2025 Big Ten Tournament thread - Day 1

[ccdiver]

As much as it feels like a bit of a rough session tonight, the fact remains that Minnesota has 3 finalists and they have been eliminated from the team race, and Iowa with 3 finalists will be eliminated early in the conso round tomorrow. All-in-all a good tournament for us, and hopefully we close it out with a bang!

 

[El-Jefe]

Take Luke and Tyler away and we were no more than a regular team tonight

Hoping this is a joke gone sideways.

 

[Diego Badman]

Being a spread sheet guy, we were -1 in terms of matches won tonight. LL gave us +1 but BB and SVN took us to -1. However, the bonus of LL and Kasak did offset it somewhat.

I thought Cardenas and Barr was a toss-up.

Big 10 Tournament is the best.

 

[SlipperyPete12]

Consi Semi-Final Matches (Noon, Central):
133 - Braeden Davis VS Braxton Brown (MD)
141 - Beau Bartlett VS Joseph Olivieri (RUT)
149 - Shayne Van Ness VS Andrew Clark (RUT)
197 - Josh Barr VS Isaiah Salazar (MN)

Final Matches (4:30 PM, Central):
125 - Luke Lilledahl VS Caleb Smith (NEB)
157 - Tyler Kasak VS Brandon Cannon (OSU)
165 - Mitchell Mesenbrink VS Michael Caliendo (IA)
174 - Levi Haines VS Lenny Pinto (NEB)
184 - Carter Starocci VS Max McEnelly (MN)
285 - Greg Kerkvliet VS Gable Steveson (MN)

 

[McScoreley]

Take Luke and Tyler away and we were no more than a regular team tonight

Add wins over 3 guys our guys beat in the past 12 months and we're a super team, isn't it fun to play this?

 

[eddy line]

Really an unreal night by any gauge.

Just a lesson in Hedonic Adjustment.

Hedonic Adjustment? I agree. I think.

 

[mcpat]

Yes we have 6 finalists. But how can you not be at least a little disappointed that Beau and Shayne lost as 1 seeds to guys they have dominated in the past?

The Barr match was fine and Davis losing wasn’t shocking. But I doubt anyone had Beau or Shayne losing in the semis. Is it the end of the world? No. Can they both still win NCAAs? Of course. But it’s still disappointing tonight regardless.

 

[donboy6499]

Add wins over 3 guys our guys beat in the past 12 months and we're a super team, isn't it fun to play this?

Also, I don’t get folks acting like BB’s loss was some big shock.

That was razor close last spring until the pin and Vombauer should have beaten Mendez. The guy is really good.

Plus we have said that Beau’ style will bite him for 4 years. Well it bit him. Surprised it hasn’t more.

 

[tikk10]

How many years have we underperformed at B1Gs, only to overperform at Nationals two weeks later, and fans still get panicky like we've not been in this movie a dozen times.

 

[Pitchfork Rebel]

This applies to what, two guys?

Actually three: BB, SVN and Barr.

To be fair, this is Barr's first Conf Championship,

 

[Kale_yeah]

They may score over 160 pts and the board is up in arms. It's the big ten good wrestlers lose except for 10 guys who win.

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

Actually three: BB, SVN and Barr.

To be fair, this is Barr's first Conf Championship,

Did we expect Barr to be more offensive? If so I think that’s on them more than him. He’s had a great year but against solid defensive guys he hasn’t had much offense. Saw it against Buchanan, Cardenas and Little in the regular season.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

Overall, the team is having a great Tournament, but it is a bit disappointing that two #1 seeds, a 2 seed and a 4 seed couldn't come up with a single takedown between them in their 4 losses.

 

[ccdiver]

I would assume loss of corner control at the end of the Pinto match when they were all jumping around and came into the circle

You had the specific and correct answer! ...
"174 semi. Control of mat - all coaches. -1.0"

 

[El-Jefe]

Really an unreal night by any gauge.

Just a lesson in Hedonic Adjustment.

I read this countless times as Hedonistic Adjustment and am still waiting for @Cstroke to chime in.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Take Luke and Tyler away and we were no more than a regular team tonight

I hope you have a fainting couch at home. You’re going to get the Vapors

 

[creamery freak]

Actually three: BB, SVN and Barr.

To be fair, this is Barr's first Conf Championship,

Barr was pretty fortunate to win against Cardanas earlier this year. If JC just let's him up after acquiring the RT in OT, he wins. Razor thin margin between so many guys.

 

[donboy6499]

Yes we have 6 finalists. But how can you not be at least a little disappointed that Beau and Shayne lost as 1 seeds to guys they have dominated in the past?

The Barr match was fine and Davis losing wasn’t shocking. But I doubt anyone had Beau or Shayne losing in the semis. Is it the end of the world? No. Can they both still win NCAAs? Of course. But it’s still disappointing tonight regardless.

I’ll give you SVN. BB/VV was a 4-2 match with less than 30 seconds left when BB snapped a cradle on him in the quarters last year and pinned him. Plus I think VV is much better than last year.

I think there are individual things here and there to be disappointed in. I just don’t necessarily think margins are or have ever been that thick in these matches. Reason 6/9 feels disappointing IMO is because we’ve gotten so dang used to losing once every few years in the semis at nationals and have become immune to thinking other guys have good coaches too and are working every bit as hard as ours in the offseason.

 

[Delcolion915]

Did we expect Barr to be more offensive? If so I think that’s on them more than him. He’s had a great year but against solid defensive guys he hasn’t had much offense. Saw it against Buchanan, Cardenas and Little in the regular season.

He's a great 184 pounder wrestling at 197.

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

He's a great 184 pounder wrestling at 197.

Would be absolutely floored if he ever sees 184 again.

 

[Delcolion915]

Would be absolutely floored if he ever sees 184 again.

He will see it next year

 

[orange nole]

They may score over 160 pts and the board is up in arms. It's the big ten good wrestlers lose except for 10 guys who win.

It should be well over 160, very likely closer to 180 unless there are some forfeits. Hopefully they’re all a go tomorrow

 

[El-Jefe]

Consi Semi-Final Matches:
133 - Braeden Davis VS Braxton Brown (MD)
141 - Beau Bartlett VS Joseph Olivieri (RUT)
149 - Shayne Van Ness VS Andrew Clark (RUT)
197 - Josh Barr VS Isaiah Salazar (MN)

Final Matches:
125 - Luke Lilledahl VS Caleb Smith (NEB)
157 - Tyler Kasak VS Brandon Cannon (OSU)
165 - Mitchell Mesenbrink VS Michael Caliendo (IA)
174 - Levi Haines VS Lenny Pinto (NEB)
184 - Carter Starocci VS Max McEnelly (MN)
285 - Greg Kerkvliet VS Gable Steveson (MN)

What this means in the big picture:

9 of our 10 guys will get NCAA draws that put them into the quarters. Davis will too, if he beats Brown. And making the quarters is 1 win away from the podium.

So today was a great step toward having 10 AAs this year.

 

[okinburg1]

Dont count out Kerk vs Steveson

In the 2 matches they have wrestled collegiately I'm pretty sure Kerk was <230lbs. He is a full grown 250+ now. I think he will acquit himself well.

 

[bwfight]

Wow, if Lilly can major Ramos, just think how badly he would beat Spencer Lee.

He could get a great NIL deal with the Iowa Optometrist Association 👓

 

[Pitchfork Rebel]

Did we expect Barr to be more offensive? If so I think that’s on them more than him. He’s had a great year but against solid defensive guys he hasn’t had much offense. Saw it against Buchanan, Cardenas and Little in the regular season.

Expect is to strong a word. Hope perhaps.

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

He will see it next year

I will bet against that

 

[Ja1339]

Take Luke and Tyler away and we were no more than a regular team tonight

What are you smoking Crushy? 🧐

 

[El-Jefe]

Comparison vs. last year after Session 2:
PSU team score: 2015 = 145.0, 2014 = 136.0 --> +9 pts
PS Max Pts: 2015 = 215.0, 2014 = 195.0 --> +20 pts

Such a disappointing performance this year.

 

[Pitchfork Rebel]

What are you smoking Crushy? 🧐

I took that as a joke, but it seems nobody else did.

 

[Ja1339]

Comparison vs. last year after Session 2:
PSU team score: 2015 = 145.0, 2014 = 136.0 --> +9 pts
PS Max Pts: 2015 = 215.0, 2014 = 195.0 --> +20 pts

Such a disappointing performance this year.

Wait, did we just go into a Time Machine
Jefe 😳😉

 

[OzarkLion]

Wait, did we just go into a Time Machine
Jefe 😳😉

We wrestled so poorly it opened a time warp that sent us back a decade

 

[Ja1339]

For anyone who’s feeling blue about tonight’s results, just imagine for a second you’re an Iowa fan. Then I promise you’ll feel better 😆

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

Expect is to strong a word. Hope perhaps.

Sure. I would’ve loved it as well and was a bit bummed. But the where Barr needs to improve is generally in areas that usually come in the offseason with a lot of practice

 

[bwfight]

He did PBP in JTSs basement before the semis

The thought of that gives me the Willys 😱

 

[bwfight]

Sealey did and got housed

So you’re saying that Sealy stayed at Cannon’s house after the match? That’s weird

 

[bwfight]

We wrestled so poorly it opened a time warp that sent us back a decade

Spyker says hi 👋

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Yes we have 6 finalists. But how can you not be at least a little disappointed that Beau and Shayne lost as 1 seeds to guys they have dominated in the past?

The Barr match was fine and Davis losing wasn’t shocking. But I doubt anyone had Beau or Shayne losing in the semis. Is it the end of the world? No. Can they both still win NCAAs? Of course. But it’s still disappointing tonight regardless.

Sure, I was bummed that Bartlett, Van Ness and Barr lost. But it was still an awesome day! Lightning Luke majored the #1 wrestler at 125. A true freshman majored the wrestler that dethroned Lord Spencer. Let that sink in a bit more. (The high of that awesome win probably helped amplify the negative feelings of many fans with the following two losses.)

And holy sh$% batman, we need to talk more about Kasak. That was impressive. Haines with another 7 pointer over Kennedy. Kerk with a MD. CStar with a MD (Smith should've been stalled out). And we seem to take Mesenbrink for granted a little bit. He just completely broke a kid that he failed to tech at the dual.

As for Bartlett, we've seen this before more than once. No big deal. Live by the close match, die by the close match.

Barr was a Bormet brain fart away from losing to Cardenas at the dual. They are very evenly matched. I'll take Penn State's track record of reversing Big 10 results at NCAAs all day, everyday. And he's still a freshman.

Van Ness was a weird one. It's a good thing we have some decent coaches to help him figure it out.

 

[Dogwelder]

Easily the most Traumatizing experience … My mother pushed me out but was pushing so hard she sh!t herself …

Don’t feel bad. So your mom shit one one time. I know some people who shit 15 times! 😀

 

[El-Jefe]

Wait, did we just go into a Time Machine
Jefe 😳😉