If N Lee, Hall and Cenzo all win titles...

[NittanyChris]

then we likely win the team title? Wouldn't you say?
To say those 3 finish first is far from an outlandish prediction.

Iowa is the favorite as of today, but it ain't over baby!

WE ARE!!!

 

[El-Jefe]

then we likely win the team title? Wouldn't you say?
To say those 3 finish first is far from an outlandish prediction.

Iowa is the favorite as of today, but it ain't over baby!

WE ARE!!!

The current projections showing Iowa with a big lead all assume Cenzo and Mark win, and Nick either 1 or 2.

So that's not nearly enough. 60 pts + bonus. Need to find another 40-50 pts and that might not be enough either.

Getting Brooks and Rasheed both in the finals would be another 32 + bonus. Big help.

RBY and Berge both top 4 -- now we're getting closer.

Snacks on the podium -- can start to sniff it.

Might still need more -- something from 125 and/or 149, and some underperformances by Iowa.

Gonna be a tough uphill climb, but it's far from over

 

[js8793]

then we likely win the team title? Wouldn't you say?
To say those 3 finish first is far from an outlandish prediction.

Iowa is the favorite as of today, but it ain't over baby!

WE ARE!!!

As el-jefe said, no that wouldn't be anywhere close to enough without a significant under-performance by Iowa. Those 3 are already favorites imo anyway.

 

[PSUAllTheWay]

Iowa is the definite favorite at this point. But they still have to execute in March, something that from top to bottom they haven't done consistently. Maybe this will be the year but don't count out the good guys! We are the champs until unseated and Cael will have them ready to roar.

 

[dunkej01]

then we likely win the team title? Wouldn't you say?
To say those 3 finish first is far from an outlandish prediction.

Iowa is the favorite as of today, but it ain't over baby!

WE ARE!!!

we need Iowa to simply implode Friday night and/or Sat morning.

though I would take a whole bunch of ronnie perrys to show up and show out

 

[slushhead]

Based on the InterMat rankings, I've felt for a while that our best chance of making up points is at 184 and 197, combined with an "underperformance" at 197 and 285 by Iowa . . . unless Marinelli really does have a block of sorts at NCAAs and again finishes out of the Top 4.

 

[El-Jefe]

we need Iowa to simply implode Friday night and/or Sat morning.

though I would take a whole bunch of ronnie perrys to show up and show out

A Moisey or Cruz and a Kasper would also be most welcome.

 

[tomsc]

Iowa is the favorite at this point without question IMO on paper. That said, an awful lot of unexpected things happen at NCAA’s (Conel beating Moore 2x is just one example). One thing is sure—our coaches will have our guys ready, and I’m sure not counting them out in the least! Really looking forward to seeing how some of our young guys rise to the occasion!

 

[Ian]

A lot can happen in the next 2 months.... remember Cornell, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and even Iowa we’re favorites going into tournament time and couldn’t deliver during 8 of the last 9 years. Only O$U sealed the deal because Cael took his studs to RS.

What has been clear over the last 8 titles is that none of the favorites could keep up because of conditioning, injuries, performance, or pressure. The only sure thing Iowa has is SLee. Otherwise, the rest haven’t delivered when the lights got bright. Chances of all of them doing it at the same time is less than 50/50. I still like the champs chances. Talk to me in early March.

 

[NittanyChris]

I also like AB and Shak to finish top 4 as well as RBY.

 

[McScoreley]

All I'll say is this. The task is extremely daunting this year, it borderline seems impossible at this point even. If we somehow win this year, Cael will have his finest coaching moment and multiple Penn State wrestling folklores had to been born in order to make it happen. Here are some possibilities

1. How in the world did a RS FR walk on Brandon Meredith AA on the backside?
2. Shakur overcomes years of injuries and beats Kollin Moore in the finals
3. Wait Brady Berge is wrestling on Saturday night? That kid was a R16 149 the year before.
4. True Freshman Aaron Brooks pushed his way to the finals against grown men
5. Verkleeren just wouldn't stop winning those 1 point matches until he made the semis
6. The forgotten PSU Heavy Recruit Seth Nevills AAs after everyone wrote him off.

So keep the optimistic up! Possibilities are endless. If we don't win this year, we don't win this year, some kind of trophy is going in the room. It'll be weird that it's not a 1st (as it's either that one or no trophy at all for Cael during his time here) but it doesn't change how special these young men are and how proud we should be that they put on a Penn State singlet. End of the day, we're spoiled as PSU fans.

 

[82bordeaux]

If N Lee, Hall and Cenzo all win titles...
Then I'll have a great weekend in Minneapolis!

 

[PSUNATTY2020]

Barring Iowa injuries, it's over.

 

[Dogwelder]

Barring Iowa injuries, it's over.

You might be a fat troll lady, and you might be singing, but nothing is over until we decide it is.

 

[El-Jefe]

You might be a fat troll lady, and you might be singing, but nothing is over until we decide it is.

 

[butchinmi]

I don't know if any of you have utilized the wrestlestat Tournament Projection tool, but it's pretty sweet. Just to give you an idea of how it works, here is a sample of Iowa vs PSU and what team scores would be. Bonus is calculated but I think things would be different (Example, Desanto shows zero bonus, N Lee is zero).

125 - Lee - 1, Meredith - R12
133 - Desanto - 3, RBY - 4
141 - Murin - 7, Lee - 1
149 - Lugo - 7, Verk - Rd12
157 - Young - 4, Berge - 5
165 - Bull - 2, Cenzo - 1
174 - Kem 2, Hall - 1
184 - Cash - Rd12, Brooks - 2
197 - Warner - 8, Shak - 7
HWT - Cass - 5, Nevills - 6

PSU 125, Iowa 122
I'm a Hawk fan and think these are a little rosey for PSU and maybe a little slight on Iowa, but nothing above would be unfathomable to me. All of it happening at one time, hmmm.

https://www.wrestlestat.com/tourney/projection

 

[District four]

The current projections showing Iowa with a big lead all assume Cenzo and Mark win, and Nick either 1 or 2.

So that's not nearly enough. 60 pts + bonus. Need to find another 40-50 pts and that might not be enough either.

Getting Brooks and Rasheed both in the finals would be another 32 + bonus. Big help.

RBY and Berge both top 4 -- now we're getting closer.

Snacks on the podium -- can start to sniff it.

Might still need more -- something from 125 and/or 149, and some underperformances by Iowa.

Gonna be a tough uphill climb, but it's far from over

I'm going with the under performance by Iowa. The projections for their points all have their guys winning to seed or better when's the last time that happened with Iowa just saying. It could happen but I'm getting Warner Hugo murin cash and young are big ifs in their lineup at nationals.

 

[TangSoo]

Barring Iowa injuries, it's over.

I thought KK was gone for good. ANYTHING can happen.

 

[CropDuster507]

Honestly, I'd celebrate that trio winning regardless... Though, I'm finding my threshold for "would celebrate with alcohol" decreases daily lol.

 

[apoharrow]

Maybe their 133 gets to excited after his opening round win and cost the team a penalty point. PSU by 1.

 

[El-Jefe]

Maybe their 133 gets to excited after his opening round win and cost the team a penalty point. PSU by 1.

Iowa losing on a team deduction would be right up there with Tony Nelson finally getting nailed for the Stall Ride of Doom in the finals.

 

[McScoreley]

I don't know if any of you have utilized the wrestlestat Tournament Projection tool, but it's pretty sweet. Just to give you an idea of how it works, here is a sample of Iowa vs PSU and what team scores would be. Bonus is calculated but I think things would be different (Example, Desanto shows zero bonus, N Lee is zero).

125 - Lee - 1, Meredith - R12
133 - Desanto - 3, RBY - 4
141 - Murin - 7, Lee - 1
149 - Lugo - 7, Verk - Rd12
157 - Young - 4, Berge - 5
165 - Bull - 2, Cenzo - 1
174 - Kem 2, Hall - 1
184 - Cash - Rd12, Brooks - 2
197 - Warner - 8, Shak - 7
HWT - Cass - 5, Nevills - 6

PSU 125, Iowa 122
I'm a Hawk fan and think these are a little rosey for PSU and maybe a little slight on Iowa, but nothing above would be unfathomable to me. All of it happening at one time, hmmm.

https://www.wrestlestat.com/tourney/projection

If PSU manages 125 points after Cassar gets sidelined. I'm at peace with what the final team result is regardless. Our boys will have wrestled their hearts out.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

I can see it now, Saturday night team score tied, who better for the nightcap than Cenzo vs AMar.

 

[jack66]

Looking through my Blue & White glasses I can see this going similar to 2018.

Iowa's depth helps them build a substantial lead going into Friday night, along with 5 or 6 semi finalists ... that's where they meet their Waterloo.

We go 5 for 5, they go 2 for 6 and the championship comes down to Cenzo vs Bull Saturday night.

 

[RoarLions1]

Good discussion all. No one of consequence jumping off the ledge.

Whatever happens, win or lose, all we can ask for is great effort. History shows that the good guys embrace these opportunities, and wrestle loose, all the while having a bit of fun. Make no mistake, there's still a bit of pressure, but I see these 18-22 year-olds deal really well.

 

[joe_college]

Honestly, I think we are the favorites still. Rankings be danged. This is essentially the team we were planning on having for this year at the end of last and we were considered the favorites at that time. The only difference is we got a sixth year transfer after the season who is now injured, a sixth and seventh year for Cassar who is now injured, a 6th year for Shak, and the #1 P4P recruit who was on another teams roster at the beginning of this year who may or may not be eligible.

So really we were favorites at the end of last year and we got Shak as a bonus and maybe the #1 P4P recruit.

I guess if we are not the favorites it is only because the Hawks have made huge gains. Not buying that.

 

[El-Jefe]

Good discussion all. No one of consequence jumping off the ledge.

Whatever happens, win or lose, all we can ask for is great effort. History shows that the good guys embrace these opportunities, and wrestle loose, all the while having a bit of fun. Make no mistake, there's still a bit of pressure, but I see these 18-22 year-olds deal really well.

Other than John Brooks, who on the board is of consequence?

 

[McScoreley]

Other than John Brooks, who on the board is of consequence?

jammenz obviously!

 

[Raw Daddy]

I was really hoping Spencer would sit this year out and focus on the Olympics. He's not and looking like a big favorite. They may have an injury or 2 pop up and equal the playing field, but as it stands today they are the paper leader. It's going to be interesting.

 

[SJP80]

I can see it now, Saturday night team score tied, who better for the nightcap than Cenzo vs AMar.

How incredible would that be. Winner take all, Team and Individual National Championship clinched in one match. As a wrestling fan nothing better. Hmmmm ...... has that every happened?

 

[ClarkstonMark]

How incredible would that be. Winner take all, Team and Individual National Championship clinched in one match. As a wrestling fan nothing better. Hmmmm ...... has that every happened?

not the final match but Bo v MM was pretty close

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

not the final match but Bo v MM was pretty close

24 minutes and no video, cmon guys.

 

[McScoreley]

not the final match but Bo v MM was pretty close

I was SHOCKED they didn't make that the "Marquee Matchup" But end of the day, both of those guys knew that match was more or less for the team title. Myles was clearly very amped up and wanted a big move because he knew that was his avenue to beat Bo. Unfortunately going for a big move vs Bo is very dangerous.

Feel for Myles honestly, could you imagine besides an individual title at stake, the pressure of knowing you had to beat Bo to keep your team hopes alive? I know the OSU wrestlers/coaches and his family consoled him after the loss and I hope that he didn't blame himself for losing the team title. You can't help it sometimes though.

End of the day, he did his part, getting to the finals and hitting a nice move that gave himself a chance vs Bo.

 

[McScoreley]

Also - other times when our wrestler (not quite as dramatic) won it on Saturday night

1. Quentin Wright beating Dustin Kilgore in 2013. Without that, we tied Oklahoma State.

2. Ed and DT winning in 2014. Gwiz and Ringer with the assists. Sometimes it's good to have "friends"

 

[NoVa Lion]

Also - other times when our wrestler (not quite as dramatic) won it on Saturday night

1. Quentin Wright beating Dustin Kilgore in 2013. Without that, we tied Oklahoma State.

2. Ed and DT winning in 2014. Gwiz and Ringer with the assists. Sometimes it's good to have "friends"

Funny that we won close ones in 2013 & 2014. When Cael was hired and we got DT, the Altons, etc. I remember saying it would be really cool to win NCAAs in Iowa (Des Moines) and Oklahoma (OK City) never expecting to win in Philly (close one also) and St. Louis, which wasn;t close at all. Of course in St. Louis who knew we would have true frosh Nico finishing 2nd.

 

[russelscout]

I don't know if any of you have utilized the wrestlestat Tournament Projection tool, but it's pretty sweet. Just to give you an idea of how it works, here is a sample of Iowa vs PSU and what team scores would be. Bonus is calculated but I think things would be different (Example, Desanto shows zero bonus, N Lee is zero).

125 - Lee - 1, Meredith - R12
133 - Desanto - 3, RBY - 4
141 - Murin - 7, Lee - 1
149 - Lugo - 7, Verk - Rd12
157 - Young - 4, Berge - 5
165 - Bull - 2, Cenzo - 1
174 - Kem 2, Hall - 1
184 - Cash - Rd12, Brooks - 2
197 - Warner - 8, Shak - 7
HWT - Cass - 5, Nevills - 6

PSU 125, Iowa 122
I'm a Hawk fan and think these are a little rosey for PSU and maybe a little slight on Iowa, but nothing above would be unfathomable to me. All of it happening at one time, hmmm.

https://www.wrestlestat.com/tourney/projection

This does not factor in bonus correct?
At this time bonus favors:
125: Iowa by a lot
133:Iowa
141: PSU
149: slight Iowa
157: draw
165: draw
174: draw
184: PSU
197: PSU
285: Iowa

Even with those rosy predictions I would take Iowa. However, it would take one guy like Shak to make the finals and Warner R12 and suddenly PSU is winning. It will be very close.

 

[LemonPie]

At current, the gap between Iowa and PSU isn't really that large. If NCAAs were wrestled 10 times, I would think PSU wins 2 or 3 of them.

But you are kidding yourself if you don't think PSU has another major injury between now and March. THAT'S WHAT WE DO

 

[dunkej01]

Other than John Brooks, who on the board is of consequence?

Turk has consequences coming.....

 

[DeadHead11]

I can see it now, Saturday night team score tied, who better for the nightcap than Cenzo vs AMar.

Followed by a Hall vs Kem encore

 

[russelscout]

Followed by a Hall vs Kem encore

With the team title on the line, Bull vs Cenzo would be pretty damn electric as the last match.