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Bo Moving Up?

If true I like the confidence of Nickel. Most guys would avoid a 2x defending champ, if possible. Plus Rasheed could be really good at 74. Bo or healthy Cutch at 84 and no need to wrestle Hall for a team title, unless he wants to of course.
 
If true I like the confidence of Nickel. Most guys would avoid a 2x defending champ, if possible. Plus Rasheed could be really good at 74. Bo or healthy Cutch at 84 and no need to wrestle Hall for a team title, unless he wants to of course.

Here is where we might differ: Tan U is loaded this year even without White...Hawks are dangerous with Kem Dog and Marinelli aboard, Pokes have Brock and Picc now....this thing is going to be a dog fight this year...margin will not be 25 points in my view...
 
Losing White REALLY hurts the Buckeyes.

Hawkeyes have too many holes once again.

The Cowboys have across the board strength but no real Bell Cow after losing Ringer.

As long as our big guns stay healthy, I like our chances a lot. May not go undefeated in duals, but we have serious tournament firepower.
 
Here is where we might differ: Tan U is loaded this year even without White...Hawks are dangerous with Kem Dog and Marinelli aboard, Pokes have Brock and Picc now....this thing is going to be a dog fight this year...margin will not be 25 points in my view...
Whereas I believe there will be significant separation between the Lions and the the 2nd place team, whether Hall is in the lineup or not.
 
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Losing White REALLY hurts the Buckeyes.

Hawkeyes have too many holes once again.

The Cowboys have across the board strength but no real Bell Cow after losing Ringer.

As long as our big guns stay healthy, I like our chances a lot. May not go undefeated in duals, but we have serious tournament firepower.

IMO Shakur hits the podium at 174. Nickal is top 4 @84. That adds up to a title IF Nevills and Cassar are healthy, lots of IFs though, including the lightweights and how they do under the Bright Lights, does Jimmy G come to the party this year?
 
............................, does Jimmy G come to the party this year?
This is a huge turning point for the team and a great narrative if it happens. Dream scenario: Jimmy shows up to the opening dual sporting a Zain body modification.
 
This is a huge turning point for the team and a great narrative if it happens. Dream scenario: Jimmy shows up to the opening dual sporting a Zain body modification.
Dream scenario is him finishing shots and getting out from bottom like Zain.

Of course, "dream scenario is (fill in the blank) like Zain" could be said about almost everyone except Zain.
 
Dream scenario is him finishing shots and getting out from bottom like Zain.[/B]

Of course, "dream scenario is (fill in the blank) like Zain" could be said about almost everyone except Zain.
This! I've been entertaining myself during my ever lengthening commute by replaying the audio recordings of this year's duals. One constant - excellent, deep shots by JG that he doesn't convert. That changes and he's on the podium again. Better work on bottom as well and he's high up on podium.
 
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This! I've been entertaining myself during my ever lengthening commute by replaying the audio recordings of this year's duals. One constant - excellent, deep shots by JG that he doesn't convert. That changes and he's on the podium again. Better work on bottom as well and he's high up on podium.

It's like he hesitates between the initial shot and the finish in a sort of mechanical way. That little pause makes the difference between finishing the shot and getting neutralized/countered. Strange to see in such an experienced, successful wrestler. Bottom is mostly just a matter of wanting to get out for him. He seems to mope down there when things are not going well for him.
 
This is a huge turning point for the team and a great narrative if it happens. Dream scenario: Jimmy shows up to the opening dual sporting a Zain body modification.

Good point FineMaterial. Would be great to see. Really want Jimmy G to have a great final year.

Hope Jimmy has been adopting Zain's watermelon workouts and the "Gorilla Hulk's" intensive training program.

Frank "The Tank" Molinaro is a powerful guy, with a big tank of energy, so he can keep driving to the end. He is a great role model for those who want to improve their bodies for high level wrestling.

Plus, Frank could be a workout partner and mentor, since he is back in Happy Valley on the Nittany Lion staff.

Get Jimmy G the extra strength to lift his opponents up off of the mat, after his deep shots and JG will be completing a lot more TDs. He's getting in. Just needs the strength to continue to overpower his opponent with a lift if needed, to finish his shots.
 
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Get Jimmy G the extra strength to lift his opponents up off of the mat, after his deep shots and JG will be completing a lot more TDs. He's getting in. Just needs the strength to continue to overpower his opponent with a lift if needed, to finish his shots.
You hit on what I've always believed the problem is with Jimmy. Strength. His initial shots are as good as Zain's. He just doesn't have the leg drive to sustain the move against top competition.
 
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Unfortunately, I agree with you.
And when I say that, it may just be 2 but that's too many when trying to overcome the bonus point power of PSU and the Buckeyes. All the top teams might have the same amount of holes - hell, we might have more holes than the Hawks if our high hopes for some guys don't pan out, but, as you know, a few more bonus point wins counteracts several decent scoring guys.

Gilman will bonus like crazy, but the other Iowa big guns (Sorenson, Clark) are kings of the 3-7 point win. All those guys bonus into the quarters/semis and it's on.

I remember one year with Frank M. It may have even been his senior year. He seemed to have an inordinate amount of 6-7 point wins. Didn't matter much in the end, but it could have.
 
Last year it just didn't seem like Jimmy was having fun. Maybe his ankle was never 100%, but he too often was wrestling not to lose instead of trusting his talent.

Hopefully he can rejuvenate this summer and come out guns-a-blazing his final year.
 
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And when I say that, it may just be 2 but that's too many when trying to overcome the bonus point power of PSU and the Buckeyes. All the top teams might have the same amount of holes - hell, we might have more holes than the Hawks if our high hopes for some guys don't pan out, but, as you know, a few more bonus point wins counteracts several decent scoring guys.

Gilman will bonus like crazy, but the other Iowa big guns (Sorenson, Clark) are kings of the 3-7 point win. All those guys bonus into the quarters/semis and it's on.

I remember one year with Frank M. It may have even been his senior year. He seemed to have an inordinate amount of 6-7 point wins. Didn't matter much in the end, but it could have.
Injuries are the great equalizer. You mentioned it in your earlier post...but it bears repeating. My hope, frankly, is that every team gets to the big dance at full strength.

And as far as Frank, and the run of 6-7 point wins, pretty sure it was his junior year (he only had 5 total, but 4 in a row...and that's probably what you remember).
 
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Injuries are the great equalizer. You mentioned it in your earlier post...but it bears repeating. My hope, frankly, is that every team gets to the big dance at full strength.

And as far as Frank, and the run of 6-7 point wins, pretty sure it was his junior year (he only had 5 total, but 4 in a row...and that's probably what you remember).
Good memory. I remember people on this board, FOS, and BSD knashing their teeth about the almost-majors
 
Good memory. I remember people on this board, FOS, and BSD knashing their teeth about the almost-majors

I looked thru the brackets and in 2011 & 2012, the years Tank made the finals he had no almost major wins. He had 3 major wins total for those 2 years and the closest to an almost major was a 5 point win in the semis his senior year.
 
I looked thru the brackets and in 2011 & 2012, the years Tank made the finals he had no almost major wins. He had 3 major wins total for those 2 years and the closest to an almost major was a 5 point win in the semis his senior year.

Good post NoVa Lion - He has had a lot of close ones for sure.
Frank has still been winning dvery close to the edge, during his Olympic bouts.

Hope he can continue his recent track record of gaining an advantage in scoring that creates a win, even when the score is tied.
 
You hit on what I've always believed the problem is with Jimmy. Strength. His initial shots are as good as Zain's. He just doesn't have the leg drive to sustain the move against top competition.
The confusing thing is though that we have heard reports from the room that Jimmy is one of the more naturally strong wrestlers, for his size, in the room.
 
The confusing thing is though that we have heard reports from the room that Jimmy is one of the more naturally strong wrestlers, for his size, in the room.

Yeah, personally I think Jimmy's problem is all mental. If he believes in himself he'll be fine, if he doesn't he won't. I'm hoping and betting on Jimmy from 2015 NCAAs and he finishes on the podium again.
 
I looked thru the brackets and in 2011 & 2012, the years Tank made the finals he had no almost major wins. He had 3 major wins total for those 2 years and the closest to an almost major was a 5 point win in the semis his senior year.

I was generally talking regular season scores and then conflated that with a reference to the tournament. Sorry for causing confusion and extra work. Roar seems to back up one such streak during the regular season. Of course my memory is not what it used to be, but I'm positive I read several dual meet threads on BSD where this issue came up. Posters were happy for the wins of course, but still bitching.
 
Yeah, personally I think Jimmy's problem is all mental. If he believes in himself he'll be fine, if he doesn't he won't. I'm hoping and betting on Jimmy from 2015 NCAAs and he finishes on the podium again.
Agree. You can see how angry/disappointed he gets at himself when he struggles. He is so quick for that weight.
 
I was generally talking regular season scores and then conflated that with a reference to the tournament. Sorry for causing confusion and extra work. Roar seems to back up one such streak during the regular season. Of course my memory is not what it used to be, but I'm positive I read several dual meet threads on BSD where this issue came up. Posters were happy for the wins of course, but still bitching.

Ah, that makes more sense. Without researching the actual scores I do remember Tank in his junior and senior years consistently getting a 1st period TD and riding the rest of the period for a 2-0 lead when I thought he would be better served to release his opponent and get a couple of extra TDs.
 
With Jimmy I think another year of growing into the weight will help him. I remember watching the Ashnault match and it looked like they were at two different weights.
 
I remember us calling it the Molinaro Major. He won a bunch of bouts by 7. Good times
 
Tank was 32-0 his senior season, with 23 Bonus Point wins. His other 10 wins were by 6 or fewer points.
Tank was 32-3 his junior season, with 16 Bonus Point wins. Of his 16 other wins, 2 were by 6 points, and 3 were by 7. I remember the discussions after 4 of those were consecutive wins (3 by 7 points and one by 6), just missing bonus...hard to believe fans still remember a 2-week span of time in January 2011.
 
Tank was 32-0 his senior season, with 23 Bonus Point wins. His other 10 wins were by 6 or fewer points.
Tank was 32-3 his junior season, with 16 Bonus Point wins. Of his 16 other wins, 2 were by 6 points, and 3 were by 7. I remember the discussions after 4 of those were consecutive wins (3 by 7 points and one by 6), just missing bonus...hard to believe fans still remember a 2-week span of time in January 2011.


Yet, I can't remember my wife's birthday, our anniversary, nor my birthday. But, I remember that.:)

Edit: It really is my wife's birthday today. I spent 4 hours in the car with her and did not wish her a happy birthday, I didn't remind our daughter to wish her one as well. I am sooo F&^%$&D. :oops:
 
Yet, I can't remember my wife's birthday, our anniversary, nor my birthday. But, I remember that.:)

Edit: It really is my wife's birthday today. I spent 4 hours in the car with her and did not wish her a happy birthday, I didn't remind our daughter to wish her one as well. I am sooo F&^%$&D. :oops:
Sorry hl, but I just laughed a little at your misfortune...:oops:
 
It is Bo's choice - to a certain degree. It comes down to the best opportunity to score the most points at Nationals and win a sixth team championship in seven seasons.

1)174 with Shakur Rasheed and Bo Nickal at 184 or
2)174 with Bo Nickal and 184 with Matt McCutheon?
 
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It is Bo's choice - to a certain degree. It comes down to the best opportunity to score the most points at Nationals and win a sixth team championship in seven seasons.

1)174 with Shakur Rasheed and Bo Nickal at 184 or
2)174 with Bo Nickal and 184 with Matt McCutheon?

Thanks Ames, hearing anything new on the recruiting front since Fargo?
 
Bo seems to have the frame to handle the height/leverage at 184. I wouldn't read too much into mixed results at 189 in freestyle. I would put him #2 behind GD in my mind, and consider him the primary threat to stopping his quest for #3. He might still be growing and finds the cut to 174 a bit straining.
 
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I do remember a certain 15-0 TF over Ness in the B1G finals!!
Brings a smile to my face.

2iroxsm.jpg
 
Agree. You can see how angry/disappointed he gets at himself when he struggles. He is so quick for that weight.
You hit on what I've always believed the problem is with Jimmy. Strength. His initial shots are as good as Zain's. He just doesn't have the leg drive to sustain the move against top competition.

Last year it just didn't seem like Jimmy was having fun. Maybe his ankle was never 100%, but he too often was wrestling not to lose instead of trusting his talent.

Hopefully he can rejuvenate this summer and come out guns-a-blazing his final year.

The confusing thing is though that we have heard reports from the room that Jimmy is one of the more naturally strong wrestlers, for his size, in the room.

Yeah, personally I think Jimmy's problem is all mental. If he believes in himself he'll be fine, if he doesn't he won't. I'm hoping and betting on Jimmy from 2015 NCAAs and he finishes on the podium again.

Okay, I'll put in my .02 for a spectator's diagnosis of Jimmy:
A great deal of it is mental, but he also has trouble with longer opponents, and Jimmy has small hands; he's strong, but can lose his grip.

He's capable of being on the NCAA podium, but also could have another erratic year. It would be great to see him at his best as a senior.
 
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Personally I hope Bo stays at 174 another year, for his own sake.
Of course if Hall is not going to redshirt that changes things.
 
All points are on the table here. Which, HAPPENS, when you have a ton of talent, and only so many weight classes....it's all good folks, good problems to have.
 
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Brings a smile to my face.

2iroxsm.jpg

One of my all time favorite moments from the past several years. This was the year after JRob called Frank out after the Minn. dual. Tank made it his personal mission to destroy as many Minnesota wrestlers as possible. He smoked Zberg 9-0 that year at BigTens but watching him smile after turning Ness was the ultimate "how do you like me now".

This really needs to go over in the Molinaro appreciation thread on Hawk Report :D

Wish I could do a clip like this of the crotch grab salute.
 
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