So is it just me?
- Thread starter Digger1
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Results would certainly say you are right. Seems like we have had a lot of guys who are pesky, but not good enough to realistically expect to string 3 or four big wins together to run through the front side of the bracket. But I think a lot of teams not named penn state could say that as well the last four yrs. osu sort of caught lightning in a bottle this year with a couple of guys, but kudos to them.
Iowa is a great team until the end of January/early Feburary. Then the slide begins and doesn't stop.
I think Brands can really motivate for a single dual and get the guys at a really high level emotionally. That is very hard to do in a three day tournament, especially went your guys are spread out all over the place.
Is there such a thing as "too much" motivation? Sometimes the constant yelling/motivating/talking works really well, but can also wear people down. Considering the slide in Jan/Feb and on that was mentioned above, I wonder if that has any effect?
Just throwing it out there with no real clue about the mindset of our current team.
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Exactly. I think putting a bit of extra money into individual studs (like Metcalf or a Snyder, Bo Jordan, etc.) is a key to having a tourney championship team.
Of course, you have to be right. Penn St has been very good at this strategy and do a good job of spreading their schollys out (?legally) but have also missed on the Altons and to some degree, even McIntosh. Ohio St. has successfully used it this year and are set up for future years with Snyder, Tomassello, and Bo Jordan.
Iowa has gone for depth and having no serious holes in the lineup. Having a top 15 kind of guy is great for duals, but doesn't get you diddly at Nationals.
This is 100% correct. I think most of these coaches can tell after the wrestler's first or second year in the program what they have. This whole depth thing as many have said appears to be a fool's chase. To get 8-10 guys to all wrestle into the 3rd-8th place is extremely difficult--witness last 5 years for Iowa. Would rather see 2 sure-fire guys at 1-4 and then 4 or 5 guys battling for 3rd-8th.
Think I can agree with this, we're missing the #1 guy or guys. We were 1 stud away from it this year, we have the base but not the "star". Will one rise in the next couple years? IDK maybe...
Thinking about next year in the context of this conversation: What teams have possible/likely finalists or third place finishers coming back?
tOSU will have Tomasello (top 2), Snyder (top 2), Jordan (3rd) and H Stieber back. They will be super tough again.
Minny's cupboard is bare, as best as I can tell. Not sure which of their young guys is likely to be a top 3 finisher next year.
PSU has McIntosh (3rd) and Guilibon (5th) back, with Nico (three top three finishes) and Zain (5th a year ago) coming off redshirts, and the highly-rated Nolf coming in. Nothing against Nevills or the other kid but I'll believe it when I see it. They have 4/5 guys who can finish top 3.
Of the guys on Missouri I see going deep, Mayes and Cox will be back. Mayes returns to a hollowed out 141 weight class, too, though Zain does return.
Edinboro graduates Schopp, Habat and Port. Their cupboard is bare.
OSU has Dieringer, Crutchmer and Heil finishing top 5 this year -- the latter two did better than I anticipated this tournament; I don't necessarily see them having the same run next year.
Cornell has Garrett, Dean, Realbuto -- two finalists and a guy who did not perform to his ability this year in my opinion.
Illinois has IMAR but I don't see anyone else ready to storm to the finals.
Iowa's nucleus is at three of the four first weights. Could Clark, Gilman and Sorensen match Tomasello, Snyder and Jordan or McIntosh, Nico and Zain step for step in next year's tournament? Sure. But I think 125 and 133 will again be insane weight classes. 149 will be easier next year, and Sorensen has a great opportunity. Like many, I think a healthy Sammy Brooks can make a deep run, but 184 will be another killer weight class next year. Same with Burak and 197 next year; Cox, McIntosh, Snyder are all back. 141 clears out substantially, but it's not clear we have anyone primed to take advantage. If only Brody were two inches shorter. Meyer will enter a much weakened 174 pound class. Lots of possibilities, but also lots of questions.
From my perspective, Iowa will be as deep as anyone across all 10 weight classes, but PSU and tOSU will have a slight advantage as a tournament team.
tOSU will have Tomasello (top 2), Snyder (top 2), Jordan (3rd) and H Stieber back. They will be super tough again.
Minny's cupboard is bare, as best as I can tell. Not sure which of their young guys is likely to be a top 3 finisher next year.
PSU has McIntosh (3rd) and Guilibon (5th) back, with Nico (three top three finishes) and Zain (5th a year ago) coming off redshirts, and the highly-rated Nolf coming in. Nothing against Nevills or the other kid but I'll believe it when I see it. They have 4/5 guys who can finish top 3.
Of the guys on Missouri I see going deep, Mayes and Cox will be back. Mayes returns to a hollowed out 141 weight class, too, though Zain does return.
Edinboro graduates Schopp, Habat and Port. Their cupboard is bare.
OSU has Dieringer, Crutchmer and Heil finishing top 5 this year -- the latter two did better than I anticipated this tournament; I don't necessarily see them having the same run next year.
Cornell has Garrett, Dean, Realbuto -- two finalists and a guy who did not perform to his ability this year in my opinion.
Illinois has IMAR but I don't see anyone else ready to storm to the finals.
Iowa's nucleus is at three of the four first weights. Could Clark, Gilman and Sorensen match Tomasello, Snyder and Jordan or McIntosh, Nico and Zain step for step in next year's tournament? Sure. But I think 125 and 133 will again be insane weight classes. 149 will be easier next year, and Sorensen has a great opportunity. Like many, I think a healthy Sammy Brooks can make a deep run, but 184 will be another killer weight class next year. Same with Burak and 197 next year; Cox, McIntosh, Snyder are all back. 141 clears out substantially, but it's not clear we have anyone primed to take advantage. If only Brody were two inches shorter. Meyer will enter a much weakened 174 pound class. Lots of possibilities, but also lots of questions.
From my perspective, Iowa will be as deep as anyone across all 10 weight classes, but PSU and tOSU will have a slight advantage as a tournament team.
Gilman ran into a freak incident in his semifinal. Why couldn't he find his way into the championship before his career is over as long as he gets the right draws (which is apparently a necessity anymore in the NCAAs...see Penn State and Ohio State over the last few years. Lucky draws against easier matchups and opponents who underperform....more than Iowa guys underperform.)
Clark.................definitely not capable of a championship.
Sorenson is a RS freshman and has wrestled right with all the tough competition at that weight. Barring any freak newcomers over the next few years, he could find his way into Saturday night.
With Brooks and Burak you never really know. More than likely there will be too many guys in front of them that will keep their distance, but I believe they can be top 4 wrestlers for the remainder of their careers and that's just fine for the team race.
