Believe PSU will have at least 5 finalists and 7 doesn't look out of the question or "crazy talk". This team is looking stronger and stronger as the season progresses.
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After watching yesterday's action, there's possibility that PSU could have as many as 7 finalists this year.
- Thread starter CJFisJoePaII
- Start date
Actually meant at least 5 above (fixed it), but saying 7 could happen without crazy outcomes. Haines, Mesenbrink, Starrocci, Brooks and Kerk appear to be high probabilities for finals. Next would be BB and "Baby Face Nelson" (i.e., a cold killer with a Baby-Face). Kasak at 149 is the big mystery right now - clearly appears to have lots of upside relative to his current rank, but how much? Really hard to say until we see his toughest matches. AN and BT just don't look like finalists to me.
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Don’t sleep on Nagao.
Just was not impressed with yesterday's match - he had Ragusin right where he wanted him time-after-time (including in SV), but he not only routinely gave up superior position and leverage... - he allowed Ragusin to instantly take superior position and leverage. Anyone who has wrestled knows that you have to "feel" your opponent's reaction to your gaining of superior position and leverage.... and "adjust" to their defensive reaction, maintain leverage and use their adjustment against them. In SV, AN probably gets the winning TD if he adjusted after he got in deep on the shot and began trying to lift Ragusin... - if he would have grabbed a half-nelson as he came up (and Ragusin was laying himself out laterally), he probably takes Ragusin to his back... would have gotten TD and match is over. Point is, he had no "feel" for how Ragusin was reacting or what he was trying to do.... and it wasn't the first time he looked completely lost in not adjusting to how Ragusin was reacting defensively and adjusting his own position and leverage.
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Likely 9 finalist, 8 champs and a 3rd place from Truax
Can PSU petition the NcAA to allow 11 and let Mitch take on bearclaw in the finals.
Hmmm...., don't see him getting past KOT.
I’m guessing that was more of a spoof than a serious prediction, BUT if Penn State (or any other team) were to accomplish such a feat, I suspect it would be a record that would last as long as Cael’s 159-0 mark.
Weird, radically different than what I said (at least 5, as many as 7), but you're trying to act like my prediction comparable to your inanity.... Care to give us your prediction for squawkeye finalists? LMAO, at how pathetic you iowa turds are.
kind of hard to think that Truax is the weak link on this team!
Really believe that Nagao and Bernie are being “re- sculptured” in their wrestling and that’s why they’ve been uninspiring. You come to Penn State and we will strip you down and rebuild you. Trust the coaches and trust the process. We’ll see by tournament time. Nagao also had a tweaked knee which hampered his “process”. It a confidence thing. Nagao is top 5 at 133. Same will Bernie at 184. Plus it’s the first time they’ve gone through the January “crunch” that is PSU conditioning. It’s all about March.
I am sure they are doing what's best for the kids and will always let them wrestle their style and just make it better!
Here is a youtube post-match interview with Ragusin about the pin - Ragusin says the exact same thing I just said, he admits that in SV AN was in so deep on his legs that he couldn't even get his hips back, so instead, he allowed himself to be lifted (even helped) but shifted his center of gravity and body positioning to knock AN off balance... But the other big reason it worked that Ragusin doesn't go into, is that AN did not "feel" what Ragusin was doing and made no adjustments to what Ragusin was doing to maintain control.... Here's the link:
Please don't lump all Iowa fans together. Turk is a giant turd all to himself.
Here’s Jeff Byers take on the potential of Penn State getting 10 All Americans, in 2024
Guys I'd be truly surprised if they don't win it: C-Star, AB & Kerk
Guys I'd be shocked if they won it: Kasak (not yet)
Guys who have a realistic chance (in order of what I think their chance is): Haines, Bartlett, Messenbrink, Davis, Nagao, Truax
Gun to my head right now to guess their finish:
125 - Davis (5th)
133 - Nagao (3rd)
141 - Bartlett (2nd)
149 - Kasak (Blood Round)
157 - Haines (1st)
165 - Messenbrink (2nd)
174 - Starrocci (1st)
184 - Truax (5th)
197 - Brooks (1st)
285 - Kerkvliet (1st)
Those probably lean optimistic, but, I'm a PSU fan, and we usually do our best work at Nationals.
Guys I'd be shocked if they won it: Kasak (not yet)
Guys who have a realistic chance (in order of what I think their chance is): Haines, Bartlett, Messenbrink, Davis, Nagao, Truax
Gun to my head right now to guess their finish:
125 - Davis (5th)
133 - Nagao (3rd)
141 - Bartlett (2nd)
149 - Kasak (Blood Round)
157 - Haines (1st)
165 - Messenbrink (2nd)
174 - Starrocci (1st)
184 - Truax (5th)
197 - Brooks (1st)
285 - Kerkvliet (1st)
Those probably lean optimistic, but, I'm a PSU fan, and we usually do our best work at Nationals.
“It is not good for Penn State to be as dominating as they are. That will not grow the sport”
- Dan Gable
- Dan Gable
LOL did he say that when his iowa teams did the same??
Take a photo of this. You will be very close. Truax and Davis higher. BB and Nagao maybe lower. MM is a problem
FWIW I count 147.5 points there before bonus. Of course, a few of those points depend on the path taken (championship or consolation bracket).
Pretty much what I said - at least 5 finalists, with as many as 7. Personally, I just don't see AN or BT making the finals. Agree with you that Kasak is a wildcard - he may still have significant upside, maybe not, it's hard to say after so few matches. Given that Cael has yet to burn his redshirt, he may not even our 149 at Nationals this year.
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I'm thinking 4 champs. 5 in the finals. 8 All Americans. Team title. SVN going down really hurt imo as it would have added another champion. This is one of the best teams ever, and only an injury to an absolute beast is going to keep it from being THE best team ever. Carter could come back next year and make the team next year even better than this year's team.
Not optimistic. It’s realistic as I don’t see too many stretches there. You’ve got six finalists and all are legit. Enjoy the ride.
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