Agree. And NIL money bag chasing is a factor too…. if OKST donors want to support chasing high-tier rentals, there’s arguably a solid opportunity for a consistent rental approach for OKST to fill line-up holes compared to PSU (already have Hamiti / Hendrickson proof).
I tend to think they’ll move out of the rental market (or use it like psu) once recruiting throughput normalizes
Exactly. David has seen the pluses and minuses of that market both at PSU (while at NLWC) and at OSU (see Figueroa as an example of the downsides). He’ll definitely prefer getting his “type” of guys in as early as possible to mold them.
I love it, and I'm here for it. While it's been cool having Saturday night being little more than a coronation in the team race the last several years, I'd love to have it come down to the last match again sometime, too.I’m in the camp that likes the rise of OkSU. Don’t even care if there was animosity when DT left. I’d expect it. Cowboys are a formidable team now and in the future. Their young stars are exciting to watch (Merrill excluded) and easy to root against, especially when cocky and undeserving of their natty (Rob-a-Duke). Maybe our NCAA winning margins shrink, but I’ll bet the team titles continue. The NDI may not grow our sport. But an anticipated shootout at season’s end between top gunslingers who only meet at NCAA’s absolutely will. The mentor/student dynamic between Cael and DT just adds fuel. In wrestling jargon, with this new rivalry, our anticipation and excitement for future seasons has only jumped levels.
Wait, with NCAA’s over, you tellin’ me I gotta start cutting grass????
I’d like too smoke the field for another decade or so before having it become close
It's only been two years, but DT's experiment with PSU SW has been right on plan so far. Year 1: get a bunch of elite recruits and bolster the current roster with grad transfers -> two jump from AAs to champs. Year 2: First recruiting class has 3 true freshman champs. We'll see where it goes and there is definitely still a gap to close, but I see no evidence whatsoever that there is any hiccup in the plan there and they should continue to close the gap year over year.
Maybe a little hyperbole. He was 130 for the match against Spencer Lee. I can just imagine him trying to get off bottom against Vega; it would be ugly.
I don’t really agree. Being short can be an advantage on bottom. It depends on the wrestler, not the body type. Plenty of tall guys suck on bottom. The most encouraging thing for me was hearing Marcus and Connor say that Ono is already one of the best from bottom when they interviewed him
As a longer guy with some grappling experience, I always felt like my length was a massive advantage, especially neutralizing an opponent from the top. It's not particularly difficult to neutralize strength with length and leverage. My perspective is certainly slanted because of my own experience; you may be right, I just have a hard time seeing "sawed off" guys like Ono or Desmond having their best chance of success in weight classes where they have significant length disadvantages.
he was sick but do we know exactly what caused it? Assoicated to losing weight but...
This. Don't want to ruin a good narrative though. Let's play the what if game. What is more likely:
They were 75 points behind last year, so they cut 25 off the deficit (with PSU in the ballpark of the same score). If I were setting the over under for next year, I'd set the line at PSU +25 with Ok St shaving another 25 off the margin. But a 25 point margin is at least starting to sweat it a little, much moreso than 50 or 75.
Just my thought. Next year Okie State breaks OSU's record for highest 2nd place score and gets to 140. The margin will be still 45 to 50. Next year's team will lose Van Ness and Mitch. Mitch's replacement will be somebody like PJ Duke, and not sure who steps in at 149 but it will be somebody really good. Penn State in 2028 will have decidedly more returning points than OkieSt but oh my they are coming. When Okie State puts up 40 bonus with 6 in the finals, that will be the year they are coming. Eventually, but it will be more of a PSU taking a step backwards to the 140 to 150 range. It isn't going to be OkieSt stepping into the 170 to 180 range.
You taking my money on PSU -25 to OkST next year? I'd love to get that action. They don't score enough bonus points. We almost beat them by that in bonus points this year. Which wrestler on their team is going to start to rack up bonus points in the tournament, Lockett, Ryder, Facundo, Merrill? PJ finished third and put up more team points than Robideau. They aren't going to have any better finishers than they did this year either, if so where is that coming from? They were lucky to get extra bonus points and AAs because of MFFL.
Feldman beating Merrill would be the least likely to happen.
Haha true, since they are different weight classes. Should have been Feldman beating Doucet in my hypothetical. Then Doucet got another walk over when Ferrari moved him along the brackets to wrestle for third instead of 5th. He would have had Kueter in the 5th place bracket. In any of the cases, it took quite a bit of good fortune for him and bad for others to allow him to AA let alone grab 4th.
During Ono interview with Blaze and Pierce they said that Ono was 1 of the best in the room oo the bottom but needs top work.The interview is on State media On the Matt
Impossible. We have been told he's not wrestling for Penn State next year.
I'm not actually a bookmaker, so I'm not taking anyone's money, just where I would set the line.
Ryder is not a bonus guy and that’s asking a lot post surgery. He’ll be scrapping it out in the Round of 12 or maybe not even starting next year.
I agree with Duke and Alred points… but isn’t Feldman tOSU 285 and Merrill OkSt 197 who was never in consolation?
Much better to hear that than the other way around… he needs one escape or reversal per match… and if he isn’t good on top(since he can’t use a gut wrench), he can catch and release for TFs.
Pyles has of yet to inform Cael of the plan. He has however placed his bait for a giant click.
I don't see Jax holding 33 or Vega holding 41 so I see them both moving up, but what do I know. They're going to have a few log jams just like we do. Going to be very interesting.
Merrill got lucky to have Elam coming in injured
Yep corrected myself in subsequent post…meant Doucet
…and will their guys wait a couple of years to crack the lineup like many of ours have?