Competing the Z: Going from Bad to Worse
by Jac Coyne | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | Coyne Archive | Twitter
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| One more bad week out of me and another where Colorado's resident blind squirrel gets lucky, and this is what I'll be. |
'Competing the Z' is a Men's Division III pick 'em
competition between LMO's Jac Coyne and Dave Zazzaro, a D-III coach
for 17 years and a former member of the NCAA regional committee.
They will be picking five games every week during the course of the
season. Scroll to the bottom for past picks.
"I have nothing to say. I'm getting
crushed."
- Jac Coyne
That was the preamble of my e-mail to Zazzaro this week before
I told him that he could make the selections for our games. Z hit
the bulls-eye, going 5-0 while I stumbled to a 2-3 mark, falling a
full five games in arrears (Z is 15-10, I’m 10-15).
Needless to say, Dave was thrilled by my admission.
”Actually, this says it all,” he responded. “I
basically take the last week off from my picks, get lambasted by
Coyne in his weekly article (some dimwitted comment about Forrest
Gump), and go 5-0! Even when I don't try, I bury him. I offered to
help him, but at least he can feel good about himself as he is
winning in the [MCLA] picks. I'm sure that will be short-lived,
too.”
Obviously, I’m in the danger zone now. I can’t afford
to fall too much further behind or I’ll be toast by the time
the playoffs start, but I still need to make up ground. So it will
be a high-wire act from here on out.
Predictably, the former Colorado College head coach is going all
Pool B on me this week with a couple of NCAC gems. I countered with
an apparent NESCAC mismatch that I need badly.
At this time I want to point out how surprised I was with the
outcome of the two big games last week. As we headed into last
weekend, I was supremely confident that picking Roanoke
and Gettysburg was the call. I can live with the Bullets-Gulls
outcome because that was a toss-up, but I’m still stunned how
badly the Maroons got worked.
I fear it may have me running scared this week.
On to the games…
No. 18 Ohio Wesleyan
(5-2) at No. 11 Denison
(4-1), 1 p.m.,
Saturday
COYNE: Interesting game. Obviously, the only event that
allows the result to even be in question is Denison’s
stunning loss to Wooster, 12-11 over the weekend, especially since
Ohio Wesleyan handled the Scots relatively easily, 13-3.
What’s important to note is Wooster’s win over the Big
Red wasn’t one of those flukey wins; they led in just about
every statistical category and received a big game out of Pat Coyne
(4g, 1a).
Even with the hiccup, it’s tough to pick against the Big Red.
I don’t think the margins will be as big as last year (17-9
in the regular season; 12-2 in the NCAA tourney), but Denison will
prove victorious and earn the right to host the Bishops in the
first round of the NCAAs again by a score of 11-7.
ZAZZARO: It doesn't get any bigger than this in Ohio.
These are two programs with proud traditions, although lately
Denison has had the edge. I still contend that Denison has "Final
Four" potential, even with their setback against Wooster on
Saturday. The Battling Bishops would love to keep Denison reeling
with a second Ohio loss. I don't see it happening. Denison regroups
and wins, 10-7.
No. 2 Salisbury (11-0) at
No. 1 Stevenson (10-0), 2 p.m.,
Saturday
COYNE: I’m so torn about this game. On one
hand, Salisbury went to Gettysburg and pulled off the upset. On the
other, Stevenson dominated a supposedly high-powered Roanoke team
without their star goalie. Usually in this situation I would
automatically default to the Gulls, but I just can’t do it
here.
No rhyme or reason. These teams are identical, so I’m going
with the home team, 11-10.
ZAZZARO: Some would argue that these are the two best
teams in the country right now and I would agree. This game will be
awesome! In all likelihood, these teams will see each other two
more times, but at this point, I give the slight edge to Stevenson,
12-11 in overtime.
COYNE: Wait, “some would argue that these are the
two best teams in the country?” I don’t think anyone
would argue that these two teams aren’t the best in
the country. Reading vapid analysis like this makes it even
more painful that I’m losing to this guy.
St. Lawrence (4-2) at Skidmore (5-2), 1
p.m., Saturday
COYNE: I understand why this game was picked. At
first glance, it looks like it could be a dandy, especially with
the Big Brother/Little Brother component in the Liberty League. I
don’t think it’s going to play out that way, however.
It’s all about “the grind.”
Look at the Saints schedule. Three overtime games along with a
two-goal win over Haverford. The record isn’t pretty, but if
this game gets close in the end, it will be business as usual for
SLU. Now take a peek at the Thoroughbreds slate. None of the games
have been tight at the end and that played a role against Tufts.
Skidmore raced out to an early 6-2 lead only to see the Jumbos
rally and tie the score at nine apiece midway through the third
quarter. What happened during “grind time?” Tufts
outscored Skidmore 6-1 to breeze to a 15-10 win.
Skidmore will get there eventually, just not this time. Saints,
12-5.
ZAZZARO: I'm sure that these two will see each other again
in their conference tournament. This game has meaning for a Pool C
resume builder. This game will be hard fought, probably tied going
into the fourth quarter. This year Skidmore is the better team,
winning this first match-up, 9-8 in overtime.
Zazzaro’s Pick
Wittenberg (4-2) at Kenyon (4-3),
1 p.m., Saturday
COYNE: I’ll assume that Zazzaro sees some
kind of Pool B immediacy in this contest because I’m not sure
if there are enough bids for these two to be contenders.
We’ll see, I suppose.
Kenyon’s losses have come against Dickinson, Cabrini and
Roanoke. Witt’s losses were to Washington & Lee and
Potsdam State. The disparity in the strength of schedule already
has me leaning toward the Lords, but a recent comparative score
(which, of course, means nothing) with St. Vincent – Kenyon
wins 15-14; Witt wins 18-8 – has set off a couple of warning
bells. So like the Salisbury-Stevenson game, I’ll assume this
one is relatively even and simply go with the home squad. Kenyon,
15-13.
ZAZZARO: Kenyon has owned this match-up over the years,
but I think Coach Harris has been building a tournament contender.
This will be an important step for Wittenberg as this is a must-win
for both programs. I see Wittenberg in a thriller, 10-8.
Coyne’s Pick
No. 10 Connecticut
College (7-0) at Bowdoin (3-4),
1 p.m., Saturday
COYNE: Alright, Zazzaro picked the Camels, so I
need this one. First, I’ll say I’m very happy for Conn.
College and it’s good to have them back – when I was at
Colby, they were right there behind Middlebury and Bowdoin –
but I needed an upset pick and this looked like the best chance.
The Polar Bears have stumbled early, but they’ve played a
brutal schedule and are playing at home. Gotta roll the dice and
take Bowdoin, 8-6.
ZAZZARO: This one is similar to the Witt/Kenyon game.
Bowdoin has owned Conn. College over the years, but the
Camles are off to their best start in quite some time. It is
time for the Conn. College to step up. It's a new decade –
Camels over Polar Bears, 9-7.
Previous installments of ‘Competing the
Z’
Weekend of Feb.
27
Weekend of March
6
Weekend of March
13
Weekend
of March 20
Weekend of March 27
