COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I MEN TOP 20
2012 RECORD: 15-5 (2-1 ACC) COACH: JOHN DANOWSKI (7TH YEAR)
DUKE BLUE DEVILS 3
Even while Duke strung together 10 consecutive wins to erase a wobbly 3-3 start a year ago — even after the Blue Devils walloped Virginia by eight goals on senior night in Charlottesville and then grinded their way to the ACC title — coach
John Danowski never felt like they found a consistent stride. Danowski’s concerns that Duke lacked patience and discipline at both ends of the fi eld and could be especially sloppy with its defensive fundamentals were validated in nightmarish fashion on a huge stage. All summer, the Blue Devils got to refl ect on a 16- 10 thrashing at the hands of Maryland in the NCAA semifi nals. Like the six straight fi nal four teams that have preceded it, the 2013 Duke outfi t boasts lots of talent, starting with junior attackmen Jordan Wolf, Christian Walsh and Josh Dionne — a trio that combined to produce 157 points in 2012. But will Duke rediscover its consistency? Last year was the picture of up and down in Durham. Duke got blown out by Maryland, Loyola and Denver, squeaked by Brown, Georgetown and Marist and
Feb 9 Denver Feb 10 Jacksonville Feb 16 Notre Dame Feb 17 Mercer Feb 22 at Penn Mar 2 Maryland Mar 8 Loyola Mar 13 at North Carolina Mar 16 Towson Mar 23 Georgetown Mar 30 at Harvard Apr 5 High Point Apr 12 Virginia Apr 20 at Rutgers May 5 at Marquette
destroyed a hot Colgate team by 11 goals in the NCAA quarterfi nals. Then again, the Blue Devils offered little resistance in a 7-3 loss to Notre Dame.
“Even our consistency in practice was lacking,” Danowski said. “There were days literally when we struggled catching and throwing. The
chemistry was just off. Defensively, we were guilty of peeking off ball too much. That really showed up against Maryland. We had that deer-in-the-headlights look. Sometimes you have to give [your opponent] credit and say we just got whacked. But you also have to look at yourself.”
In the fall, Duke spent more time practicing on the fi eld — trading conditioning and individual drill time for full unit work — than it ever had under Danowski. The defense concentrated sharpening its positioning, spacing and help principles. The offense worked on making the extra pass and creating plays more patiently out of its 6-on-6 sets.
Danowski hopes age, experience and safety in numbers
benefi t the Blue Devils, as they are stacked with juniors and seniors that have been signifi cant parts of many victories. The addition of his son, all-time NCAA scoring leader Matt Danowski, to the coaching staff also should give the program a positive jolt. The 2007 Tewarraton Award twice carried Duke to the national championship game before the Blue Devils won it all in 2010.
— Gary Lambrecht 32 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >>
Jordan Wolf
RIVAL COACHES SAY “ Additions of Dan DiMaria and Casey Carroll on defense add leadership and explosion… John Danowski is the Phil Jackson of lacrosse — the master psychologist who gets deep inside the heads and hearts of his men and is able to pull from them more than they ever thought they could contribute.”
TOP RETURNER A Jordan Wolf (Jr.) Wolf, a second-team All- American in 2012, is the most multifaceted player on offense for Duke — a threat to dodge, shoot or feed. Wolf needs to have his best season yet to help the Blue Devils avoid the inconsistency that marked their downfall a year ago. Danowski wants to see more big plays in crunch time.
X-FACTOR M Jake Tripucka (Sr.) With the exception of the graduated Robert Rotanz, a pure fi nisher with 40 goals, Duke’s fi rst two midfi eld lines were pretty nondescript. “There was a disparity in production,” Danowski said. “Now they have a chance to do something about that.” Tripucka is the most
Dan Wigrizer has won an NCAA title and fended off challengers for the starting job. John Danowski wants to see some swagger from his senior goalie.
57
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Jordan Wolf (Jr.)* G: 32 A: 33
A Christian Walsh (Jr.)* G: 34 A: 15
A Josh Dionne (Jr.)* G: 40 A: 8
M Jake Tripucka (Sr.)* G: 15 A: 12
M David Lawson (Sr.) G: 14 A: 6
M Case Matheis (Fr.) G: 69 A: 53 (at Darien High)
FO: Brendan Fowler (Jr.) FO%: 60.4 P: 3
LSM Luke Duprey (Jr.) GB: 18 CT: 17
D Chris Hipps (Jr.)* GB: 30 CT: 6
D Henry Lobb (Jr.)* GB: 13 CT: 15
D Bill Conners (Sr.) GB: 12 CT: 1
G Dan Wigrizer (Sr.)* GAA: 8.94 SV%: 51.6 * returning starters
TELLING NUMBER
Duke’s man-down defense (55.3%) ranked 51st. Those numbers must improve.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Ranking out of 61 teams on extra-man offense (21.8%).
©KEVIN P. TUCKER (JW); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (JD); ©MATT RILEY (DW)
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