How does Nolf look?

[okinburg1]

Some were saying 90% at Big Tens. Now I'm reading 75% at "the Nationals." What say you if you are lucky enough to be there and watching live.
BTW, a huge thank you to all those posting results. I continue to have almost no access except the board (long story).

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

He wrestled two matches at B1Gs before MFFing out of the tourney. He won those two by fall and TF, but looked tentative about testing the injured knee at times. I estimated him at about 75% in those two matches.

Today at NCAA, I thought he looked pretty good in his first match, which he won by TF against a decent opponent (Heffernan of CMU). Not quite his normal self, but may 85-90%. The second match against Crone of Wisconsin, however, Nolf was a shell of his normal self. He won comfortably, but was content to win by a 4 or 5 point decision. Almost like he was saving himself for the next day. A fully healthy and confident Nolf probably beats Crone by TF, or close to it.

So Nolf's health is quite unclear IMO. Don't know if he is favoring the knee, or just trying to be smart/cautious, or what. But against Crone he was not close to the same guy we're used to.

 

[34EVER]

He's wearing the brace, so either his knee or confidence isn't 100%. It also makes perfect sense for him to limit the risk until he has to let it fly. Lost in all his highlight reel offense, I'm not convinced anyone can score enough on him to beat him.

 

[tikk10]

I doubt don't he was content in the Crone match, I think he was aggravated his coaches didn't challenge the non-NF points.

Just because Nolf isn't putting together a highlight reel doesn't mean he's not prepared to win any match he's in. He's not just scraping by, the Crone match was never in question--he's just not pushing himself into places he doesn't need to go. We're just spoiled. He's going to win a second national championship in all likelihood because no one at 157 is on his level.

 

[diggerpup]

I’m not sure if he was hesitant in 2nd round vs Crone, or just avoiding bad situations - but it wasn’t the same Jason Nolf.


Now .... that could be strategic. He wasn’t really pushing things, but he was never challenged either.

 

[crwatso]

I think there is some hesitations there, naturally, but it looks to me more like he is wrestling a little more defensively (i.e. conservatively) to protect and avoid the knee and holding back for the stretch. I think tomorrow against Kem he’ll have to let it free a little more and then, hopefully, in the semis get through conservatively to let it all go in finals. I think Kem comes after that leg more in attacks.

But I think as a fan you got to feel pretty damn good about where he is at considering how he looked walking off the mat against Rutgers and the days that followed. I remember Angle wrestled with a bum knee down the stretch the year he was runner up sandwiched between national titles and I thought he looked hobbled a lot more than Nolf does and Angle was giving away 20-50+ lbs in every match. Yeah he won Olympic gold with a broken neck so he is a freak but just something thinking back to someone in a similar position and I think Nolf looks better than Angle did (Angle had surgery after the season).

 

[Lyons212]

He teched Heffernan, Heffernan has given up bonus points once in his career, he is a senior. Crone is tough, ref missed a near fall, should have been a major. Nolf was not challenged during that match.

 

[royboy]

Nolf has Michael Kemerer in the quarterfinals. We'll get a good look at his level of fitness very soon.

I'll say it goes something like 8-2 Nolf.

 

[burnsie1983]

I haven't seen either of Kemerer's matches in the tournament, but his results have been impressive. I'm mildly concerned about the matchup, but I think Nolf pulls it out. If he wins by a couple of takedowns I'll be really optimistic about the remainder of the tournament.

 

[dunkej01]

I thought our guys as a team looked better in the morning than they did at night. even many didnt want to be interviewed by espIn and ran past them.

tO$U was the opposite. they looked drained and sluggish as a team in the morning and full of juice last night.

could be nerves, pressure of the team race, home field, etc, etc.....

I thought keener and Nlee even in their loses moved well and had good energy. Keener just lost his mind and nick got a caught by a go for broke wrestler. really like both their places this morning if they bring their best.

 

[V Mobile]

Nolf hasn't lost a non injury aided match since IMAR. Reason for optimize.

 

[jrd23psu]

Jason definitely did not push the pace after the first period against Crone. He was content to just sort of be there and grind out a win. Crone was never close to scoring, and Jason didn't really care much to get to his own offense.

I have no idea if that was just strategy in order to be good to go this morning against likely his toughest opponent, or if it was because he couldn't physically do it. I guess we'll see what happens in a few hours.

 

[Grass]

He is wrestling like he is about 75-80% of his normal self. As a fan I am just happy that he is able to wrestle at all after what happened at Rutgers. Crone was a tough Round of 16 opponent who has a win over Pantaleo so winning a comfortable match against him was nice to see.

 

[PSUcup1]

in the morning when he hit 2 win-dixies i thought he was back to 95%

but he didnt quite look himself last night .... im a bit concerned with todays bout with Kem

 

[billrag]

Personally, I'm still very concerned. I had heard that his injury was worse than many people believe and he didn't look great last night, but we'll see. I still believe that Nolf at 80 or 90% beats Kemmerer or anyone else, but Nolf at 60% would not. We'll see. Most importantly, I hope that he does nothing to re-aggravate the injury. I'd rather concede the title to tOSU (and I'd really hate to do that) than to see Nolf with a worse injury yet.

 

[dunkej01]

anyone else concerned about kemdawg's scrambling ability? I feel like in their past matches he was content to let nolf push pace and get to his legs because he is so good at scrambling.

maybe with his own knee issues he wont go that way as much.

very nervous this morning for some reason and Im just some jerk on a keyboard. think Ill go for a run.

 

[SRATH]

Neither one of these outstanding wrestlers is 100%. I would be surprised if this is a high scoring wild match. Both will be playing it close to the vest. The winner can beat the rest of the field

 

[goethe14]

anyone else concerned about kemdawg's scrambling ability? I feel like in their past matches he was content to let nolf push pace and get to his legs because he is so good at scrambling.

maybe with his own knee issues he wont go that way as much.

very nervous this morning for some reason and Im just some jerk on a keyboard. think Ill go for a run.

Kemdawg definitley has some length and made Jason earn the points last year. Not sure percentage wise where either wrestler is but if close Jason wins. Hope no injuries for either and move on for Jason. Will be interesting how they approach each other and the knees etc. I just think Jason has enough whirly in the back to win this.

 

[JohnBasedow]

Watched both of Kemerer’s matches and Nolf’s first match. To me I thought Nolf moved much more gingerly. In Kemerers second match the guy got in on his bad leg and Kemerer fought it hard and put his knee in an awkward position to defend (successfully). I thought that was a good sign.

That being said, the champ is still the champ until someone knocks him off so Nolf is the favorite. Good luck today, hope all the guys stay as healthy as possible.

 

[NittanyLion84]

I’ve got a good feeling about this match, neither is 100%. Jason is a better scrambler than Kemerer, also Kemerer has a history of getting caught and Jason is top notch, at catching opposing wrestlers.

 

[manofsteel200]

To answer the OP's question.

He isn't the same. But what does it really mean? Did he not want to push in his second match? Knee brace slowing him down? Only 80%. We will know for sure today.

 

[dms87]

I suspect Jason has been looking forward to today's match up all year. He loves to test himself and this will be his most significant test this year. These two know each other, wrestle in a similar style and fashion I think it will be close. If they were both 100%, I'd say the same. I think Kemmerer is outstanding. I thought Jason did get to his offense in yesterday's second match a decent amount but Crone was able to defend him better than others. Could that have been Jason's hesitation to push things, Yes but I don't think discounting Crone is fair either. For Kemmerer to win I think he needs to score 10 points. Has Jason ever given up 10 points? I think Jason will be maniacal with his pace, believes he is the better wrestler and will not accept defeat. The better guy on top today wins. 9-7 Jason wins, 3 takedowns to 2.

 

[JohnBasedow]

Nice match from Nolf, lots of respect to that kid for being tough as nails.

 

[El-Jefe]

Jason looks like an NCAA Champion.

 

[PSUcup1]

Nice match from Nolf, lots of respect to that kid for being tough as nails.

I hope Kem comes back and gets 3rd!!

 

[GhostK]

He looks about 75% but still good enough to win at all.

Hidlay's size and strength will be a challenge though.

 

[diggerpup]

Nolf wrestled an expert match vs Kemerer.

Wow. Just solid. Super solid.

 

[okinburg1]

Thanks for all the postings guys. I guess beating Kem says quite a bit. Hope Jason can get it going all the way to the title.

 

[kjb32812]

I think he looks a heck of a lit better now than in the NCAAs. Early on in his second match at B1Gs I just wanted him to get the heck out of there.

Interesting watching him wrestle as a mere mortal. He's been fantastic, just not super human.

 

[nitlion6]

I think he looks a heck of a lit better now than in the NCAAs. Early on in his second match at B1Gs I just wanted him to get the heck out of there.

Interesting watching him wrestle as a mere mortal. He's been fantastic, just not super human.

Even without his superman cape he grinds. He is just so hard nose.

 

[tomsc]

At the NCAA's so not on the board much this week. I've felt the whole time that Nolf can/will still beat anyone, but just not with his usual aggressiveness and high scoring. He's not looked in trouble at any time. Kemerer never had him in the slightest danger. I don't see anyone beating him, unless his leg should get worse than it is now.

 

[Hotshoe]

Jason's fine. His brace is for support and just in case. He's Killin Nico in the room. Trust me on this.

 

[okinburg1]

To be completely honest, is it really THAT much of an accomplishment to be beating Nico in the room?

 

[TangSoo]

Nolf looks like he's ready to drop the Mitt Romney conservative act and eff somebody up.

 

[Creek Side]

Some were saying 90% at Big Tens. Now I'm reading 75% at "the Nationals." What say you if you are lucky enough to be there and watching live.
BTW, a huge thank you to all those posting results. I continue to have almost no access except the board (long story).

GOOD... DAMN... GOOD!

 

[aalion]

Nolf looks like he's ready to drop the Mitt Romney conservative act and eff somebody up.

i'd say you nailed this prediction.

 

[Hotshoe]

To be completely honest, is it really THAT much of an accomplishment to be beating Nico in the room?

I don't know, but how did Jason look last night? Nico's tough.

 

[dunkej01]

I don't know, but how did Jason look last night? Nico's tough.

im glad nico went to cleveland to give everyone the confidence they needed

 

[a_mshaffer]

im glad nico went to cleveland to give everyone the confidence they needed

I did spot Nico twice. Chatting with Spencer's dad once. If I had a chance, I was going to ask him about the practice room...

 

[ptomaselli]

Jason looked decent against Jordan last night.