Rutgers vs #7 Minnesota

[Barrellroll]

I love dual meets. They are really exciting. Unfortunately, the standard in collegiate wrestling is March. That is what the NCAA supports. The National tournament sells out and generates significant positive PR and money. Many teams, some even in the Big Ten, struggle to average over 1,000 in paid attendance at their home meets.

Rutgers has shown that exciting dual meets can draw. A lot has to do with the great wrestling tradition that exists in NJ as many fans come to see national powers. Plus Goody and the University have created a great match day environment. This gives us the chance to convert the general wrestling fan to a Rutgers fan.

The reality is the National Tournament will be the standard and nationally we will be judged by how we do in March. Friday night showed that the potential is there. I really hope we can deliver as I don’t enjoy my NJ wrestling friends reminding me that we finished 36th last year and have only finished in the top 10 once and that was 7 years ago.

 

[SCNJ]

People also don't understand how hard it is for Penn st to schedule opponents. They didn't use all the allotted dates this year. Getting teams to travel to Penn st isn't easy and they will give teams a few K for travel expenses and still a have issues

If only there was some kind of dual tournament could have entered

 

[njsportsphan]

The Illinois/Northwestern weekend thread had over 200 posts

The Maryland/Rider thread had just over 100

The Minnesota thread discussing probably the biggest win in school history has just over 60.

I really want to know what’s got everyone’s tongue?

That's what happens when users aren't fighting with one-another.

 

[Anon1751330127]

mutiple different people who are usually more pessimistic about the direction of the program have come on here and said they are gladly eating there words or gave props to the coaching staff and team. Im not sure why you and Corby want to bring negativity into a great moment in team history with these “where are the haters now” posts. Just enjoy the victory like everyone else , I’m sure if we finish 10th at big tens or 30th at ncaas you’ll have plenty of time to address the “haters then“

If only there was some kind of dual tournament could have entered

Except that we did not qualify based on the same standards everyone else had to deal with bc wd had a horrendous March. Thus why 1 dual does mot make a season.
And reality is we would have gotten blitzed at the time of the tourney as we were not wrestling well. Of course the team that wrestled Friday would have most certainly done better but we cannot pick and chose those moments in time which is why consistency is so important. Hopefully we become more consistent and our dawgs start wrestling like they should (Shawver\
/Pinto/Olivieri when he hopefully comes back), wd have a good B10s and carries to NCAAs. Nothing all of us would love more.

 

[Kiddagger311]

People also don't understand how hard it is for Penn st to schedule opponents. They didn't use all the allotted dates this year. Getting teams to travel to Penn st isn't easy and they will give teams a few K for travel expenses and still a have issues

Don’t blame many teams not wanting to schedule PSU.. personally, I don’t like when RU faces PSU but I must admit it does draw a crowd to the matches.

Think the meta PSU set is wrestling as few matches per season compared to years past. They don’t go to many tournaments and generally most of their wrestlers don’t have big match counts.

 

[Corby2]

Don’t blame many teams not wanting to schedule PSU.. personally, I don’t like when RU faces PSU but I must admit it does draw a crowd to the matches.

Think the meta PSU set is wrestling as few matches per season compared to years past. They don’t go to many tournaments and generally most of their wrestlers don’t have big match counts.

They usually hit the Army tournament and wrestle 15-17 duals . They look to get 15-20 matches in before Big 10s. With the miles on guys when they arrive on campus now compared to years ago is why they keep match counts low. And when you've depth and talent in the room guys get better training in the room then at most places which also allows them to compete less

 

[NJwrestling26]

They usually hit the Army tournament and wrestle 15-17 duals . They look to get 15-20 matches in before Big 10s. With the miles on guys when they arrive on campus now compared to years ago is why they keep match counts low. And when you've depth and talent in the room guys get better training in the room then at most places which also allows them to compete less

They also had a pretty crazy freestyle season with multiple guys on worlds teams, that wear and tear is no joke I don’t blame them for not wrestling 40 matches a year.

 

[Kiddagger311]

They usually hit the Army tournament and wrestle 15-17 duals . They look to get 15-20 matches in before Big 10s. With the miles on guys when they arrive on campus now compared to years ago is why they keep match counts low. And when you've depth and talent in the room guys get better training in the room then at most places which also allows them to compete less

Makes sense but what’s your explanation as to why barely any teams show up to midlands/ southern scuffle anymore?? They went from prestigious tournaments to now more like… why bother..

 

[NJwrestling26]

Makes sense but what’s your explanation as to why barely any teams show up to midlands/ southern scuffle anymore?? They went from prestigious tournaments to now more like… why bother..

Midlands died bc Midlands killed itself during Covid and then Iowa pulled out so they can have their own tournament.So without the prestige and Iowa no one wants to go to Illinois right after Xmas and before new year to wrestle in a waterdowned tournament and it’s not cheap accommodations for a mediocre tournament so why waste the resources. Idk why Scuffle died , but it happened when Oklahoma State then Penn State stopped sending the A team. I hope it’s revived one day but CKLV seems have overtaken both.Everywhere has direct flights to Vegas , plenty of hotels, it’s before the holidays and not right in the middle of them so much easier travel. Going somewhere warm in December with great competitio.

 

[Corby2]

Makes sense but what’s your explanation as to why barely any teams show up to midlands/ southern scuffle anymore?? They went from prestigious tournaments to now more like… why bother..

Timing is one reason. The big 10 has become a meat grinder and most big 10 teams like to use the break to hit a hard training phase before the big 10 schedule starts. The Salute moved back a week and was the same as the scuffle that's why Iowa didn't send it's starters it would mess up the training phase. Midlands covid situation killed that event.

 

[Samson1975!!!]

Duals are fun and should matter more. Nevertheless, they don't. Coach knows this. He said himself at the start of the season that March is all that matters. Fans can like or dislike it but it doesn't make results at this time more or less meaningful. Rutgers will have to stick the landing to make the season a success.

This win was fun for the program and the fans thoigh. Maybe Rutgers is peaking at the right time and getting stronger as the season progresses!

 

[Kiddagger311]

Duals are fun and should matter more. Nevertheless, they don't. Coach knows this. He said himself at the start of the season that March is all that matters. Fans can like or dislike it but it doesn't make results at this time more or less meaningful. Rutgers will have to stick the landing to make the season a success.

This win was fun for the program and the fans thoigh. Maybe Rutgers is peaking at the right time and getting stronger as the season progresses!

The national duals thing by paycom is a good start… now if they made qualifying for it by the best dual teams then that could help make duals and dual rankings actually matter more..

 

[wngarbarini]

Pess
I agree that the Minny win was epic and I hope that the kids realize they have the ability to turn it on and excel so hopefully it continues. Let’s finish the dual season beating MSU, Princeton and Hofstra to get us ready for the tourneys.

 

[NJwrestling26]

Pess
I agree that the Minny win was epic and I hope that the kids realize they have the ability to turn it on and excel so hopefully it continues. Let’s finish the dual season beating MSU, Princeton and Hofstra to get us ready for the tourneys.

I think our B team could beat all 3 of those squads.
Michigan state 197 is ranked #23 so big matchup for cotton against his former team. 133 could be a landmine so Shawver needs to bring it he needs a big ten win
Princeton will have some tough match ups at 125,133 and 165 but they greyshirted a bunch of guys this year so the dual shouldn’t be close. I think McGowan can make the podium this year so great opportunity for smith to build on the Volk win

 

[Kiddagger311]

Pess
I agree that the Minny win was epic and I hope that the kids realize they have the ability to turn it on and excel so hopefully it continues. Let’s finish the dual season beating MSU, Princeton and Hofstra to get us ready for the tourneys.

All three matches should be easy cupcake matches.. Hofstra has no ranked guys, MSU maybe 2 ?, Princeton got some pretty interesting matchups, #15McGowan at 125 is a good test,#15 Rivera at 149 , #22 Whalen at 165..

No real test for Joey O if he’s able to come back… he’s going to go into b10 tourney undefeated and if he does good and becomes AA just kinda further cements wrestling a lot of matches is kinda pointless.. although I like the new b10 seeding change thing that penalizes wrestlers for not going?

 

[Corby2]

I think our B team could beat all 3 of those squads.
Michigan state 197 is ranked #23 so big matchup for cotton against his former team. 133 could be a landmine so Shawver needs to bring it he needs a big ten win
Princeton will have some tough match ups at 125,133 and 165 but they greyshirted a bunch of guys this year so the dual shouldn’t be close. I think McGowan can make the podium this year so great opportunity for smith to build on the Volk win

McGowan has tape on both shoulders he looks beat up . When he won his match against Greg D this weekend he was in pain and wasn't moving his right arm after his hand was raised. I don't think hes healthy enough to AA this year

 

[PessimisticallyHopefulPragmatist]

Pess
I agree that the Minny win was epic and I hope that the kids realize they have the ability to turn it on and excel so hopefully it continues. Let’s finish the dual season beating MSU, Princeton and Hofstra to get us ready for the tourneys.

If only it came sooner. That type of performance could have changed the psyche of the whole team going forward. Success breeds success. Now, with some easier matches coming up, let's hope they don't relax.