Automatic qualifiers for Big 10

[jmadden1998]

I know this is early but wanted to run the numbers. The next set of coaches rankings and RPI should be out next week.

Disclaimer: I used wrestlestat which does a RPI calculation using the same formula as the NCAA. However he calculates RPI for anyone with 5 matches. I know a wrestler needs 15 to count officially. I’m listing name, school, win %, CR and RPI for each weight. Also, I used the starters listed in wrestlestat so some of these could change. Lastly, every conference gets at least one AQ per weight and the most AQ’s at a weight is 29. Some of these guys that meet 2 of 3 may not get an AQ at the end of the year.

125 (8 qualifiers)

Davis, Penn St, 100%, 11, 5
Barnett, Wisconsin, 90%, 5, 9
Ayala, Iowa, Iowa, 86.67%, 1, 4
Ramos, Purdue, 85.71%, 2, 3
DeAugustino, Michigan, 80%, NR, 8
Peterson, Rutgers, 75%, 16, 29
Smith, Nebraska, 75%, 7, 12
McKee, Minnesota, 69.23%, 18, 22

133 (9 qualifiers)

Ragusin, Michigan, 100%, 3, 3
Schriever, Iowa, 88.89%, NR, 14
Wells, Minnesota, 83.33%, NR, 1
Nagao, Penn St, 80%, 2, 29
Shawver, Rutgers, 76.19%, 7, 17
Van Dee, Nebraska, 75%, 16, 18
Bouzakis, Ohio St, 73.91%, 8, 13
Brown, Maryland, 68.42%, 18, 28
Rivera, Wisconsin, 60%, 32, 27

141 (12 qualifiers)

Woods, Iowa, 100%, 1, 2
Bartlett, Penn St, 100%, 2, 1
Mendez, Ohio St, 94.74%, 3, 4
Fongaro, Indiana, 85%, 21, 13
Moore Rutgers, 84.62%, 11, 15
Miller, Maryland, 78.57%, 14, 9
Hamdan, Michigan St, 76.19%, 32, 24
Lemley, Michigan, 73.33%, 22, 14
Clark Purdue, 72.22%, 30, 30
Hardy, Nebraska, 70.59%, 8, 17
Vombaur, Minnesota, 66.67%, 19, 26
Pucino, Illinois, 53.85%, 23, 22

149 (8 qualifiers)

Lovett, Nebraska, 100%, 1, 6
Webster, Illinois, 91.67%, NR, 2
Kasak, Penn St, 90.91%, NR, 5
Roberts, Minnesota, 77.78%, NR, 14
D’Emilio, Ohio St, 75%, 6, 8
Zargo, Wisconsin, 75%, 12, 20
Rathjen, Iowa, 75%, NR, 21
Rooks, Indiana, 68.42%, 9, 23

157 (7 qualifiers)

Haines, Penn St, 100%, NR, 1
Franek, Iowa, 92.86%, 1, 2
Blockhus, Minnesota, NR, 9
Saldate, Michigan St, 80.95%, 14, 21
Robb, Nebraska, 77.78%, 2, 15
Blaze, Purdue, 70%, 18, 25
Chumbley, Northwestern, 64.71%, 16, 13

165 (12 qualifiers)

Mesenbrink, Penn St, 100%, 7, 4
Hamiti, Wisconsin, 94.74%, 5, 2
Caliendo, Iowa, 93.33%, 6, 6
Hepner, Ohio St, 81.82%, 16, 20
Taylor, Nebraska, 77.78%, 15, 12
Fish, Michigan St, 75%, 10, 16
Lillard, Indiana, 71.43%, 22, 9
Amine, Michigan, 66.67%, 8, 15
Brenner, Minnesota, 66.67%, 32, 24
Mayfield, Northwestern, 57.89%, 17, 30
Buell, Purdue, 57.89%, 30, 25
Moore, Illinois, 53.85%, 31, 31

174 (9 qualifiers)

Starocci, Penn St, 100%, NR, 13
Washington, Indiana, 86.67%, 8, 6
Ruth, Illinois, 85.71%, 1, 2
Welsh, Ohio St, 85.71%, 23, 9
Griffith, Michigan, 83.33%, 2, 8
Kennedy, Iowa, 83.33%, NR, 5
Turley, Rutgers, 81.82%, 13, 15
Maylor, Wisconsin, 76.92%, 8, 12
Wilson, Nebraska, 63.16%, 26, 33

184 (6 qualifiers)

Salazar, Minnesota, 92.86%, 10, 5
Truax, Penn St, 88.89%, NR, 11
Pinto, Nebraska, 83.33%, 3, 3
Liegel, Wisconsin, 71.43%, 15, 17
Bullock, Michigan, 66.67%, 14, 20
Malczewski, Michigan St, 58.33%, 19, 23

197 (8 qualifiers)

Brooks, Penn St, 100%, NR, 6
Glazier, Iowa, 100%, 12, 8
Poznanski, Rutgers, 92.31%, 8, 7
Allred, Nebraska, 80.95%, 14, 9
Smith, Maryland, 80%, 4, 15
Joles, Minnesota, 68.42%, 23, 20
Geog, Ohio St, 66.67%, 21, 21
Bates, Northwestern, 42.86%, 31, 33

285 (9 qualifiers)

Kerkvliet Penn St, 100%, NR, 2
Slavikouski, Rutgers, 93.33%, 5, 10
Feldman, Ohio St, 85.71%, 14, 7
Hill, Iowa, 78.57%, NR, 26
Davison, Michigan, 76.92%, 3, 5
Tabor, Minnesota, 73.68%, 25, 23
Luffman, Illinois, 72.73%, 10, 15
Terrill, Michigan St, 72.73%, 28, 32
Nevills, Maryland, 60%, 23, 30

 

[mcpat]

I know this is early but wanted to run the numbers. The next set of coaches rankings and RPI should be out next week.

Disclaimer: I used wrestlestat which does a RPI calculation using the same formula as the NCAA. However he calculates RPI for anyone with 5 matches. I know a wrestler needs 15 to count officially. I’m listing name, school, win %, CR and RPI for each weight. Also, I used the starters listed in wrestlestat so some of these could change. Lastly, every conference gets at least one AQ per weight and the most AQ’s at a weight is 29. Some of these guys that meet 2 of 3 may not get an AQ at the end of the year.

125 (8 qualifiers)

Davis, Penn St, 100%, 11, 5
Barnett, Wisconsin, 90%, 5, 9
Ayala, Iowa, Iowa, 86.67%, 1, 4
Ramos, Purdue, 85.71%, 2, 3
DeAugustino, Michigan, 80%, NR, 8
Peterson, Rutgers, 75%, 16, 29
Smith, Nebraska, 75%, 7, 12
McKee, Minnesota, 69.23%, 18, 22

133 (9 qualifiers)

Ragusin, Michigan, 100%, 3, 3
Schriever, Iowa, 88.89%, NR, 14
Wells, Minnesota, 83.33%, NR, 1
Nagao, Penn St, 80%, 2, 29
Shawver, Rutgers, 76.19%, 7, 17
Van Dee, Nebraska, 75%, 16, 18
Bouzakis, Ohio St, 73.91%, 8, 13
Brown, Maryland, 68.42%, 18, 28
Rivera, Wisconsin, 60%, 32, 27

141 (12 qualifiers)

Woods, Iowa, 100%, 1, 2
Bartlett, Penn St, 100%, 2, 1
Mendez, Ohio St, 94.74%, 3, 4
Fongaro, Indiana, 85%, 21, 13
Moore Rutgers, 84.62%, 11, 15
Miller, Maryland, 78.57%, 14, 9
Hamdan, Michigan St, 76.19%, 32, 24
Lemley, Michigan, 73.33%, 22, 14
Clark Purdue, 72.22%, 30, 30
Hardy, Nebraska, 70.59%, 8, 17
Vombaur, Minnesota, 66.67%, 19, 26
Pucino, Illinois, 53.85%, 23, 22

157 (8 qualifiers)

Lovett, Nebraska, 100%, 1, 6
Webster, Illinois, 91.67%, NR, 2
Kasak, Penn St, 90.91%, NR, 5
Roberts, Minnesota, 77.78%, NR, 14
D’Emilio, Ohio St, 75%, 6, 8
Zargo, Wisconsin, 75%, 12, 20
Rathjen, Iowa, 75%, NR, 21
Rooks, Indiana, 68.42%, 9, 23

157 (7 qualifiers)

Haines, Penn St, 100%, NR, 1
Franek, Iowa, 92.86%, 1, 2
Blockhus, Minnesota, NR, 9
Saldate, Michigan St, 80.95%, 14, 21
Robb, Nebraska, 77.78%, 2, 15
Blaze, Purdue, 70%, 18, 25
Chumbley, Northwestern, 64.71%, 16, 13

165 (12 qualifiers)

Mesenbrink, Penn St, 100%, 7, 4
Hamiti, Wisconsin, 94.74%, 5, 2
Caliendo, Iowa, 93.33%, 6, 6
Hepner, Ohio St, 81.82%, 16, 20
Taylor, Nebraska, 77.78%, 15, 12
Fish, Michigan St, 75%, 10, 16
Lillard, Indiana, 71.43%, 22, 9
Amine, Michigan, 66.67%, 8, 15
Brenner, Minnesota, 66.67%, 32, 24
Mayfield, Northwestern, 57.89%, 17, 30
Buell, Purdue, 57.89%, 30, 25
Moore, Illinois, 53.85%, 31, 31

174 (9 qualifiers)

Starocci, Penn St, 100%, NR, 13
Washington, Indiana, 86.67%, 8, 6
Ruth, Illinois, 85.71%, 1, 2
Welsh, Ohio St, 85.71%, 23, 9
Griffith, Michigan, 83.33%, 2, 8
Kennedy, Iowa, 83.33%, NR, 5
Turley, Rutgers, 81.82%, 13, 15
Maylor, Wisconsin, 76.92%, 8, 12
Wilson, Nebraska, 63.16%, 26, 33

184 (6 qualifiers)

Salazar, Minnesota, 92.86%, 10, 5
Truax, Penn St, 88.89%, NR, 11
Pinto, Nebraska, 83.33%, 3, 3
Liegel, Wisconsin, 71.43%, 15, 17
Bullock, Michigan, 66.67%, 14, 20
Malczewski, Michigan St, 58.33%, 19, 23

197 (8 qualifiers)

Brooks, Penn St, 100%, NR, 6
Glazier, Iowa, 100%, 12, 8
Poznanski, Rutgers, 92.31%, 8, 7
Allred, Nebraska, 80.95%, 14, 9
Smith, Maryland, 80%, 4, 15
Joles, Minnesota, 68.42%, 23, 20
Geog, Ohio St, 66.67%, 21, 21
Bates, Northwestern, 42.86%, 31, 33

285 (9 qualifiers)

Kerkvliet Penn St, 100%, NR, 2
Slavikouski, Rutgers, 93.33%, 5, 10
Feldman, Ohio St, 85.71%, 14, 7
Hill, Iowa, 78.57%, NR, 26
Davison, Michigan, 76.92%, 3, 5
Tabor, Minnesota, 73.68%, 25, 23
Luffman, Illinois, 72.73%, 10, 15
Terrill, Michigan St, 72.73%, 28, 32
Nevills, Maryland, 60%, 23, 30

This is where you shine as a contributor. Good stuff. Thanks.

 

[mcpat]

12 AQs?!?? At two weight classes?!?!

 

[jmadden1998]

12 AQs?!?? At two weight classes?!?!

It’s not going to happen. 😃😃 More top guys will have 8 matches when the coaches rankings come out next week and push some of these others out of the rankings. 184 is a very weak weight for the Big 10.

 

[Random4598375]

12 AQs?!?? At two weight classes?!?!

That is true conference dominance when the Big TEN qualifies 12 starters. LOL.

 

[Cstroke]

This is where you shine as a contributor. Good stuff. Thanks.

It’s not going to happen. 😃😃 More top guys will have 8 matches when the coaches rankings come out next week and push some of these others out of the rankings. 184 is a very weak weight for the Big 10.

Pffft mcpat spoke too soon..

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

This is where you shine as a contributor. Good stuff. Thanks.

It's early yet, he'll be throwing barbs, making excuses,defending AJF and posting offensive gifs by days end😜

JK Madden, fine work !! ✌️

 

[jmadden1998]

Important dates

Feb. 11 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 12 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 14 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 15 2nd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and first RPI released (15 match minimum).

Feb. 25 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 25 Final matches to be included into the final RPI for allocation selection.

Feb. 26 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 27 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 28 Noon Conference Call for Pre-Allocations

Feb. 29 3rd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and second RPI released; allocation breakout.

Mar. 5 8 p.m. Portal to select starters opens for postseason.

Mar. 9 10 p.m. Portal to finalize notes for seeding and ranking closes.

Mar. 10 10:30 p.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 10 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 - 13 Selections for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships announced.

 

[Maddog]

Important dates

Feb. 11 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 12 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 14 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 15 2nd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and first RPI released (15 match minimum).

Feb. 25 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 25 Final matches to be included into the final RPI for allocation selection.

Feb. 26 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 27 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 28 Noon Conference Call for Pre-Allocations

Feb. 29 3rd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and second RPI released; allocation breakout.

Mar. 5 8 p.m. Portal to select starters opens for postseason.

Mar. 9 10 p.m. Portal to finalize notes for seeding and ranking closes.

Mar. 10 10:30 p.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 10 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 - 13 Selections for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships announced.

When are Big 10 seeds and brackets announced?

 

[jmadden1998]

When are Big 10 seeds and brackets announced?

Pre-seeds normally come out the Monday prior to the tournament which would be Mar 7. Final seeds and brackets typically released the day before which would be Mar 11.

 

[El-Jefe]

Are these overall records or conference records?

 

[Psugo823]

184 only six? Will Riggings get in?

 

[jmadden1998]

Are these overall records or conference records?

Overall.

 

[El-Jefe]

Overall.

Which is good for looking at auto qualifiers (as is your thread title).

For those looking at this toward B10 seeds: remember that B10 seeds are based off B10 records.

 

[jmadden1998]

Which is good for looking at auto qualifiers (as is your thread title).

For those looking at this toward B10 seeds: remember that B10 seeds are based off B10 records.

Correct.

 

[Freebornman21]

How many of you fine folks are going to make the trek to College Park?

 

[GOLDBANGER]

How many of you fine folks are going to make the trek to College Park?

Four of us will be there.

 

[psumacw]

Pre-seeds normally come out the Monday prior to the tournament which would be Mar 7. Final seeds and brackets typically released the day before which would be Mar 11.

you might be off by a few days. monday prior would be march 4 and day before is march 8

 

[86PSUPaul]

How many of you fine folks are going to make the trek to College Park?

@hlstone and I will be there!

Btw parking passes just went on sale. Parking at Michigan last year was free, at MD they want $20 per day!

 

[jmadden1998]

you might be off by a few days. monday prior would be march 4 and day before is march 8

You’re right. I looked at the May calendar.

 

[Maddog]

Important dates

Feb. 11 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 12 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 14 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 15 2nd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and first RPI released (15 match minimum).

Feb. 25 11:59 p.m. Portal to select starters closes.

Feb. 25 Final matches to be included into the final RPI for allocation selection.

Feb. 26 10 a.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 27 6 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Feb. 28 Noon Conference Call for Pre-Allocations

Feb. 29 3rd Top 33 Coaches Ranking released and second RPI released; allocation breakout.

Mar. 5 8 p.m. Portal to select starters opens for postseason.

Mar. 9 10 p.m. Portal to finalize notes for seeding and ranking closes.

Mar. 10 10:30 p.m. Ranking portal open for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 10 p.m. Ranking portal closes for Coaches Ranking Panel.

Mar. 11 - 13 Selections for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships announced.

Bumping so these dates are easier to find. Will be interesting to see the preliminary B1G allocations after the new poll and RPI are released Thursday

 

[pish69]

Regarding Carter..does anyone know if a MFF counts as a win? If not, Carter only has 9 matches, even if he wrestles last 2 and gets 3 at B1Gs, he would only end up with 14 matches. RPI could keep him out of 1 seed. I know they have the power to move people up and down a spot but it is what it is. He received a MFF win at Journeyman..if they count that, then he has 10 matches and would hit magic 15 at BIGs.

All that being said..Carter can be 33rd seed and still win

 

[jmadden1998]

Regarding Carter..does anyone know if a MFF counts as a win? If not, Carter only has 9 matches, even if he wrestles last 2 and gets 3 at B1Gs, he would only end up with 14 matches. RPI could keep him out of 1 seed. I know they have the power to move people up and down a spot but it is what it is. He received a MFF win at Journeyman..if they count that, then he has 10 matches and would hit magic 15 at BIGs.

All that being said..Carter can be 33rd seed and still win

From the manual:

Forfeits and Medical Forfeits count towards win% but not toward the 15-match RPI.

 

[pish69]

From the manual:

Forfeits and Medical Forfeits count towards win% but not toward the 15-match RPI.

So no RPI,,Mekhi will get 1 seed unless they move Carter up a spot

 

[jmadden1998]

So no RPI,,Mekhi will get 1 seed unless they move Carter up a spot

Most likely. Current RPI is Ruth (Illinois) 1, DeVos (SDSU) 2, Incontrera (Penn) 3, Conigliaro (Harvard) 4, and Kemp (Cal Poly) 5. Assuming they compete in the last 2 duals and get enough matches at their conference tourney, Lewis and Griffith will be RPI eligible.

Seeding criteria:

Head-to-Head competition - 25%
Quality Wins (wins against opponents already in the field) - 20%
Qualifying Event Placement - 15%
Results against common opponents - 10%
RPI - 10%
Coaches Ranking - 10%
Win percentage - 10%

The committee may also consider the following subjective measures to supplement established selection and seeding criteria:

Bad losses

Outside the top 30 in coaches ranking and/or RPI

Conference champion

Performance in last 5 matches

Number of injury default or MFF wins/losses
Best quality wins

Wrestler availability (injured or medically unable to compete)

 

[Fink]

RPI won't cost Starocci the one seed. If Starocci wins out (and assuming so does Mekhi), Starocci will be the number one seed by the matrix.

He and Mekhi will split -- Head-to-Head competition (even though he won the all star), Results against common opponents, Qualifying Event Placement and Winning Percentage. That makes it 30/30.

If Mekhi gets to 15 matches, he will win RPI (10), but Carter will have Coaches Ranking (10). Still tied 40/40.

Thus, it will come down to Quality Wins -- worth 20. Every wrestler gets 5 pints if they beat one qualifier. Now its 45/45 and comes down to the last 10 for QWs.

Starocci has wins over Kennedy(7), Incontrera (6) and Welsh (11), each of whom are ranked higher than Mekhi's best win. Plus, Starocci still has Wilson (33) and may face combination of Washington (21), Sparks (31), Ruth (8), Turley (14), Griffith (3).

Mekhi has wins over McCoy (13), Eischens (17), Turley (14) and still faces Augustine (18). He will get no new wins in the ACC tourney.

Thus, Starocci would win this 15/5 and the final tally would be Starocci 55/45.

 

[Random4598375]

Most likely. Current RPI is Ruth (Illinois) 1, DeVos (SDSU) 2, Incontrera (Penn) 3, Conigliaro (Harvard) 4, and Kemp (Cal Poly) 5. Assuming they compete in the last 2 duals and get enough matches at their conference tourney, Lewis and Griffith will be RPI eligible.

Seeding criteria:

Head-to-Head competition - 25%
Quality Wins (wins against opponents already in the field) - 20%
Qualifying Event Placement - 15%
Results against common opponents - 10%
RPI - 10%
Coaches Ranking - 10%
Win percentage - 10%

The committee may also consider the following subjective measures to supplement established selection and seeding criteria:

Bad losses

Outside the top 30 in coaches ranking and/or RPI

Conference champion

Performance in last 5 matches

Number of injury default or MFF wins/losses
Best quality wins

Wrestler availability (injured or medically unable to compete)

Does getting majored by the potential #2 seed in a preseason all-star match count as "bad losses"? I mean, it really makes no difference whether Starocci is 1, 2, or 3 because it will keep him on the opposite side from Lewis. If he drops to 4, then they're setting up a semifinal "final", which is bad.

 

[smalls103]

Carter might miss RPI for pre allocation, but he won't miss RPI for seeding.

he'll get there with B1G tournament matches.

 

[jmadden1998]

Carter might miss RPI for pre allocation, but he won't miss RPI for seeding.

he'll get there with B1G tournament matches.

He only has 9 matches that count towards RPI right now because one of his wins was a MFF at Journeyman Classic. MFF’s only count towards win% but not RPI. Has 2 duals left which would put him at 11 and the most likely wins 3 in a row at Big 10’s and that’s only 14. However, based on a previous poster’s analysis, it won’t matter if he wins out. He’s the 1 seed.

 

[smalls103]

roger that.

i'd imagine if the staff was concerned about it he would have wrestled last night.

 

[smalls103]

luffman has a low match count as well.

 

[jmadden1998]

luffman has a low match count as well.

Luffman is 8-3 so if he comes back before Big 10’s, he could get to 15 matches to qualify for RPI. Gomez from Michigan (5-1) and Brayton Lee from Indiana (4-0) have no chance to reach 15. Lee needs 4 more matches to get to 8 for coaches ranking and not need a wildcard.

 

[pish69]

roger that.

i'd imagine if the staff was concerned about it he would have wrestled last night.

What's your take? You know Cael pretty well. Do you think he cares about seeds for someone like Aaron and Carter? I'm sure it's in the back of their minds for the others.

 

[Random4598375]

Luffman is 8-3 so if he comes back before Big 10’s, he could get to 15 matches to qualify for RPI. Gomez from Michigan (5-1) and Brayton Lee from Indiana (4-0) have no chance to reach 15. Lee needs 4 more matches to get to 8 for coaches ranking and not need a wildcard.

Even without the 8 matches, Lee won't need a wildcard if he finishes within the allocated spots, right? From what I've seen of Brayton Lee so far this year, he's not going to need a wildcard, someone else who finishes below him at B1Gs will need a wildcard instead of the allocation spot he should have gotten.

 

[Random4598375]

What's your take? You know Cael pretty well. Do you think he cares about seeds for someone like Aaron and Carter? I'm sure it's in the back of their minds for the others.

I don't know Cael at all, but I'd guess the answer to that is no since he's allowed Brooks to actually have lower seeds over the years due to match count.

 

[pish69]

Even without the 8 matches, Lee won't need a wildcard if he finishes within the allocated spots, right? From what I've seen of Brayton Lee so far this year, he's not going to need a wildcard, someone else who finishes below him at B1Gs will need a wildcard instead of the allocation spot he should have gotten.

Correct..you can go in with 0 matches and "steal" a spot

 

[pish69]

I don't know Cael at all, but I'd guess the answer to that is no since he's allowed Brooks to actually have lower seeds over the years due to match count.

Yeah..last year he was the 3 I believe. I don't remember what he was prior years. Pretty amazing that there aren't many wrestlers where seed don't matter and we've had a bunch of them over the years..

Seeds don't matter..
Taylor,
Ruth
Zain
Nolf
Bo
Starocci
Brooks
you can even include Kerk this year

 

[smalls103]

Cael probably 'cares' about seeds. i've had conversations with him where he called certain seeds head scratching.

but i doubt he loses much sleep worrying about CStar / Brooks the 1 or 2

 

[smalls103]

Brooks wasn't the 3 last year b/c of match count - he was 3 b/c he lost to Marcus Coleman

 

[El-Jefe]

Yeah..last year he was the 3 I believe. I don't remember what he was prior years. Pretty amazing that there aren't many wrestlers where seed don't matter and we've had a bunch of them over the years..

Seeds don't matter..
Taylor,
Ruth
Zain
Nolf
Bo
Starocci
Brooks
you can even include Kerk this year

Cenzo

And of course 9-seed Q.