Weekend One-Liners: Judgment Week Edition

I can’t take credit for the theme of this week’s edition of Weekend One-Liners.

“Judgment week,” USA Lacrosse senior director of communications Brian Logue wrote in a message to the magazine team earlier this week. “Some big-time measuring stick games this week in men’s lacrosse.”

Army already proved up to the task Wednesday, defeating Syracuse in another OT thriller at the Dome. It’s the point in the season where teams start to show their true colors.

Is Carolina more than an ACC afterthought?

Did Georgetown expose Notre Dame’s weaknesses or was it just an off day for the Fighting Irish? Is the Ivy League back again?

Do Michigan and Penn State belong in the same conversation as Maryland and Hopkins?

Does Ohio State have that every-other-year thing working in its favor?­­

Here’s one sentence each on 11 games to watch this weekend. All times Eastern.

No. 16 Penn (2-1) at No. 1 Duke (4-0) – Friday 6 p.m. (ACC Network)

Penn and Princeton are swingers in the Research Triangle this weekend for a Friday-Sunday doubleheader swap of Duke and North Carolina.

No. 14 Princeton (2-1) at No. 20 North Carolina (2-1) – Friday 8 p.m. (ACC Network)

Now that’s how you stagger start times, not only for TV viewers but for the rowdy Tobacco Roadies that prefer their Happy Hour Lacrosse in person.

No. 10 Yale (2-0) at No. 11 Penn State (3-1) – Saturday 12 p.m. (BTN+)

Next man up means it’s Alex Ross’s star turn for the Nittany Lions defense, and the sophomore has risen to the occasion in the absence of Jack Posey and Kevin Parnham. 

Brown (0-3) at No. 12 Georgetown (2-2) – Saturday 12 p.m. (FloSports)

This feels like a trap game for the Hoyas against a Bears team that is flawed but talented and desperate for its first win of the season.

No. 13 Michigan (3-1) at No. 17 Delaware (2-1) – Saturday 12 p.m. (FloSports) 
Cascade should make limited-edition college football-style lids and call this the Winged Helmet Bowl.

NJIT (5-0) at Wagner (0-4) – Saturday 12 p.m. (Wagner Athletics)

Now is not the time to start reading your own headlines, Highlanders (-5 on DraftKings); stay focused and keep winning so we can stay on this ride with you.

No. 8 Johns Hopkins (4-1) at No. 2 Virginia (3-0) – Saturday 1 p.m. (ACC Network)

The Cavaliers abundance of offensive playmakers and cadre of big, athletic defensemen overshadow goalie Matt Nunes (17 saves against Ohio State), who coach Lars Tiffany contends is “the best goalie that no one is saying is an All-American.”

No. 14 Princeton (2-1) at No. 1 Duke (4-0) – Sunday 12 p.m. (ACCNX)

The Blue Devils outscored their first four opponents 73-38, but their schedule has so far been the softest of the almighty ACC triumvirate.

No. 16 Penn (2-1) at No. 20 North Carolina (2-1) – Sunday 12 p.m. (ACCNX)

Quakers goalie Emmet Carroll has the hot hand coming into this weekend after saving 33 of 50 shots in a pair of wins last week, while the Tar Heels have yet to find their footing (40th in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to Lacrosse Reference) under new offensive coordinator Jon Thompson.