***NDSU Preview.Predictions/Results***
- Thread starter Judoka
- Start date
Thoughts a day later
General: We got destroyed by their whizzer. Normally we are very good about scouting opponents so I'm not sure what happened there. That move singlehandedly won them some matches and kept them close in others. We also continue to struggle on bottom. As a team we are not wrestling like we belong in the top ten (but also aren't wrestling like we are too far out of it). I'd say that a month in to the season I'm not thrilled with how we are wrestling but I'm not pushing the panic button. The Southern Scuffle will be a real test for where we stand.
125: Hall can score at will when he wants to, but also has a tendency to put himself in dangerous situations. His ceiling is very high but he hasn't reached it yet. If he keeps improving like he has so far he's going to do a lot of damage in March. But he really, really, really needs to get his forehead off the mat when he is on bottom.
133: Not a whole lot to say here. I think I was wrong comparing Bauer to Molina yesterday - I think Mayfield from last year is a better comparison. Bauer is always fighting and actually has a pretty decent shot, but he is not at the level of a Big XII starter right now. However - just like Mayfield last year the stars are aligning for him to have a very good shot at a spot in Oklahoma City if he can peak at Big XIIs.
141: Little Moreno isn't going to set the world on fire this year but he continues to win the matches he should win. If he picks up a few good wins at the Southern Scuffle he could sneak his way into an NCAA spot but right now I expect him to be on the outside looking in when March rolls around.
149: Something is wrong with Luke Goettl. I don't know what it is, but something is wrong. He is giving up counters while super deep on his shot and generally have momentary lapses that lead to giving up big points. Huge disappointment so far this season and I've basically given up on him turning things around. I really hope he proves me wrong but right now 149 is probably our third weakest weight (behind 133 and HWT).
157: Molina went to work yesterday and won a match he was supposed to. I don't have very high expectations for Logan (fringe NCAA qualifier is where I'd put him) but I love seeing him on the mat. The guy never quits and is always fighting regardless of the situation or score.
165: Moreno is a top 10 wrestler. But he is lacking that last gear right now to beat the top guys. His losses aren't bad - to the #3, #4, and #6 ranked guys. And all of them were close. And he has commanding wins over the #15 and #17 ranked guys. The Scuffle will really sort things out - 6 of the top 10 guys at 165 will be there.
174: Bad matchup for Weatherman and he allowed that whizzer to give him a lot of trouble. But he fought through it and won against a ranked guy even after getting screwed over by the ref. I'll give him a pass on this one.
184: I expected Beard to be tentative in his return and he was. I'm reserving judgment until I see what he does at the Scuffle.
197: Great to see Kyven open up and just totally embarrass a guy. He hasn't done that a lot this year so hopefully that was the start of a trend
HWT: The coaching staff made a huge error by not going after a JuCo heavyweight. Smith might have all the tools to be an elite D-1 wrestler but he does not have them remotely put together. Perna is a walk on who is wrestling up from 197 and will continue to do his best. But basically every match he doesn't get teched or pinned is a win for the team.
General: We got destroyed by their whizzer. Normally we are very good about scouting opponents so I'm not sure what happened there. That move singlehandedly won them some matches and kept them close in others. We also continue to struggle on bottom. As a team we are not wrestling like we belong in the top ten (but also aren't wrestling like we are too far out of it). I'd say that a month in to the season I'm not thrilled with how we are wrestling but I'm not pushing the panic button. The Southern Scuffle will be a real test for where we stand.
125: Hall can score at will when he wants to, but also has a tendency to put himself in dangerous situations. His ceiling is very high but he hasn't reached it yet. If he keeps improving like he has so far he's going to do a lot of damage in March. But he really, really, really needs to get his forehead off the mat when he is on bottom.
133: Not a whole lot to say here. I think I was wrong comparing Bauer to Molina yesterday - I think Mayfield from last year is a better comparison. Bauer is always fighting and actually has a pretty decent shot, but he is not at the level of a Big XII starter right now. However - just like Mayfield last year the stars are aligning for him to have a very good shot at a spot in Oklahoma City if he can peak at Big XIIs.
141: Little Moreno isn't going to set the world on fire this year but he continues to win the matches he should win. If he picks up a few good wins at the Southern Scuffle he could sneak his way into an NCAA spot but right now I expect him to be on the outside looking in when March rolls around.
149: Something is wrong with Luke Goettl. I don't know what it is, but something is wrong. He is giving up counters while super deep on his shot and generally have momentary lapses that lead to giving up big points. Huge disappointment so far this season and I've basically given up on him turning things around. I really hope he proves me wrong but right now 149 is probably our third weakest weight (behind 133 and HWT).
157: Molina went to work yesterday and won a match he was supposed to. I don't have very high expectations for Logan (fringe NCAA qualifier is where I'd put him) but I love seeing him on the mat. The guy never quits and is always fighting regardless of the situation or score.
165: Moreno is a top 10 wrestler. But he is lacking that last gear right now to beat the top guys. His losses aren't bad - to the #3, #4, and #6 ranked guys. And all of them were close. And he has commanding wins over the #15 and #17 ranked guys. The Scuffle will really sort things out - 6 of the top 10 guys at 165 will be there.
174: Bad matchup for Weatherman and he allowed that whizzer to give him a lot of trouble. But he fought through it and won against a ranked guy even after getting screwed over by the ref. I'll give him a pass on this one.
184: I expected Beard to be tentative in his return and he was. I'm reserving judgment until I see what he does at the Scuffle.
197: Great to see Kyven open up and just totally embarrass a guy. He hasn't done that a lot this year so hopefully that was the start of a trend
HWT: The coaching staff made a huge error by not going after a JuCo heavyweight. Smith might have all the tools to be an elite D-1 wrestler but he does not have them remotely put together. Perna is a walk on who is wrestling up from 197 and will continue to do his best. But basically every match he doesn't get teched or pinned is a win for the team.
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Reminder on NCAA qualifying requirements. To earn a bid for the Big XII a wrestler needs two of the three bullets.
Right now I'd say we're on pace to prequalify at 125, 165, 174, 184 (if Beard gets to 17 matches), and 197 with realistic chances at 141 and 157 as well.
- Top RPI ranking (Around top 27, it can go up or down to get to their 29 prequalifiers)
- Top Coaches Poll ranking (Around top 27, it can go up or down to get to their 29 prequalifiers)
- .700 win percentage against D-1 Competition(This also can be adjusted up or down to get to 29 prequalifiers)
Right now I'd say we're on pace to prequalify at 125, 165, 174, 184 (if Beard gets to 17 matches), and 197 with realistic chances at 141 and 157 as well.
What is Molina's record and will he have 17 matches if Nicolson's injury is severe? Same thing for Weatherspoon. I could also see Beard's career ending early due to injury.
