Future PSU Lineup discussions

[matter7172]

If you tried to explain this logjam to a non-wrestling fan the best way would be to use baseball. Imagine you have these five guys to choose from for three outfield spots: Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Stan Musial. Or basketball and you can only start five guys: Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Bird, Magic, Dr. J, Shaq, Kareem and Wilt.

It's stupid but it's awesome because it's driving every other program nuts. How can the two rabid badgers in Iowa go to the donors and explain why they can't get top talent because these kids would rather be backups at PSU than starters for them?

The baseball one is a real quandary more apropos to PSU's situation. BBall is easy - Jordan, Bird, Magic, Dr. J and Wilt (but really you'd put Bill Russell in there instead of Wilt, because with the other 4, you don't need more offense at the center position)

 

[Random4598375]

I know. But perspectives tend to change over time. Read what Carter was saying about his extra year for a very long time ... if we're speculating at this point, there is an option for Kasak to redshirt and then neither he nor Duke lose a year.

Right. If Duke takes a traditional RS year, then Kasak has the position this year and next year with 1 year of eligibility left. If Duke beats him for the spot as a RS FR, then Kasak has a choice to RS behind Duke for a year and get the spot back presuming Duke goes up to 165 when MM is done, portal out and wrestle a 4th year somewhere else ** cough Meatchicken **, or just back up for a year and graduate and move on with life. It's a decision that involves more than rabid fans calculating how everyone on the roster could be eligible until they are 27 so they use all four years. But, he certainly could opt to stay and RS and get back in when Duke moves up. That's probably what most would do.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

That was me and while occasionally someone will attempt a pretty tough cut to get to an open spot, there is no way in hell he'll have a starting lineup where Kasak, Duke, Sealey, Ryder, and Barr are all down a class. That's downright Okiestatey.

Ryder wouldn't necessarily be "down" a class to 174. Only a few months ago, he wrestled at 79 kg (173.8 lb) at the U23 World Championships. A number of folks (me included) suspect that hi174 is his best weight for college.

Duke himself has stated (albeit 16 months ago) that he intends to start his college career at 157.

Would Kasak really be "down" at 149, where he wrestled in 2023-24 after SVN got hurt? I suspect a big part of Kasak at 157 this season is the presence of SVN at 149. And for perspective, last season people were saying Ksask bumped up a class to 149, even though 149 was clearly a better weight for him than 141.

Is Sealey really a college 174? Could be, but at this time it seems to just be guessing/projection.

In my view, only Barr would obviously be dropping a weight class to get to 184, after working hard to bulk up for 197.

 

[The Japanese Whizzer]

If you tried to explain this logjam to a non-wrestling fan the best way would be to use baseball. Imagine you have these five guys to choose from for three outfield spots: Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Stan Musial. Or basketball and you can only start five guys: Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Bird, Magic, Dr. J, Shaq, Kareem and Wilt.

It's stupid but it's awesome because it's driving every other program nuts. How can the two rabid badgers in Iowa go to the donors and explain why they can't get top talent because these kids would rather be backups at PSU than starters for them?

No love for Pete Lisicky?