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It's late March, conference play is nigh, and the B1G is extremely confusing. What else is new?
The Big Ten was poised for a big year after it went 4-0 against the ACC in the NCAA tournament last year. Hopkins beat Virginia and Syracuse. Maryland beat North Carolina. And Ohio State beat Duke. Those cowards in the Ivy League went 0-3.
But that was last year, and this is now. The B1G has been a wild, weird, inconsistent conference to date. Hopkins and Maryland have both flashed the brilliance that got them to the Final Four last year, while also showing some of the struggles that have prevented either team from winning a title in awhile. Rutgers, Penn State, and Ohio State have made some noise outside of conference play, but have yet to make the leap into true contender status. And, well, Michigan is Michigan.
Here's a look at the B1G through March 20. This may be a weekly thing, a bi-weekly thing, a monthly thing, or perhaps a never-again thing. It depends how the conference shakes out.
The B1G Dogs
1. Johns Hopkins
- Record: 4-2
- IL Media Poll: 7
- Good wins: Syracuse, Towson, Navy
- Bad losses: None
Additionally, freshman Pat Foley and junior Austin Spencer (transfer from UMass) are really settling into their roles. Sophomore goaltender Brock Turnbaugh might not light up the stat sheet but he's been solid in the cage for the Jays.
Clearing is still a debacle for this team, and that's going to need to improve if they have any hope of making a serious tourney run. But if the defense can continue playing sound lacrosse—not fouling, forcing bad shots, limiting the opponents' best players—then the offense, led by Stanwick, Brown & Company, will give Hop a shot at beating anybody.
- Record: 4-2
- IL Media Poll: 6
- Good wins: Albany
- Bad losses: None
Maryland's plenty deep on offense, with guys like Rambo, Heacock, Maltz, Cole, Rotanz, and Young. But we all know the Terps' bread and butter is that stud defense. Tillman always has these guys ready to go come May. For now, though, I just think Hopkins' has shown more in their wins than Maryland has in theirs.
The "Could Make Some Noise" Tier
3. Rutgers
- Record: 6-2
- IL Media Poll: unranked
- Good wins: Army
- Bad losses: Princeton
Here's a fun fact: I grew up 10 minutes from Princeton, and about 20 minutes from New Brunswick. I take Intra-NJ Lacrosse Rivalries (TM) extremely seriously. Rutgers didn't look good in that game. Top scorers Bieda and Charalambides combined for 1 goal and 3 points. The Jays come to town April 2nd. We'll see if they are mere noise-makers or true ruckus-bringers.
- Record: 5-3
- IL Media Poll: unranked
- Good wins: Harvard
- Bad losses: Penn, UMass? (debatable)
Look, Penn State has serious talent all over the field. Grant Ament might be the best freshman in the country right now. TJ Sanders is a stud (how is he still in college?) and they've got some pieces on defense. I think some of this team's inconsistency can be explained by the tragic death of star goalie Connor Darcey. Ryan Brown said last week that Darcey was the best goalie he had ever faced. Not only is that a massive hole to fill on the field but a lot more important than that it's a hole that can't ever be filled in the hearts of the Penn State players and coaches.
Johns Hopkins went through a similar thing last year with the death of Freshman defenseman Jeremy Huber. They were wildly inconsistent through the first half of the season before finding their groove in April on the way to a final four run. If Penn State makes the B1G Tournament (I think they will), then they have the talent to do well there.
- Record: 5-4
- IL Media Poll: unranked
- Good wins: Marquette
- Bad losses: UMass? Hofstra? (again, debatable)
I like Shanks and Carter Brown. Haus is a quality defenseman. Carey is solid in goal. But they don't have a guy like Jesse King that can just take over a game and make the difference. Their team defense is commendable, allowing 9 goals a game (good for 26th in the nation), but it's not Yale or Notre Dame good to the point where it can make up for offensive struggles. OSU's dwindling at-large hopes rest on upsetting the Irish at home this weekend.
The "Sound of Silence" Tier sponsored by Jim Harbaugh's $8 pleated khakis
- Record: 3-4
- IL Media Poll: unranked
- Good wins: beating Tulsa in one of the NCAA play-in games oh wait wrong sport
- Bad losses: DARTMOUTH
This team does have some talent, but it just isn't coming together yet for the nascent program. Kyle Jackson is a ton of fun to watch. Ian King is as well-rounded an attackman as they come. But the Maize and Blue isn't getting it done defensively. You can't let Dartmouth outshoot you 47-29. That's not how you make some noise. Football season starts in five months for Harbaugh and the boys.