After watching PSU's guys win with superior strategies it seems to me wrestling Nick Lee two weeks before nationals might have cost Eiermann. I know they'd met before but that fresh look at him had to be a big help for Nick and the coaching staff.
After watching PSU's guys win with superior strategies it seems to me wrestling Nick Lee two weeks before nationals might have cost Eiermann. I know they'd met before but that fresh look at him had to be a big help for Nick and the coaching staff.
I respectfully disagree. Nick learned a lot from the first match and in case anyone wasn’t noticing he was consistently using his hand to palm contact the other side of Eirmanns head and headgear, seemingly to create both imbalance and a lot of distraction. (Left hand, inverting across Eiermans face to palm his left ear, for example). This was a constant feature of the match and Eierman even seemed to complain about it after he got his own finger in Nicks headgear.I don't think the first match benefited Lee that much. Lee's endless gas tank was the biggest reason he won the rematch. Oddly, Eierman brought a different strategy at the NCAA final and actually initiated some offense, especially in the 1st period. He couldn't sustain initiating offense plus defending against Lee's constant pressure and gassed out.
Edit: on second thought, perhaps Eierman underestimated Lee in the rematch. He was on a bonus point roll coming into the final so maybe he thought he could also steam roll through Lee.
I respectfully disagree. Nick learned a lot from the first match and in case anyone wasn’t noticing he was consistently using his hand to palm contact the other side of Eirmanns head and headgear, seemingly to create both imbalance and a lot of distraction. (Left hand, inverting across Eiermans face to palm his left ear, for example). This was a constant feature of the match and Eierman even seemed to complain about it after he got his own finger in Nicks headgear.
Everyone has noted that Jaydin shot considerably more than in the first match. I suspect there was concern on their part that Nick controlled the first match on the feet and exposed Jaydin enough. They also assumed (correctly) that Nick would not choose down in the final. That meant Jaydin would have to create opportunity on the feet.
I think the Big Ten final played an enormous part in Nicks win.
Eierman may have shot more, but they were straight on from space. Maybe his nick name should be predictable rather than the Riddler. Chasing Nick Lee is a foolish strategy.I respectfully disagree. Nick learned a lot from the first match and in case anyone wasn’t noticing he was consistently using his hand to palm contact the other side of Eirmanns head and headgear, seemingly to create both imbalance and a lot of distraction. (Left hand, inverting across Eiermans face to palm his left ear, for example). This was a constant feature of the match and Eierman even seemed to complain about it after he got his own finger in Nicks headgear.
Everyone has noted that Jaydin shot considerably more than in the first match. I suspect there was concern on their part that Nick controlled the first match on the feet and exposed Jaydin enough. They also assumed (correctly) that Nick would not choose down in the final. That meant Jaydin would have to create opportunity on the feet.
I think the Big Ten final played an enormous part in Nicks win.
No doubt it helped Lee to have faced him. Avoiding down was a good move. But my perception is that, for the most part, Cael has his guys mentally and physically peaking at nationals. I don't know what his secret is. Iowa never seems quite as focused or confident at nationals. They tend to lose close matches or even lose to lower-seeded wrestlers. Now under Gable, that was a whole different deal. I've always felt that Iowa wasn't necessarily that much better than everyone (some definite exceptions) in that time period, but that Gable knew what made his wrestlers tick and was able to get them to believe they could win.I respectfully disagree. Nick learned a lot from the first match and in case anyone wasn’t noticing he was consistently using his hand to palm contact the other side of Eirmanns head and headgear, seemingly to create both imbalance and a lot of distraction. (Left hand, inverting across Eiermans face to palm his left ear, for example). This was a constant feature of the match and Eierman even seemed to complain about it after he got his own finger in Nicks headgear.
Everyone has noted that Jaydin shot considerably more than in the first match. I suspect there was concern on their part that Nick controlled the first match on the feet and exposed Jaydin enough. They also assumed (correctly) that Nick would not choose down in the final. That meant Jaydin would have to create opportunity on the feet.
I think the Big Ten final played an enormous part in Nicks win.
No doubt it helped Lee to have faced him. Avoiding down was a good move. But my perception is that, for the most part, Cael has his guys mentally and physically peaking at nationals. I don't know what his secret is. Iowa never seems quite as focused or confident at nationals. They tend to lose close matches or even lose to lower-seeded wrestlers. Now under Gable, that was a whole different deal. I've always felt that Iowa wasn't necessarily that much better than everyone (some definite exceptions) in that time period, but that Gable knew what made his wrestlers tick and was able to get them to believe they could win.
That's Terry's smile.
JE hasn’t qualified for the trials. Nick qualified twice.If what played out on the mat was the strategy going in...brands got out coached.
JE is in shape so maybe the moment of the evening zapped him.
Curious to see how he does at trials
My guy? My guy is Nick Lee - whether he stays at 141 and beats Grandpa Riddler or goes up to challenge the Greek Lawyerso your guy could win one in his 6th season at 141?
Disagree somewhat. If an opponent chooses Neutral it's because he sucks on bottom. Guys that are really good on top know that is a possibility going in.I think it's clear that Nick and the coaches adjusted to Eierman since the B1Gs, but also think Eierman is near enough in skill to flip this result down the road. They're so closely matched.
Just rewatched this match and it was easily, I think, the most entertaining of the night. Both guys came really close to scoring multiple times, and both were chain wrestling. So many great sequences.
It's just speculation, but I have to think the match was basically over when Lee chose neutral in the third and got that first takedown. I get that the choice was made, in all likelihood, to prevent a repeat of the rideout at the B1Gs, but the decision also essentially required Lee to get two takedowns to win, instead of an escape plus a takedown. Lee got that takedown relatively easily, and Eierman was noticeably tired at that point. It seemed at that point that Lee's second TD was only a matter of time.
Noteworthy too that in the semi vs Myers, RBY chose neutral in the third with the score tied, forcing him to get a takedown in the third. Mentally, that has to play a bit with the opponent, most of whom have already calculated that they're giving up an E1. It's a bit of a queen's gambit, sacrificing an easily gettable point because you're confident enough that you've got a takedown in you.
Quentin Wright, national champion.No doubt it helped Lee to have faced him. Avoiding down was a good move. But my perception is that, for the most part, Cael has his guys mentally and physically peaking at nationals. I don't know what his secret is. Iowa never seems quite as focused or confident at nationals. They tend to lose close matches or even lose to lower-seeded wrestlers. Now under Gable, that was a whole different deal. I've always felt that Iowa wasn't necessarily that much better than everyone (some definite exceptions) in that time period, but that Gable knew what made his wrestlers tick and was able to get them to believe they could win.
Agreed. To my eye, Nick controlled that match from start to finish due to the lessons learned and adjustments made from the B1G match. And by "controlled that match" I mean that it looked to me like Eierman was compelled to change his strategy in real-time in response to what Nick was doing from the first whistle to the last. It almost looked like Eierman was confused by Nick's gameplan and started taking more shots and trying things that would work only against an inferior opponent.I respectfully disagree. Nick learned a lot from the first match and in case anyone wasn’t noticing he was consistently using his hand to palm contact the other side of Eirmanns head and headgear, seemingly to create both imbalance and a lot of distraction. (Left hand, inverting across Eiermans face to palm his left ear, for example). This was a constant feature of the match and Eierman even seemed to complain about it after he got his own finger in Nicks headgear.
Everyone has noted that Jaydin shot considerably more than in the first match. I suspect there was concern on their part that Nick controlled the first match on the feet and exposed Jaydin enough. They also assumed (correctly) that Nick would not choose down in the final. That meant Jaydin would have to create opportunity on the feet.
I think the Big Ten final played an enormous part in Nicks win.
I thought the point of taking neutral is that the escape point is not easy to get against this opponent, and if the escape comes too late or never, then instead of an escape point, you get no point or lose a point due to riding time, and you don’t even have as much time to score from neutral to compensate.... [Choosing neutral]'s a bit of a queen's gambit, sacrificing an easily gettable point because you're confident enough that you've got a takedown in you.
Disagree somewhat. If an opponent chooses Neutral it's because he sucks on bottom. Guys that are really good on top know that is a possibility going in.
I think it's clear that Nick and the coaches adjusted to Eierman since the B1Gs, but also think Eierman is near enough in skill to flip this result down the road. They're so closely matched.
Just rewatched this match and it was easily, I think, the most entertaining of the night. Both guys came really close to scoring multiple times, and both were chain wrestling. So many great sequences.
It's just speculation, but I have to think the match was basically over when Lee chose neutral in the third and got that first takedown. I get that the choice was made, in all likelihood, to prevent a repeat of the rideout at the B1Gs, but the decision also essentially required Lee to get two takedowns to win, instead of an escape plus a takedown. Lee got that takedown relatively easily, and Eierman was noticeably tired at that point. It seemed at that point that Lee's second TD was only a matter of time.
Noteworthy too that in the semi vs Myers, RBY chose neutral in the third with the score tied, forcing him to get a takedown in the third. Mentally, that has to play a bit with the opponent, most of whom have already calculated that they're giving up an E1. It's a bit of a queen's gambit, sacrificing an easily gettable point because you're confident enough that you've got a takedown in you.
The "like" was 100% for the queen's gambit reference.It's a bit of a queen's gambit
Sure, in some situations that's true, with guys known to be top riders. But by and large, top tier guys can get out from bottom against almost anyone. Granted, that wasn't true with respect to Lee and Eierman in the B1Gs, but did anyone think RBY couldn't have gotten out from under Myers? And given Lee's gas tank vs Eierman going into the third last Saturday, it's more likely that Lee could've gotten that E1 soon enough. It's not so cut and dried that the decision to take neutral is only because a guy sucks on bottom (or an opponent is great on top), my only point was that it's unusual and can throw an opponent's expectations, and it's gutsy because you're (usually) leaving a point on the table.Disagree somewhat. If an opponent chooses Neutral it's because he sucks on bottom. Guys that are really good on top know that is a possibility going in.
Nick Lee has always had a great gass tank but what impresses me the most is how he has improved since a freshman to now.
His neutral defense is much better and his reshots just wear down and mentally break his opponents.
His bottom game is worlds better. He is much better staying on his base and doing that little hip heist for the escape. He now gets away from the best.
His ability to scramble is now amazing. This Big10 Semifinals against Rivera in the third period and overtime was fantastic. Best match of the tournament. He never yielded position and kept on Wrestling until he earned the points.
I like that he has taken over as a leader of this young team.