Fair Warning: The following is not recommended for inflexible thinkers.
NCAA Wrestling should incentivize wrestlers to seek ranked wins rather than avoid losses.
Let’s use the Journeyman Classic as an example of loss avoidance.
No bracket so no team or individual champions. Not even a round robin. What we got was called “pool play” where wrestlers had a limited number of potential opponents. The coaches, much like helicopter parents, arranged appropriate “playdates”.
Had it been available only on pay-per-view, would you have bought it? Probably not. Would you cough up ten bucks to watch a tournament with these potential finalists?
Not too shabby, eh? For all the lip service about “growing the sport”, this lost opportunity might appear hypocritical but it is understandable. Why?:
Postseason seeding incentivizes coaches to avoid potential losses.
Solution: Ignore losses altogether. Maybe just use the average ranking of a wrestler’s top three wins?
This would incentive the higher ranked matches that we, the fans, crave.
Need proof? Take a gander at the All-Star Classic lineup. There is a simple reason all those studs signed on. It doesn’t count towards their record. Loss avoided.
I have no delusions of being the smartest guy in the room so if you have another way to incentivize better matches, please share.
PS Apologies if this idea has already been suggested. I am not a regular at his bar.
NCAA Wrestling should incentivize wrestlers to seek ranked wins rather than avoid losses.
Let’s use the Journeyman Classic as an example of loss avoidance.
No bracket so no team or individual champions. Not even a round robin. What we got was called “pool play” where wrestlers had a limited number of potential opponents. The coaches, much like helicopter parents, arranged appropriate “playdates”.
Had it been available only on pay-per-view, would you have bought it? Probably not. Would you cough up ten bucks to watch a tournament with these potential finalists?
LB | NAME 1 | Rk | Rk | NAME 2 |
125 | NOTO | 1 | 2 | FIGUEROA |
133 | CROOKHAM | 1 | 2 | ARAJAU |
141 | BARTLETT | 2 | 7 | JACK |
149 | VAN NESS | 2 | 3 | PARCO |
157 | HAINES | 1 | 4 | TEEMER |
165 | RAMIREZ | 7 | NR | MESENBRINK |
174 | STAROCCI | 1 | 2 | FOCA |
184 | TRUAX | 2 | 9 | NOLAN |
197 | BROOKS | 1 | 5 | HIDLAY |
285 | KERKVLIET | 1 | 4 | SCHULTZ |
Not too shabby, eh? For all the lip service about “growing the sport”, this lost opportunity might appear hypocritical but it is understandable. Why?:
Postseason seeding incentivizes coaches to avoid potential losses.
Solution: Ignore losses altogether. Maybe just use the average ranking of a wrestler’s top three wins?
This would incentive the higher ranked matches that we, the fans, crave.
Need proof? Take a gander at the All-Star Classic lineup. There is a simple reason all those studs signed on. It doesn’t count towards their record. Loss avoided.
I have no delusions of being the smartest guy in the room so if you have another way to incentivize better matches, please share.
PS Apologies if this idea has already been suggested. I am not a regular at his bar.