Each week I’m going to combine analysis with emotion and overreact to college lacrosse outcomes.
The BIG is a three bid league
Parity in lacrosse is alive and well. The Big ten is off to a shaky start in 2024, going 3-2 this weekend. The preseason leaders Johns Hopkins and Penn State took tough losses. The BlueJays lost an overtime thriller to Denver, nothing they can’t rebound from. The Nittany Lions on the other hand, a team I voted 9th in the preseason poll due to a lack of confidence, fell to unranked Colgate. Is Penn State’s season over before it started? Certainly not, but there is cause for concern even in week one.
Maryland and Rutgers underperformed but pulled out late victories. NCAA tournament resumes are built on the backs of early season struggles and no one will care how the victory was earned when we hit May. Ohio State struggled early but found a groove in the second half to beat a talented Utah team.
Last year 4 teams grabbed bids to the NCAA tournament, not this year.
Overreactions : Week 0
Brennan O’Neill finishes 2nd in Points at Duke
Last season O’Neill had 32 more points than the next Blue Devil. His ability to create space, to navigate traffic, and to finish go without question. This isn’t a knock on O’Neill, its nod to the development of the Duke offense around him. The return of Dyson Williams and the addition of Josh Zawada (former Williams HS teammate) adds another dimension to the Duke offense. The midfield is insanely deep and with every team eyeing O’Neill somethings got to give. Don’t be surprised is Zawada or Williams edge out O’Neill in total points in what will be a much more balanced score sheet than in the past.
Overreactions : Week 0
Marquette is 10 win team
The first game did little more than show that the Golden Eagles can win a game that they should. Beating Air Force this early in the season is a step in the right direction but given the talent they returned along with a schedule filled with teams that will challenge them (Michigan, Notre Dame, Utah, Penn State) before they wreak havoc on the Big East. I’m all in on the Golden Eagles upsetting a top 20 team before April.
Join us next week for another round of overreactions!
