2023 Men's Top 30: How Ohio State Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

OHIO STATE MEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 11/Unranked
2023 record: 5-9 (1-4 Big Ten)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The Buckeyes opened the new Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium with a victory over Air Force. They knocked off North Carolina at home on Feb. 19, when that victory looked like it would carry some heft. And they beat Rutgers at home (sensing a trend?) to open Big Ten play. Sophomore defenseman Bobby Van Buren earned honorable mention All-American honors.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Too much against a rigorous schedule, which saw the Buckeyes go 0-8 against eventual NCAA tournament teams. Ohio State was 0-6 away from home, dropping those games by an average of 8.5 goals. The Buckeyes’ faceoff and save percentages were both below 50 percent for the season. Back-to-back losses to Michigan brought a close to the season and no doubt did not sit well in Columbus.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

A 3-0 start capped by an 8-5 defeat of North Carolina, which itself was coming off a victory at Johns Hopkins.

VERDICT

Disappointing. Even while accounting for a set of opponents that contributed to those struggles, this much of a step back for a team coming off an NCAA tournament berth was unexpected. And here’s a prediction: There might not be a team with a bigger collective boulder on its shoulder heading into 2024 than the Buckeyes. Ohio State has swung between postseason appearances and sub-.500 seasons and back before. It could do it again — but it has a lot to improve in the interim.