I was wondering, even if Nick Bousakis isn't injured for tOSU, if they would throw out Brendan McCrone anyways...simply based on him pinning Luke last year and hoping for a similar result this dual 
Thoughts in advance of the '26 OSU match
- Thread starter razpsu
- Start date
I was sure it would never happen and cost Ono a year but the look on Ryan's face and Sparks call would have been classic.
Have Ono weigh in at 141 with no intentions to wrestle.
Word is that McCrone is looking for a medical waiver for this season. Wrestling Friday would eliminate that option.I was wondering, even if Nick Bousakis isn't injured for tOSU, if they would throw out Brendan McCrone anyways...simply based on him pinning Luke last year and hoping for a similar result this dual
A definite possibility that Bouzakis won't see the mat against PSU. Add in Cannon and Kharchla as well, who are also dinged to various degrees. Holding all three guys could be a smart and also gives Tan Tom a built-in excuse for dropping the dual (three starters out, not at full strength, etc.).
If I'm Ryan (and thankfully I'm not!), I object to the 125 start and force the coin flip. If I win, then I start at 133 and wait to see the dual play out before deciding on starting or sitting Bouzakis.
Assuming Bouzakis is healthy enough to go, of course.
That plus Cael recently said Ono won't wrestle this year for medical reasons.
Cutback Kilkeary is still an option.
125: Luke needs to avoid chaos in the 1st period - shoot only if clean or towards end of period. Defer in P2 or go neutral. Single takedown makes the difference, LL Dec 3-2 (3-0 PSU)
133: Tossup, but Blaze maintains such good position, 4-1 in 3rd or SV (6-0 PSU)
141: Give up less than 6. As much as I’d like to see a pissed off davis go crazy, he will get pinned if he gasses early in P2. Mendez by tech (6-5 PSU)
149: First attempted stall fest. SVN major. (10-5 PSU)
157: Duke hasn’t opened up on offense yet. If he does, he wins. Ultimately, Cannon dec Duke. If the backup goes, Duke Maj backup. (10-8 PSU)
165: 2nd attempted stallfest. MM will catch and release early. MM tech (15-8 PSU)
174: Haines over Kharchla 7-2 (18-8 PSU)
184: Rocco has jumped a level, expect 2-3 TD vs Fishback (21-8 PSU).
197: Barr majors Geog, can’t quite pull off a tech (25-8 PSU)
285: Feldman dec Mirasola (Final 25-11)
133: Tossup, but Blaze maintains such good position, 4-1 in 3rd or SV (6-0 PSU)
141: Give up less than 6. As much as I’d like to see a pissed off davis go crazy, he will get pinned if he gasses early in P2. Mendez by tech (6-5 PSU)
149: First attempted stall fest. SVN major. (10-5 PSU)
157: Duke hasn’t opened up on offense yet. If he does, he wins. Ultimately, Cannon dec Duke. If the backup goes, Duke Maj backup. (10-8 PSU)
165: 2nd attempted stallfest. MM will catch and release early. MM tech (15-8 PSU)
174: Haines over Kharchla 7-2 (18-8 PSU)
184: Rocco has jumped a level, expect 2-3 TD vs Fishback (21-8 PSU).
197: Barr majors Geog, can’t quite pull off a tech (25-8 PSU)
285: Feldman dec Mirasola (Final 25-11)
Pride cometh before the fall.
I'm aware. IMO Desmond needs more than a year to become a "full size" 141 and he looks really short to ever be 149, barring a growth spurt.
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If one is to be honest, PSU v tOSU, both 125 and 133 are as close to toss ups as any matches we have seen this year.
There is however another way of looking at it. Much like the headline test in business ethics, there is a test here that indicates very clearly why I think we should be considered pretty clear favorites in both.
The all things considered equal, "who would you rather have" test. Without hesitation I would keep both Luke and Marcus over Nick and Ben, assuming equal remaining eligibility
There is little doubt Nick is explosive, very strong, and aggressive. Since he is looking for the pin the whole match, every match, he often finds it. Ben is just simply elite. Total package for total package, our boys are superior.
Take it a step further, how about Marcus vs Jax? Now you are talking. A tougher decision, no doubt, and one that might split this board, but I stick with Marcus here as well.
We are blessed.
There is however another way of looking at it. Much like the headline test in business ethics, there is a test here that indicates very clearly why I think we should be considered pretty clear favorites in both.
The all things considered equal, "who would you rather have" test. Without hesitation I would keep both Luke and Marcus over Nick and Ben, assuming equal remaining eligibility
There is little doubt Nick is explosive, very strong, and aggressive. Since he is looking for the pin the whole match, every match, he often finds it. Ben is just simply elite. Total package for total package, our boys are superior.
Take it a step further, how about Marcus vs Jax? Now you are talking. A tougher decision, no doubt, and one that might split this board, but I stick with Marcus here as well.
We are blessed.
The tOSU board is largely suggesting a punt for Tan Tom. With Cannon already injured and stale at best, Bouzakis's back a concern, and Davino at risk of his first blemish, many are staying they should sit all three to protect their seeds. I hope not. I am somewhat surprised the pessimism this week is nearly on par with Iowa's board.
I think they'll rest the banged up wrestlers. Bouzakis, Cannon and Karchla. They'd be foolish risking them for the post season.
That is amazing to read that thread. The whole nic could be number 1 if he avoids Luke cause maybe Luke gets upset before hand. Huh?
This would not surprise me. Cannon is almost certainly out, assuming report of his recent knee scope are accurate. With Cannon out, the narrow path to anOSU winning the dual become even more tenuous, so it makes sense to hold out other guys who may be dinged up (Kharchla and Bouzakis). As noted previously, this also gives Tan Tom a convenient rationale to spin the outome of the dual meet and how doesn't affect anOSU's status of the dual team national champs.
That said, I think we see Davino against PSU.
Ragusin is not big for 141 and he had several inches on Desmond. It was very evident, to me, that Ragusin was two weights bigger than Desmond - which he technically is. Sure it's possible to put on 15lbs. of lean muscle in the next 2yrs, but length will always be an issue (barring he grows). Blaze is really lanky, but he might have a better frame to eventually grow into 149.
Proximity sharpens the perception of reality.
Is Cannon’s injury knee or shoulder? I’ve seen both mentioned in different places
You might be right, but Ryan is the leading advocate for the importance of duals.
He would look like the biggest of hypocrites if half his team ducked. Especially after making a big stink about wrestling in Rec Hall 8 years ago. Why would we schedule them for the BJC again if they don't bring their best team?
No doubt Ryan is in a tough spot. tOSU was always a long shot to win even when healthy but I’d think Ryan would want everyone out there to protect his pride, he knows this is the best format to keep it close with Penn state but also has his teams health to consider for post season even though I’d argue friday night is the most important night of the year for him.
He is the same height as Gabe Arnold so should be no problem. Just ask Corby to verify, he knows a guy who knows his height down to a 1/16 of an inch.
What did he say about rec hall. They wrestled in a small venue last week against Iowa.
Based on frame, I don’t like Desmond above 141 either. I’m sure he could do it but I don’t see being above 141 in his best interest. But that’s just an opinion from watching my TV.
2018 everybody knew PSU and OSU were the two teams. The BJC had an event already planned so the OSU @ PSU match was scheduled for Rec Hall. As the match approached Tom being Tom questioned why the match wasn't scheduled in the bigger venue, OSU fans weren't able to get tickets, "not how we would have handled it!"
Ryan pitched a hissy fit because the match was in Rec Hall. He felt tOSU was worthy of the BJC. He naturally made it all about disrespecting tOSU, ignoring the fact that the Big 10 scheduled Penn State wrestling and basketball to home dates on the same day. Also, Carver-Hawkeye is much bigger than Rec Hall, with a capacity at close to 15,000. The venue is large. The wrestling is minimal.
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