We all know the drill at the Big Ten Championships. It's awesome to win, and that's what the coaches and wrestlers want, but in the big picture scheme, it's more important to earn advancement to the big dance.
So I used the (Mr?) Fink post (https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/first-crack-at-big-ten-seeds.290514/) as the basis for a review by weight class. I'll do this a couple weight classes at a time.
125
Howard at #10 or #11 gets him the #7 or #6 seed, respectively, in the first round. His possible opponents, Schroder (#6, PUR) and DeAugustino (#7, NU) are solid, strong wrestlers, and Schroder in particular as a talented 5th year senior will be a tough out. Howard matches up better vs DeAugustino imo, so this match-up gives the best chance of a first round win. DeAugustino will be favored, so I’m moving Howard to wrestlebacks. Note that 1 win against an NCAA qualifier is huge from a criteria standpoint if it comes down to at-large selection.
Here’s where there’s an advantage to 10th seed, as the loser of 10 vs 7 gets a bye in the first round of wrestlebacks. The 11 vs 6 loser gets the 14 seed, so Howard could face the same Maryland wrestler he beat handily at the dual. Next up should be either Foley (#5, MSU) or Barnett (#8, WIS) -- Foley if Howard is the 11 seed, Barnett if he’s the 10 seed. Assuming the path goes as I suggest, this is the match that will earn Howard a trip to NCAA’s. Top-8 go at 125. 9th and/or 10th place finishers may get an at-large selection.
133
RBY will get a bye into the second round. With Micic not wrestling, move everyone up one place in Fink’s post. In round two, he would face the #8/#9 winner, which could be Medley if you go by the Coaches Ranking. RBY should easily move on, even if it’s not Medley, and will likely face the #4/#5 winner, Cannon or Byrd. Both are freshmen, and neither have a particularly impressive resume, so RBY all the way. Alvarez vs DeSanto could be an entertaining semi-final – they’ve never met so we’ll see if Alvarez’s length gives DeSanto problems. Guessing not and DeSanto’s motor wins out. Whoever it is, the winner will face RBY.
Of course, RBY could be the #2 seed. If so, he’ll have a similar bout in quarters, but facing Dryden instead, a bout RBY should handle. The semis would likely see a bout with Alvarez, a wrestler RBY has beaten twice, once in Sudden Victory. Win, which RBY should, and the finals match-up is the same. RBY will be in St. Louis.
So I used the (Mr?) Fink post (https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/first-crack-at-big-ten-seeds.290514/) as the basis for a review by weight class. I'll do this a couple weight classes at a time.
125
Howard at #10 or #11 gets him the #7 or #6 seed, respectively, in the first round. His possible opponents, Schroder (#6, PUR) and DeAugustino (#7, NU) are solid, strong wrestlers, and Schroder in particular as a talented 5th year senior will be a tough out. Howard matches up better vs DeAugustino imo, so this match-up gives the best chance of a first round win. DeAugustino will be favored, so I’m moving Howard to wrestlebacks. Note that 1 win against an NCAA qualifier is huge from a criteria standpoint if it comes down to at-large selection.
Here’s where there’s an advantage to 10th seed, as the loser of 10 vs 7 gets a bye in the first round of wrestlebacks. The 11 vs 6 loser gets the 14 seed, so Howard could face the same Maryland wrestler he beat handily at the dual. Next up should be either Foley (#5, MSU) or Barnett (#8, WIS) -- Foley if Howard is the 11 seed, Barnett if he’s the 10 seed. Assuming the path goes as I suggest, this is the match that will earn Howard a trip to NCAA’s. Top-8 go at 125. 9th and/or 10th place finishers may get an at-large selection.
133
RBY will get a bye into the second round. With Micic not wrestling, move everyone up one place in Fink’s post. In round two, he would face the #8/#9 winner, which could be Medley if you go by the Coaches Ranking. RBY should easily move on, even if it’s not Medley, and will likely face the #4/#5 winner, Cannon or Byrd. Both are freshmen, and neither have a particularly impressive resume, so RBY all the way. Alvarez vs DeSanto could be an entertaining semi-final – they’ve never met so we’ll see if Alvarez’s length gives DeSanto problems. Guessing not and DeSanto’s motor wins out. Whoever it is, the winner will face RBY.
Of course, RBY could be the #2 seed. If so, he’ll have a similar bout in quarters, but facing Dryden instead, a bout RBY should handle. The semis would likely see a bout with Alvarez, a wrestler RBY has beaten twice, once in Sudden Victory. Win, which RBY should, and the finals match-up is the same. RBY will be in St. Louis.
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