Every year since 1983, Syracuse had received an invitation to the big dance known as the NCAA Division I men's lacrosse tournament.

That streak ended last year. The Orange didn't deserve to be there, either. The team wasn't even on the proverbial bubble.

One of the big questions coming into the 2008 season is whether last year was an aberration for the Orange or the result of parity that has hit college lacrosse.

Put it down as an aberration.

The Orange is back.

Though the regular season hasn't started, Syracuse, one of the sport's most storied teams, has too much tradition and talent to sit back and settle for mediocrity.

A year ago, the Orange finished 5-8 - its first losing season since 1975.

That's unacceptable at places like Johns Hopkins, Virginia and Syracuse.

"I think we want to remember it and learn from our mistakes," said John Desko, entering his 10th season as Syracuse's coach. "I think it has been motivational for us. They were a team that hadn't missed the playoffs in that many years, and the guys coming back don't want to see that again."

Neither does Desko. It doesn't look good on his resume, which already includes three national championships. He has had a busy offseason.

Desko brought in Hal Luther, who usually works with the football team, to design a weight-training regimen for the lacrosse team.

The veteran coach also named Lelan Rogers, the team's director of lacrosse operations, as defensive coordinator. Rogers went 76-17 (.817) in five years as head coach of Division III powerhouse SUNY Cortland. Desko wants Rogers to cut down on the Orange's average of slightly more than 11 goals allowed.

One other thing: Syracuse has expanded its recruiting area.

"I've never bumped heads with him [Desko] in the past couple of years as far as recruiting players, but I have this year," Maryland coach Dave Cottle said.

That says something about Desko and lacrosse itself. The Orange, Virginia and Hopkins have been lacrosse's three fat cats for years.

The names can still dazzle recruits, but with the development of programs such as Albany and Notre Dame, everybody has to work a little harder these days. Desko's examination of his program started from within.

"We're excited to get back," Desko said. "I think after the season we had last year, you just want to get out and play. I think the guys have come back with their eyes and ears wide open. Again, with the kind of season we had, I think they really bought into the [offseason] conditioning and are ready to go this spring."

Syracuse has the motivation, and the Orange always has the talent. Syracuse prides itself in recruiting athletes first and lacrosse players second. The offensive style is simply run-and-gun, one of the most wide-open approaches in the game.

As usual, the Orange is loaded at midfield, with All-Americans Dan Hardy and Steven Brooks. Brooks has the hardest shot on the team, and this past year scored consecutive hat tricks against Hopkins, Georgetown and Binghamton. Almost all of the short-stick midfielders return, as well.

Offense won't be much of a problem because Syracuse returns its top five scorers from a year ago, including the outstanding attackmen Mike Leveille and Kenny Nims.

Evan Brady and Kyle Guadagnolo will anchor a defense that should be improved enough to have the Orange at least talking about postseason aspirations again.

You'd figure the Orange would rebound. The team has too much of a talent base to draw from and an outstanding coach.

But Desko wasn't waiting around for a new crop of talent to develop. He took some other steps that should put Syracuse near the top again.

Last year was definitely an aberration.

"When it's all said and done, in my opinion, they're going to be one of the best teams again," Cottle said. "They've got players, and their staff has done a wonderful job."

mike.preston@baltsun.com