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You spent the better part of four months meticulously dissecting the 2013 college lacrosse season. You shouldn't stop now because cold turkey is a bad way to go through life, man. College Crosse is providing decompression snapshots of all 63 teams and their 2013 campaigns, mostly because everything needs a proper burial.
I. VITAL SIGNS
Team: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2013 Record: 11-5 (4-2, Big East)
2013 Strength of Schedule (Efficiency Margin): 2.33 (11)
2012 Strength of Schedule (Efficiency Margin): 1.52 (18)
Winning Percentage Change from 2012: -12.50%
2013 Efficiency Margin: 6.97 (11)
Efficiency Margin Change from 2012: -1.27
II. "ATTA BOY!" FACT
- The faces on the field change but the performance remains: Notre Dame, with puppet master Gerry Byrne pulling the strings, continues to hold itself as one of the best defensive teams in the nation. Even with John Kemp having a less-than-stellar season in the crease for the Irish, Notre Dame played like men possessed with purpose, not only causing problems for opponents but wreaking havoc against solid competition. I challenge you to look at the following table and not have your face melt into your neck:
NOTRE DAME'S DEFENSIVE BOX O' PAIN METRIC VALUE NAT'L RANK Adjusted Defensive Efficiency 23.38 3 Shots per Defensive Opportunity 0.93 4 Raw Defensive Shooting Rate 26.92% 19 Defensive Assist Rate 15.25 15 Penalties per 100 Opportunities 4.10 4 Man-Down Postures per 100 Defensive Opportunities 7.16 4 Saves per 100 Defensive Opportunities 29.00 55 Team Save Percentage 53.66% 25 Strength of Schedule: Opposing Offenses Faced 32.95 2
III. "YOU'RE GROUNDED UNTIL YOU QUALIFY FOR THE AARP!" FACT
- Notre Dame had a bit of a problem with turnovers in 2013. If Kevin Corrigan’s lit-fuse press conference after the Big City Classic didn't crystallize that fact, this table should start to bring things into focus:
NOTRE DAME'S ICKINESS METRIC VALUE NAT'L RANK Turnovers per 100 Offensive Opportunities 47.21 44 Unforced Turnovers per 100 Offensive Opportunities 27.75 59 Opponent Caused Turnovers per 100 Offensive Opportunities 19.46 14 STOP HITTING YOURSELF! OPPONENT FINAL SCORE OPPONENT TURNOVER RATE NOTRE DAME TURNOVER RATE TURNOVER MARGIN Duke 11-12 (L) 42.50 57.58 -15.08 Syracuse (BET) 3-9 (L) 43.75 62.50 -18.75 Syracuse (BCC) 4-10 (L) 37.93 70.83 -32.90
IV. MR. FIX-IT HAS A ONE-FIX ENGAGEMENT, AND IT'S . . .
- Even though the Irish have been offensively flawed the last two seasons (Notre Dame ranked 25th and 33rd in adjusted offensive efficiency in 2013 and 2012, respectively), the Irish have chugged along as one of the nation's best clubs. If Notre Dame can continue to develop its offensive profile to complement its flannel-worthy defense, a sense of full value emerges. There's offensive talent kicking around Arlotta -- Matt Kavanagh, Jim Marlatt, Conor Doyle, etc. -- but it needs to come into focus. With Kavanagh serving as the presumed cog next year for the Irish's offensive hopes, there is potential for growth. But that offense still needs to start carrying a heavier load.