NCAA lacrosse playoff action heats up in the Triangle

The Triangle-area caught fire with hot college lacrosse action this past weekend. Though tempered with some bouts of severe downpours, the weather did not affect the great play and skill showcased by some of the best lacrosse players in the country.

The defending NCAA men's lacrosse champion and fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils began defense of their title by split-dodging past their first opponent, the Delaware Blue Hens, 15-14 to earn a spot in the quarter-finals against #4 Notre Dame. The two teams met in last year's championship final that ended with Duke winning 6-5 in overtime. 

Raleigh Sports Examiner coverage of Duke beginning their title defense in 2011:

Credits: Peter Koutroumpis - PKS Consulting LLC

 

Duke dodges Delaware 15-14 in NCAA lacrosse first-round play

Duke Blue Devils lacrosse ready to defend NCAA title

Did you miss it? Watch the replay of Duke vs. Delaware on ESPN3.com


Raleigh Sports Examiner's coverage of Duke lacrosse in 2010:

Team USA captures lacrosse championship

The Duke Blue Devils lacosse program has had quite a year. The men's lacrosse team won the 2010 NCAA Championship for the first time in school history. Recent graduate, Ned Crotty, was a member of that championship team and...

AP, Rob Carr

2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship: Duke Blue Devils capture first national title

The Duke Blue Devils captured their first-ever national lacrosse championship title as they beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 6-5 in overtime at the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship held at M & T Bank Stadium...

 

2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship: Duke Blue Devils vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish in final game

The 2010 Men' Lacrosse Championship Final Four weekend taking place at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore MD, continued to provide the college lacrosse world with exciting play and surprise results on Saturday. The #5 Duke Blue Devils...

Watch a replay of the 2010 Championship Game (ESPN3.com) : Duke vs. Notre Dame

Down 15-501 in Chapel Hill

The unranked Maryland Terrapins, but current ACC champions, beat the #8 UNC Tar Heels 13-8 to advance on to play the #1 seeded Syracuse Orange next week. The Terps did not make fans in Chapel Hill feel any better by pulling the 'hidden ball' play on their Tar Heels during the game:

Take a look on YouTube courtesy of ESPN:

 

The possibility exists for Maryland and Duke to meet in the Final Four in Baltimore, MD over Memorial Day weekend. However, the Blue Devils will need to get past the Fighting Irish first and the Terps have a battle of their own to unseed the Orange next week. Should the two ACC teams meet, one can only wonder what tricks will be up the Terps' sleeve after yesterday's performance, and Duke knows it all too well as they fell victim to similar antics last season.

Here is what the current NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament bracket looks like:

2011 NCAA Playoff Tournament Bracket

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Media reviews of the NCAA Enforcement Experience

As a follow-up to Tuesday's presentation of the NCAA's Enforcement Experience, some of the media representatives in attendance provided their take on the event. A good public relations move by the organization to have notable media representatives on hand to be participants in a fictitious rules infractions case.  Their perspectives should help to enlighten more people on the challenging task that the NCAA and member schools face in dealing with such cases.

Here is a listing of articles that were published on the event recently:

Pat Forde - ESPN - Nothing simple about catching cheaters

Dan Wetzel - Yahoo! Sports - Heat on new NCAA president Emmert to get tough

Mike DeCourcy - The Sporting News - NCAA needs more schooling on sports, not media

NCAA Violation 2010: Raleigh Sports Examiner's nine-part series of articles intended to educate readers about pending local NCAA rules infractions cases and  related events highlighting the complex issues related to NCAA rules enforcement cases.

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Getting to know the NCAA - an inside look

The news continues daily about different intercollegiate athletics programs self-reporting and being reported on regarding potential NCAA rules violations. As this trend has particularly been increasing since last year, mainly due to more media reporting on it, the NCAA recently held an educational session, the Enforcement Experience, that involved approximately 30 media members to be a part of a fictitious rules infraction case.

Following the twitter feed transcripts for May 10th of @espn4d, @DanWetzel, @kyleveazey, @tsnmike, to name a few will give you some perspective of the event. Also, check out the full transcript of the day from the NCAA live blog that provided timely details and answered questions throughout. A post-event follow-up set of stories and related details will follow here in the near future.

Current news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner:

NCAA offers media the Enforcement Experience

With current issues in intercollegiate athletics continuing to focus on potential and verified NCAA rules violations cases that continue to develop a darker tarnish on the image of college athletics programs across the country, a time to educate and teach...

NCAA Issues 2011: College sports promote lack of commitment

During these challenging economic times when the cost of a college education continues to rise, many college students, will not graduate in a traditional four-year period of time. The recently proposed budget cuts being voted on in the North...

 

 

NCAA VIOLATION 2010

 

Raleigh Sports Examiner's nine-part series of articles intended to educate readers about pending local NCAA rules infractions cases and  related events highlighting the complex issues related to NCAA rules enforcement cases.

 

What a month! Hoops, pucks, and links

What can be said about the last month for local sports fans?

The NCAA men's basketball championship was claimed by a Hall of Fame coach who will sit out three games next season and whose program will be on probation; the Carolina Hurricanes' trip to the NHL playoffs was derailed on the final night and game of the regular season; and the Masters was claimed by a dark horse while perennial favorites battled it out to make it on of the most exciting events played to date.

Bright spot: Hurricanes' Jeff Skinner looks good to win the Calder Trophy for NHL Rookie of the Year, but we have to wait until June to find out.

Dark spot: Reading about more NCAA investigations that will provide ample opportunity to scrutinize the validity and value of collegiate sports - things are going to get really rocky and really quick.

In the meantime, catch up and get ready for a hot summer of action - more pictures and video to follow.

Latest Raleigh Sports Examiner news: 

 

Triangle Sports Roundup: Baby Canes win, advance to AHL East division finals

Hockey fans in North Carolina still have the chance to cheer on a potential cup-winning team as the Charlotte Checkers beat the two-time defending champion Hershey Bears to advance to the East Division finals of the American Hockey...
 

Carolina Hurricanes 2010-2011: The ugly

As the 2011 NHL playoffs are fully underway, and on the heels of rookie Jeff Skinner being named a finalist for the Calder Trophy on Tuesday, Carolina Hurricanes fans must continue to endure hearing about the Buffalo Sabres and New...
 

Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner named Calder Trophy finalist

Carolina Hurricanes rookie forward, Jeff Skinner, was named as one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy, the National Hockey League's award “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,"...
 

Carolina Hurricanes 2010-2011: The bad

In finishing the 2010-2011 season with a better record (40-41-11) than the previous one (35-37-10), the Carolina Hurricanes hit some ruts in the ice that made their final game, a 6-2 loss to the...
 

2011 Masters: Schwartzel dons green jacket, female reporter denied access

Rory McIlroy was the second-youngest 54-hole leader heading into Sunday's final round at the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA and was the target for a bevy of contenders who were...
 

Carolina Hurricanes 2010-2011: The good

The Carolina Hurricanes faithful in attendance could not believe how the Tampa Bay Lightning dashed their hopes of watching their team in the NHL playoffs with a 6-2 win at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC on Saturday night...
 

2011 Masters: McIlroy, Quiros roar to early lead with scores of 65

Rory McIlroy, along with Alvaro Quiros took the first day of play at the 2011 Masters Tournament by storm scoring identical rounds of 65 (-7) during a calm, clear day at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. McIlroy'...
 

2011 Masters: Phil, Tiger lead list of hopefuls at Augusta

The 2011 Masters Tournament begins play on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA and features a list of favorites and dark horses to capture the title and earn the right to wear the famed Green Jacket. Defending...
 

No shortage of drama as NC State introduces Mark Gottfried as basketball coach

Without barely having the time to introduce new men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried, NC State Wolfpack athletics director Debbie Yow had to defend the search process and her strained relationship with Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams. Yow opened...
 

2011 Masters: Local alumni prepare to take on Augusta National

As defending 2010 Masters Tournament champion Phil Mickelson captured his first win of the season at the Shell Houston Open at Redstone GC Tournament Course in Humble, TX on Sunday, the win was Mickelson's first since he captured...
 

2011 NCAA Tournament: Final Four results could rewrite history

The 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four takes place on Saturday night at Reliant Stadium in Houston and showcases teams that possess the highest combined seeding placement in championship tournament history. This year’s remaining four teams...
 

Skinner leads Carolina to 6-2 victory over Montreal

Rookie Jeff Skinner continued from where he left off the night before as the Carolina Hurricanes convincingly beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC on Wednesday night. The NHL's current rookie points...
 

Ward and Skinner send Hurricanes home with 3-2 win over Capitals

Jeff Skinner's shootout winner lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night. The much-needed win places the Hurricanes only three points...
 

2011 Women's NCAA Tournament: #2 Duke survives tough weekend for area teams

The #2 Duke Blue Devils (32-3) held off the #3 DePaul Blue Demons (29-7) by a score of 70-63 in the Philadelphia Regional semi-final of the 2011 Women's Baskeball Championship Tournament at the Liacouras...
 

2011 NCAA Tournament: Who’s going to the Final Four?

The Sweet 16 round of play finished with some surprises at the East and Southwest Regional sites of the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament that took place on Friday night in Newark, NJ and San Antonio, TX...
 

2011 NCAA Tournament: Who's going to the Elite 8? Part two

After an exciting night of play in the Sweet 16 round of play with West and Southeast Regional games taking place on Thursday night at the 2011 Men's NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament in Anaheim and New Orleans respectively...

2011 NCAA Tournament: An inside view

The entrance ramp to the floor and 'the show' at Time Warner Cable Arena.
P. Koutourmpis

It started on a Friday at Noon and finished on Sunday at 6 pm. The 2011 Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament had come to Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC featuring some of the country's best collegiate basketball teams including the defending 2010 champion Duke Blue Devils and the 2009 champion North Carolina Tar Heels. Local fans had the opportunity to support their team while they sought to advance to the Sweet 16 by weekend's end while others traveled from Michigan, New York, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and across the country from Washington state to do the same.

As most only get the opportunity to experience such an event from the stands watching these talented teams battle it out for a chance to advance closer to winning a championship title, getting a view from the inside can provide an appreciation for the simplicity and complexity of the event that creates March Madness.

Even the media and players can check out a tournament bracket under the stands.
P. Koutroumpis

The Tar Heels prepare to take on the Washington Huskies.
P. Koutroumpis

Press Row view as Michigan and Tennessee plays on Friday. Not a bad view.
P. Koutroumpis

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl congratulates Michigan players. He got fired days later.
P. Koutroumpis

North Carolina coach Roy Williams shaking hands with LIU players.
P. Koutroumpis

Defending champion Duke Blue Devils warm-up.
P. Koutroumpis

Michigan coach John Beilein drawing up the play for the Wolverines.
P. Koutroumpis

Post-game press conference with Mike Krzyzewski, Nolan Smith, and Ryan Kelly.
P. Koutroumpis

Mike Krzyzewski leaving the floor with win #900.
P. Koutroumpis

Latest Raleigh Sports Examiner news:

2011 NCAA Tournament: Who's going to the Elite 8?

Now that the first three rounds of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship have been completed, this weekend's upcoming Sweet 16 round of games feature a number of intriguing match-ups. Analyzing and predicting what teams...

2011 Women's NCAA Tournament: #2 Duke Blue Devils continue to dance

Freshman Chelsea Gray scored 13 points in the second half to lead the #2 Duke Blue Devils (31-3) to a 71-66 victory over the talented and hard-working #10 Marist Red Foxes (31-3) at Cameron Indoor Stadium...

2011 NCAA Tournament: Duke’s thrill of victory and Michigan’s agony of defeat

As the 2011 NCAA Championship Tournament third round of play concluded on Sunday night, the West Regional‘s #1 Duke Blue Devils (32-4) jogged off the court with a 73-71 victory over the #8 Michigan Wolverines (21...

2011 NCAA Tournament: Blue Devils and Tar Heels fans have reason to cheer

As the #1 Duke Blue Devils (31-4) and the #2 UNC Tar Heels (27-7) took to the floor for their respective second-round games in the 2011 NCAA Championship Tournament at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte...

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2011 March Madness: Duke tips-off defense of its title

2010 NCAA Champions - Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The defending 2010 NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils (30-4)  begin defense of their title on Friday at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. Coach Mike Kryzyzewski leads his team back into this year's 2011 NCAA Championship tournament as the #1 seed in the West Regional. Duke earned its top seeding just after it had won its third consecutive ACC tournament championship title on Sunday. After losing the ACC regular season title to the tournament #1 seed UNC Tar Heels (26-7), the Blue Devils reassured everyone that they deserved a top seed by  beating the Tar Heels 75-58 in front of a packed Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

After last-season's progression through the NCAA Tournament in which a "good team became a great team", Krzyzewski and his team were once again recognized as the gold standard of success in college basketball. Preseason predictions putting them in contention for a title defense were no longer considered unreasonable after the program struggled in recent years. The outlook for the 2010-2011 season was a bright one and so far they have not disappointed themselves or their fans. With a healthy and deep roster, the chances to repeat as NCAA champions is a definite possibility in 2011.

Video preview: #1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #16 Hampton University Pirates (24-8) - Friday, Mar. 18 - 3 p.m. 

Raleigh Sports Examiner coverage from the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte

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