When Syracuse finally relented last year and agreed to join the Big East Lacrosse Conference next season in its inaugural year, concerns were a-plenty.  The Orange would have to replace some long-standing rivalry games with newbies like Providence and St. John's, diluting the strength of schedule.  Besides, was it even a good idea to stuff all these schools together, most of whom have no traditional history together on a lacrosse field?

Well if the season so far is an indication of how things will be in Big East lacrosse, you've got nothing to worry about. For example:

• Three "Big East" teams are currently ranked (#2 Syracuse, #7 Notre Dame and #12 Georgetown) and a fourth team is knocking on the door (3-0 Villanova).
• Relative D-1 lacrosse upstart St. John's (3-0) is coming off a program-making win over then-#5 Georgetown.  Proof that no one is going to lay down in the conference.
• Only two teams having losing records, 0-2 Providence is still just getting their feet under them and 1-3 Rutgers is going through a dry spell.  The overall record of the "Big East" teams is a respectable 13-7.
  

It won't be the most dominant conference in all the land overnight.  It might not ever be at all.  But Big East lacrosse will be a respectable enterprise when it premieres next year.  And we've still got a long way to go, so this is before any of those teams make the Tourney, Final Four or even win the whole damn thing.