 19th overall prospect in the Class of 2010 by Inside Lacrosse.
