1. Penn State or Virginia? That’s the pervasive question of the preseason, and the pundits are divided.

On the eve of the NCAA lacrosse season, Inside Lacrosse unveiled its first media poll of 2020. Penn State took the No. 1 spot with 11 of 20 first-place votes, followed by Virginia (seven), Yale (one), Maryland (one) and Syracuse (one) to round out the top five.

Penn State also is ranked No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Top 20.

Conversely, Virginia landed the top ranking in the Face-Off Yearbook and USILA coaches polls.

2. For the third time this month, the tragic death of a student-athlete has shaken an NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse program.

Garrett Bakhsh, a freshman attackman at Coker, died Tuesday night after a nightclub shooting in Hartsville, S.C.

The news came on the heels of the unexpected deaths of Rollins junior attackman Joey Cinque and Saint Leo junior goalie Blake Crownover earlier this month.

3. The NAIA released preseason coaches polls for men’s and women’s lacrosse Wednesday. SCAD earned its 33rd No. 1 nod in the women’s rankings. Reinhardt sits atop the men’s poll. Both were unanimous selections.

4. The MCLA also released preseason coaches polls Wednesday. South Carolina secured 19 of 25 first-place votes to win the No. 1 spot in the Division I rankings. St. Thomas received 21 of 25 votes to earn top billing in Division II.

5. Cornell women’s lacrosse assistant Bill Olin penned a poignant piece on the differences between coaching men and women.

Olin, whose article first appeared on the IWLCA’s “Behind the Whistle” blog Wednesday, wrote of the fulfillment he has found in the women’s game. Read it here.

6. US Lacrosse Magazine’s NCAA preview countdown is down to two. Gary Lambrecht examined the No. 3 Yale men, while Justin Fitzgerald broke down the rebuilding effort underway for the No. 3 Maryland women.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• How Jamie Ortega is using UNC’s NCAA semifinal loss as motivation for 2020, by Chapel Fowler.

• US Lacrosse Magazine’s Kenny DeJohn identified one game to watch and links to schedules for each of the 117 Division I women’s teams.

• World Lacrosse has tabbed 51 officials representing 14 countries to work the U19 men’s world championship in Ireland this summer.

• About adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the life-changing impact of SafeSport.

• Marisa Ingemi of the Boston Herald with a glance at the area’s college lacrosse teams.

• How UVA is embracing the pressure that comes with being the defending NCAA champ.

• Respect, not rivalry, between brothers and Division I head coaches Nick and Pat Myers.

• Why it’s OK for Syracuse fans to have high expectations again.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

All hail Hall of Famer Jay Jalbert, king of the swim dodge.

Jay Jalbert was a beasthttps://t.co/bZHZcnqTtC pic.twitter.com/0FkM4flFl8

— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) January 30, 2020

Utah’s hype videos are straight fire.

It's game week! #goutes #SaltLaxCity pic.twitter.com/A2m04jCv7c

— UtahLacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) January 27, 2020

A twin-vs.-twin braveheart to end Marian lacrosse practice in wintry Font du Lac in Wisconsin.

Ended practice last week with a little twin vs twin braveheart. Connor got the edge on Garrett with some help from Cam Nevins with the huge stop in net. Video credit to our awesome manager Adam! #SpringSport #SabreNation #FightBlueFight pic.twitter.com/GZOlYCKFtp

— Marian Lacrosse (@MarianMLacrosse) January 30, 2020

WHAT’S ON TAP

• Matt Hamilton’s one game to watch and links to schedules for every Division I men’s lacrosse team.

• Shane Connelly’s Preseason Player of the Year profile of Penn State superstar Grant Ament.

• A lacrosse connection in the Super Bowl? Of course there is.

• Previews of the No. 2-ranked Virginia men and Syracuse women.

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