John Desko knows a thing or two about coaching as a defending national champion. The Syracuse legend has won five NCAA titles, including back-to-back feats in 2008 and 2009.

He has experienced firsthand the pressure to succeed, the effort each opposing team brings and the difficulty of overcoming those obstacles.

“That following year is always something because uneasy is the head that wears the crown,” Desko said. “Everybody works so hard to scrape up and get to the top of the mountain, but once you get there, it’s a whole other animal to stay there.”

Lars Tiffany can now relate. The Virginia head coach reached the pinnacle of college lacrosse last year, leading the Cavaliers to the 2019 NCAA championship game victory over Yale. His team only had to carry that torch for a few weeks in 2020, but they’ll still be defending champions when the sport returns in 2021.

2020 @Nike / USLM Virtual NCAA Tournament


Matchup: No. 1 @CuseMLAX vs. No. 6 @UVAMensLax
Game Preview: https://t.co/WDBNxUDXVS#nike #playinside #playfortheworld

Who would win? Vote now

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) May 1, 2020

Virginia could add to its pressure by upsetting Syracuse in the Nike/US Lacrosse Men’s Virtual Tournament Championship. The No. 6-seeded Cavaliers will battle the Orange this weekend for the virtual title.

Tiffany and Desko joined our Matt Hamilton to preview the matchup, and decide who’d rather hold the distinction of defending champion.

“I think we should shift it to John,” Tiffany joked. “Weren’t they No. 1 when in this poll here? Let him wear that thorny crown.”

“I’ll take it,” Desko answered.

Watch the full interview below.