We took a look at the Buckeyes. Now, let’s take a look at the Big Ten as things look to spool up beginning Saturday. There’s a lot to work through. I’m going to run through the teams in order of predicted finish, with predicted conference record. I'll give some personnel information on each team.
It’s not exhaustive, as I'll give a much more thorough preview as each game comes up for the Buckeyes against these teams. Forget those programs aside from who’s going to be a problem. Though, to be transparent, most teams are going to be an issue for the Buckeyes. Especially in the back half of the schedule.
1. Maryland (4-1)
Maryland is still cycling through a transition period in its program, as some of the most decorated players in the Terrapins’ history have graduated in the past couple of seasons. Maryland loses Dan Maltz and Eric Malever from last year’s team, but gets maybe the country’s best freshman attackman in Spencer Ford.
Additionally, leading scorers Braden Erksa and Eric Spanos will be back on the field for the Terps, looking to build on last year’s solid output. Logan McNaney, in his 5th year, will be donning the legendary #1 jersey. He’ll be counted on to backstop an always stout Maryland defense which adds 5-star miracle man Pete Laake down low. Maryland was down last year, but that program’s down years are always leaps ahead of Ohio State’s up years. The Big Ten is going to have a rough and tumble year, but I’m going to have to pick Maryland to win the conference. Again. Unfortunately.
2. Johns Hopkins (3-2)
Some of Johns Hopkins’ most veteran pieces have moved on. Massive flamethrower Garrett Degnon has finally graduated, as has Jacob Angelus. Big Matt Collison is back for the Jays, and Hunter Chauvette will look to build on his decent freshman season down low. Russell Melendez will also be back. Johns Hopkins will be taking a massive step back on offense, even with the additions Peter Milliman has in Ciaran McCleary and Liam Gregorek.
The Jays have ended up with yet another former Ohio State goalie in Oran Gelinas, who probably will not see any more time than he would have in Columbus. The order of the middle group in the Big Ten is the toughest to predict, but I think Hopkins has enough in the tank to get over the hump into second.
3. Penn State (3-2)
The Nittany Lions have surpassed the Buckeyes in recruiting going on 5 years now, and the results have been pretty clear on the field. Penn State returns 40-goal scorer Matt Traynor from last year’s squad, though TJ Malone has finally moved out of State College. The dropoff after Traynor is pretty big, though Penn State has a lot of young talent on the sidelines.
Kyle Lehman, a former 5-star, is back. Hunter Aquino, one of the best midfielders in the 2024 class and a 5-star as well, will be in line for a big role. Will Peden returns at attack after a decent season last year. Penn State brought in a couple of transfers as well, highlighted by Jack Aimone who scored 20 goals for Rutgers last year as a senior. Jack Fracyon returns as the goalie for Penn State, looking to continue his high level play for yet another year.
This team just doesn’t have the same level of scoring ability that 2024’s version did. The addition of Aquino is big, literally and figuratively, but plenty of these players struggle with the transition from high school to college. While not the loaded version of Penn State that’s gotten to the Final Four several times, the Nittany Lions are a bubble team this season, in my opinion.
4. Ohio State (2-3)
The Buckeyes have a much more in-depth preview from me already posted, but we’ll hit the highlights. Offensively, Ohio State is deep, but may not any more talented than last year. Defensively, Ohio State is much worse at SSDM, slightly worse at close defense, and the same at goalie. Assuming, of course, that Caleb Fyock is the starter.
If Myers goes with Henry Blake for some reason (Blake started the only scrimmage, but you can’t put much stock in them one way or the other), I’Il be losing my mind. And Ohio State will lose more games than necessary. I don’t think that Myers would do that. But who knows. Faceoff is a glaring issue. Even with all these unknowns, I think Ohio State is (slightly) better off than the remaining two teams.
5. TTUN (1-4)
Finally, finally, the Wolverines have lost their massive offensive advantage at attack. Ryan Cohen is the only returning member of that insane line, and is joined by 2024 NESCAC player of the year, Will Byrne. Dylan Bruno has also transferred in from RIT as a middie after 4 years in DIII lacrosse. At 5°6”, Bruno probably will be a little less effective than he was in Rochester. Relying on 2 DIII guys to prop your offense is not a recipe for success. See Donal Mullane.
The Wolverines will also be starting over at faceoff, and in goal. A decent couple of years is going to be erased as this team reverts back to form. A couple of a stopgap transfers aren’t going to be enough to overcome Ohio State this season. I think.
6. Rutgers (0-5)
Tough times are back in Piscataway. Yet another Kirst is at Rutgers, this time it is freshman goalie Caden Kirst. But essentially every point scorer of note from last year’s team is gone. And Rutgers wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire then, either. Ross Scott and Shane Knobloch are gone. Jack Aimone is gone.
A bevy of transfers from lower tier schools has been brought in to bolster the ranks, but none of them are particularly whelming. Unless Caden Kirst magically turns into an all-world goalie, Rutgers is going to struggle to score, struggle to stop other teams from scoring, and struggle to get the ball from faceoffs. It’s going to be a rough, rough season for the Scarlet Knights. I have no empathy for them.
Overall
In the process of writing this preview/prediction, it became apparent that there may actually only be one tournament team from the Big Ten this season. The ACC could put every team in the tournament, without too much gnashing of teeth (Notre Dame, Virginia, Syracuse, UNC, and Duke? Come on.).
Only North Carolina is slightly at risk if the ACC schedule tanks their chances. On the Big Ten side, Johns Hopkins could be under .500 when the Big Ten starts, and still finish second in the conference. Ohio State’s issues are discussed at length in my preview, and getting to 3 conference wins is probably insurmountable.
Penn State just doesn’t have the horses to make it through, in my opinion, with their wins being over Ohio State, TTUN, and Rutgers. This season will be fascinating. But I have a feeling that Big Ten teams will be eager for next year sooner rather than later.
Go Bucks!
