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The last time the Rutgers Men's Lacrosse team played in the NCAA tournament was 2004. They will have to wait another year for a return.
Despite beating Johns Hopkins twice, Rutgers will be staying home as the Blue Jays earn an at-large bid to the tournament.
It was touch-and-go as the Knights were really just outside the RPI to lock up a spot. Their best shot at extending the post-season was beating Maryland for the Big Ten title and the automatic qualifier spot. Currently ranked No. 18 * and with an RPI of 21, there were a lot of experts who saw Rutgers as one of the first four out and others who saw them as locks.
@SexyTimeLax @RPDLacrosse @TerenceFoy Not seeing it for Rutgers. I'd have em behind Carolina, Hopkins, Navy, and even Harvard probably
— Jake Nazar (@ATVS_JakeNazar) May 8, 2016
For the record, Nazar previously wrote for Testudo Times.....so, suck it, Jake! Even if you were right.
@TerenceFoy: Hopkins, UNC and Rutgers should be in zero questions, IMO.
— Ryan Danehy (@RPDLacrosse) May 8, 2016
This tweet just boosted Rutgers' RPI https://t.co/n91jPdvfiH
— 1987 Sucks (@1987Sucks) May 7, 2016
It also didn't help as favorites on conference tournaments were upset.
That’s four of the top seven teams in the country. Crazy year for conference tournaments in college lacrosse. https://t.co/nlgFN7X65s
— Connor Grossman (@connorgrossman) May 7, 2016
Bottom line, though, is that Rutgers Men's Lacrosse won't be dancing....if they actually dance in lacrosse.
#NCAALax analyst @QKessenich: "#Rutgers is a better lacrosse team than Johns Hopkins. They proved it. Their resume doesn't stack up."
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) May 9, 2016
If this was March Madness, cue national outrage. @RUmlax is 11-5 overall and 2-0 vs Johns Hopkins (8-6). JH gets at-large. RU doesn't. Awful
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) May 9, 2016
#ncaaLAX selections chair @Fairfield_AD talks about the bracket!https://t.co/UMpChb1Pdm
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAA_Lax) May 9, 2016
Quick Hitter from the B1G Tourney
#RUMLax On All-Tournament Team: Scott Bieda, Zackary Franckowiak, Adam Charalambides.
— Rutgers Men's LAX (@RUmlax) May 8, 2016
Big Ten in the NCAA
Maryland (14-2) - champion of the Big Ten and automatic qualifier; overall top seed
Johns Hopkins (8-6) - currently ranked No. 10 * and with an RPI of 8; plays at No. 5 Brown
* Ranking from USILA Coaches Poll