D-Fly & Dixie: Conference Tournament Weekend with Michigan's Nick Roode

This week’s episode drops a day earlier than usual - right as conference tournament semifinals begin, and D‑Fly and Dixie waste no time diving into the most pivotal stretch of the season. With half the country already done and the other half fighting for their postseason lives, they run through every conference with Inside Lacrosse editor‑in‑chief Matt Kinnear, breaking down favorites, upset formulas, and the ripple effects each result could have on Selection Sunday. From the ACC’s star‑studded slugfest in Charlotte to Albany’s push for another America East title to the A‑Sun’s three‑way deadlock, the crew sorts out which teams are locks for May, which are bid‑stealers, and which storylines — like Duke’s at‑large hopes — hinge on results happening hundreds of miles away.

Michigan’s leading scorer, sophomore attackman Nick Roode, joins the show for a wide‑ranging and genuinely fun conversation. He talks about growing up in Peterborough as the son of WWE and TNA star Bobby Roode, sharing stories about taking fan photos for his dad, watching him flip from hero to heel, and what it’s like to have a parent who’s famous everywhere except at home, where he’s simply “Dad.”

Nick walks through his path from Peterborough minor lacrosse to Culver Military Academy, explaining how box lacrosse shaped his game, how Culver’s culture sharpened his discipline, and how a fall play day at Brother Rice unexpectedly put him on Michigan’s radar. He reflects on battling injuries his first two seasons — including breaking his hand mid‑game against Maryland — and how being forced to watch, teach, and study film elevated his lacrosse IQ and prepared him for this breakout year.

He also discusses Michigan’s resilience after a seven‑game losing streak, the leadership group’s emphasis on belief and process, and why the Wolverines feel like they’re hitting their stride at exactly the right time. On the lighter side, Nick drafts an all‑Culver sixes team (heavy on Peterborough legends), reveals his devotion to buffalo chicken in all forms, and explains why Tommy Renner and Max Bonner are responsible for the most electric aux performances in the locker room.

Matt, Mark and Dan of course spotlight the most compelling matchups of the week, including High Point–St. Joe’s in the A‑10, Providence’s chance to shake up the Big East, and a heavyweight Big Ten semifinal between Penn State and Maryland. With discussions ranging from Tewaaraton implications to faceoff‑driven upset potential to which teams are peaking at the right moment, the episode sets the table for a chaotic, high‑stakes weekend across Division I lacrosse.

GIVE & GO
In this week’s tribute band-themed Give & Go, the three music lovers share good and bad stories and experiences seeing all levels of tribute bands.

LINKS
Weekend Schedule and Scoreboard
Matt Kinnear’s Chaos Ladder & Conference Tournament Predictions
Terry Foy’s Third Bracketology