Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The NCAA Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse tournament fields were unveiled Sunday night.
All eyes were on the first combined selection show on ESPNU. North Carolina earned the top seed in both tournaments.
Both committees wrangled especially with the Big Ten and its conference-only schedule that limited comparative references and compromised the integrity of traditional data like RPI.
Here’s the rundown of our Selection Sunday coverage and, for comparison’s sake, links to our experts’ final projections:
Division I Men
Division I Women
More Brackets
2. Loyola had an emotional Sunday. The Greyhounds had to bow out of the Patriot League championship game due to a positive COVID-19 test among Tier 1 personnel — a group that includes players, coaches and medical and equipment staff. Loyola was scheduled to play Lehigh, which was named the conference champion and given the conference’s automatic qualifier. The Greyhounds made the NCAA tournament anyway as an at-large selection.
3. Seventeen conference champions were crowned in 72 hours. Here’s how we covered it:
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High Point Headed to NCAA Tournament for First Time Since 2015
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Saturday Wrap: Vermont Breaks Through, Wins America East Title
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Sunday Wrap: James Madison Slays Dragons, Fairfield Wins MAAC
4. Chase Scanlan was arrested Friday and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief as part of the ongoing investigation into a domestic violence-related incident. Syracuse immediately suspended Scanlan, one of its top scorers and wearer of the famed No. 22 jersey.
Several Syracuse players wore athletic tape on their helmets inscribed with the word “1OVE” or showed similar displays in support of the One Love Foundation, which educates young people about abusive relationships, during a 21-14 win over Robert Morris in the regular season finale Friday.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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A conversation with Trey Bradford, Gabe Clark and Josh Hughes — the True Lacrosse trio who became catalysts for change and the faces of an anti-racism movement in the sport.
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About an ugly episode in New Jersey, where an assistant coach shoved a player from an opposing team to the ground.
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Gary Gait’s coaching tree is growing.
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The Syracuse Post-Standard editorial board weighed in on the Chase Scanlan scandal and applauds the Orange men’s lacrosse team members taking a stand against domestic violence.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
No one brings the hype like North Carolina — be it for its own No. 1 seed selection or in support of the Tar Heels’ NCAA championship-winning field hockey team.
The boys are HYPED
— UNC Men's Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) May 10, 2021
Saturday @ Noon vs. Monmouth#FamilyAcademicsLacrosse pic.twitter.com/QITo429H5V
While we're waiting for tonight's NCAA bracket announcement (9 PM on ESPNU), we'll be cheering for @uncfieldhockey in the national championship game
— UNC Men's Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) May 9, 2021
7 PM vs. Michigan at Shelton Stadium
Let's GOOOO! Get that natty! #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/0GoQMG3hA5
From the clearance aisle at the yard sale.
You just have to donate your stick after this... right?
— TLN (@LacrosseNetwork) May 7, 2021
(IG // carson.smith4) pic.twitter.com/dnSLolVHRu
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The latest Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20 rankings for college lacrosse.
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Patrick Stevens and Jeremy Fallis break down the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s tournament brackets, respectively.
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Laurel Pfahler rounds up the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse tournament, which got underway over the weekend.