David Taylor on how Oklahoma State wins NCAA team title: 'We have to be the best team in the history of wrestling'
- Thread starter nickkosko
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That's just another way of saying they need to beat Penn State.
It's not another way of saying that, he's explicitly saying that. Here's the full quote:
"“For us to win, we have to be the best team in the history of wrestling, to win the nationals because that’s what we’re up against,” Taylor said on Champion Mindset with Daniel Cormier. “We’re up against the best team. The last two years, they’ve broken the scoring record, 10 All-Americans, they’ve had five national champions, and that’s the bar that we’re holding that we’re holding ourselves to here. That’s the standard.”"
DT knows exactly what he is doing, and he's damn good at it. If they are going to catch Penn State, he needs his guys to believe that they are the best team in the history of college wrestling because their competition is currently the best team in the history of college wrestling and he is trying to instill that confidence and attitude in his team. For anyone who still doesn't believe they are closing the gap, you need to get your head out of the sand. They are coming for us, and it's going to be a golden era of excitement in the sport when he actually does level the playing field (and not by throwing money at mercenaries...).
My take on this whole subject. The schedule is done. PERIOD !!!!!!!!!
"Think about what coaches maybe have gone through to win their first national title and who they had to overcome. There never has been the challenge that we have to overcome here.”
Kind of funny but fair also lol
Kind of funny but fair also lol
My standard reply to piss off OSU fans. Well if you can’t build a winning culture, you can always try and buy one.
Yes Hendrickson and Hamiti were transfer but OSU was able to elevate them to ncaa champs… that’s gotta be at least a little attractive to future guys thinking of transferring… let’s see if Norman/Berge gets elevated… and in terms of recruits OSU nailed it out of the park w Jax, Vega, Robidue… let’s see how Raneys and Ross turns out… they got a punchers chance if they “are the best team in the history of wrestling.”
At the mercy of Box Scores here, but mostly things have gone as expected for Cowboys. Might learn a little more in the finals.
Jamison Dec. Ramirez 2-1 TB
Swiderski Dec. Routledge 4-1 SV
Jadyn Raney apparently gave up 2 takedowns before getting a reversal/fall in the first period.
Mikey White had a scare and needed a late takedown/nearfall to win 13-8
Zinkin had a 19-11 match in which he gave up nearfall, but scored all 5 takedowns.
Lockett still struggling to separate, picking up a 9-2 SF win.
Jamison Dec. Ramirez 2-1 TB
Swiderski Dec. Routledge 4-1 SV
Jadyn Raney apparently gave up 2 takedowns before getting a reversal/fall in the first period.
Mikey White had a scare and needed a late takedown/nearfall to win 13-8
Zinkin had a 19-11 match in which he gave up nearfall, but scored all 5 takedowns.
Lockett still struggling to separate, picking up a 9-2 SF win.
Some fun finals coming up. At 141 we get Raney vs Jamison, at 149 it’s Vega vs Raney, 165 is Lockett vs Swiderski, 174 has Norman vs Facundo, 184 is Berge vs White, and 197 is not a cowboy on cowboy match but has Merrill vs Little. Pretty exciting group of matches
Finals starting:
285- Ross TF Bryson Buhk 21-6. All 7 takedowns in the 1st period. Buhk is an average D1 starter, but still impressive.
125- Zinkin Mdec Drew Davis 21-7.
133- Jax TF TK Davis 20-4 in 1st period.
141- Jayden Raney Dec. Tagen Jamison 6-5. Each had a takedown, but 2-minutes of riding-time was the difference for Raney.
149- Vega Mdec Jordyn Raney 16-4. Wow. I bet it’s been awhile since Jordyn has received that kind of a beatdown. Vega is tough.
157- Robideau TF Kolter Burton 22-6. Live Scoreboard difficulties in this one. What I previously posted as 10-2 win was actually a 22-6 romping. Makes much more sense. Apologies.
165- Swiderski Dec Dee Lockett 4-3 TB. No scoring, went to tiebreakers, Dee gets out quick, then Swiderski takes neutral and gets takedown with short time. This match took forever, so who knows what was going on exactly.
174- Alex Facundo Dec Lorenzo Norman 7-5. Traded takedowns in the first, but difference was a takedown/rideout to end the period for Norman. Facundo needed a takedown late in the 3rd period trailing 5-4, and got it with 9 seconds left.
184- Mikey White Dec Bennett Berge 10-4. 3 takedowns. Nice result. Of note, he did take neutral after getting turned earlier in the tournament
197- Stephen Little dec Cody Merrill 2-2 TB in what I imagine was the worst match of all-time.
some additional notes from Christian Pylesin attendance (via twitter):
- 197 actually an injury default. Both wrestlers collided and Merrill was woozy
- Jordyn Raney did threaten at times, but got Vega’d a bit. Vega did score off his own attacks as well.
- 165 takedown was a close call
285- Ross TF Bryson Buhk 21-6. All 7 takedowns in the 1st period. Buhk is an average D1 starter, but still impressive.
125- Zinkin Mdec Drew Davis 21-7.
133- Jax TF TK Davis 20-4 in 1st period.
141- Jayden Raney Dec. Tagen Jamison 6-5. Each had a takedown, but 2-minutes of riding-time was the difference for Raney.
149- Vega Mdec Jordyn Raney 16-4. Wow. I bet it’s been awhile since Jordyn has received that kind of a beatdown. Vega is tough.
157- Robideau TF Kolter Burton 22-6. Live Scoreboard difficulties in this one. What I previously posted as 10-2 win was actually a 22-6 romping. Makes much more sense. Apologies.
165- Swiderski Dec Dee Lockett 4-3 TB. No scoring, went to tiebreakers, Dee gets out quick, then Swiderski takes neutral and gets takedown with short time. This match took forever, so who knows what was going on exactly.
174- Alex Facundo Dec Lorenzo Norman 7-5. Traded takedowns in the first, but difference was a takedown/rideout to end the period for Norman. Facundo needed a takedown late in the 3rd period trailing 5-4, and got it with 9 seconds left.
184- Mikey White Dec Bennett Berge 10-4. 3 takedowns. Nice result. Of note, he did take neutral after getting turned earlier in the tournament
197- Stephen Little dec Cody Merrill 2-2 TB in what I imagine was the worst match of all-time.
some additional notes from Christian Pylesin attendance (via twitter):
- 197 actually an injury default. Both wrestlers collided and Merrill was woozy
- Jordyn Raney did threaten at times, but got Vega’d a bit. Vega did score off his own attacks as well.
- 165 takedown was a close call
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No, haha. Box score watching on flo’s “bout schedule” while watching football. Matcenter is down for some reason, clicking on bout number works.
I’m doing the same
. Just making sure I wasn’t missing something What beatdown by Vega. I thought that would be much closer
I don't think beating a teammate (especially a vet who's been a R12 ish type talent) via riding as a true freshman is a bad result.
Vega also might be that good honestly.
Vega also might be that good honestly.
True, but it’s not a mid-AA as a floor type of result for the lighter Raney that some are penciling in. That’s what I was concerned about
That last entry is gold.
Merrill is on his way to 10% bonus against anyone with a pulse.
157 they messed up and had second period as the third. After reset Landon teched boulder. Also, Landon was not ridden out in second. At 174 Norman lost but looked better, just didn’t finish a couple then tried to play it safe and got caught. Of the Raneys, Jayden (141) is one have most questions about. Was getting beat in semis til got the pin then close match with Jamison, who is very good but hasn’t AAed (yet, hope he does). I think 149 was more about Vega. He looks like may have made significant improvements but to early to be sure. I’d describe 165 this way, Casey looked most savvy, Dee most talented, and Kody looked the best. Had Casey on one leg but couldn’t quite finish in OT, then was defending well but turned to go out of bounds and gave up td. And through out the match, looked like head closer to scoring and created better opportunities. White looks dangerous but his inexperience showed on bottom. How gas he can eliminate mistakes will determine how he does this year.
Finally caught that way too late. Thanks, man. Makes way more sense. Should have double checked twitter for that one.
On 197, yes Cody had to Med forfeit but he was likely to lose bc was in second TB
and little had him on riding time when injury occurred. That being said, Cody looked a little improved from last year. He did a better job of creating openings but didn’t pull the trigger enough. Not enough improvement to close the gap on Barr and he and Little will be toss up unless pulls trigger more on openings he creates (I know easier said than done, but still think true). Overall, I’d say a little less hopeful OSU can make it somewhat of a race. Stock slightly down on 141, 165, and 174. 184 might be up. Hard to tell with competition and mistake on bottom. 285, similarly think up but hard to tell bc completion. Stock up for 133 and 149 (odd as it is to say for undefeated champions but guy Jax teched is No. 9 on intermat and Vega looks better initiating his own offense as opposed to just countering). Everyone else looked about where expected, keeping in mind hard to evaluate because of competition they had.
and little had him on riding time when injury occurred. That being said, Cody looked a little improved from last year. He did a better job of creating openings but didn’t pull the trigger enough. Not enough improvement to close the gap on Barr and he and Little will be toss up unless pulls trigger more on openings he creates (I know easier said than done, but still think true). Overall, I’d say a little less hopeful OSU can make it somewhat of a race. Stock slightly down on 141, 165, and 174. 184 might be up. Hard to tell with competition and mistake on bottom. 285, similarly think up but hard to tell bc completion. Stock up for 133 and 149 (odd as it is to say for undefeated champions but guy Jax teched is No. 9 on intermat and Vega looks better initiating his own offense as opposed to just countering). Everyone else looked about where expected, keeping in mind hard to evaluate because of competition they had.
They are who we thought they were. Just looking at results, Mikey White looks to be the only big upside from last years team but he'll have a hard time breaking into the top 4. As most outside of Cowboy land expected, Norman isn't going to be the big upgrade they hoped for over Facundo. The Raney brothers are good, not great. They're going to be lacking in points at 165 and 174 and Merrill has got to hope for another good draw to make the finals again. Ross and Robideau looked good putting up a lot of bonus yesterday but none of those guys they faced will make the NCAA field.
I can't see how they're going to make much of a dent in the 50 point deficit from last March. Maybe they can cut it to 40.
I can't see how they're going to make much of a dent in the 50 point deficit from last March. Maybe they can cut it to 40.
20 years and counting since OK State won the team title.
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And after this year, it will be 21
BUT...they ARE widening the gap rom the rest of the country on who's #2 and shortening the gap to us at #1
Not interesting at all. Dee is an exasperating kid to watch. Combined with all the antics and stalling - easy to root against. He's lazy.
Barring injury, i don't know why anyone would be confused. Doucet aint gonna change the way he wrestles. And he doesn't like competing.
I agree with all of that but he was well loved in Stillwater when he committed and being the hometown kid still holds sway. So many on here comment about how their homegrown kids are doing and always root for them. Seeing a crowd in Stillwater openly root against him surprised me.
He got boo'ed last year in a couple duals. Just a few, nothing too crazy, but it exploded this weekend.
Everyone is keenly aware the kid is being paid to be a professional. I think it hurts more that he IS the hometown kid.
I called it last year that he was going to be a huge bust. More than anything, because he is terrible to watch and carries himself like someone that is easy to root against.
It’s funny to look back on the Dee will challenge Mesenbrink posts on other sites after his win against a sick Caliendo.
Dee watched two less heralded guys in his class (Robideau and Vega were both top recruits but IIRC Dee was consensus best kid in 2025 for Oklahoma State until Jax reclassed) win an individual title as true freshman, neither who ever favored while he DNPed when everyone thought he would be no worse than 3-4.
I imagine DT hoped that might have been the best motivator for Dee to change what he is doing ... and it doesn't seem like it was, which has to be frustrating because I imagine DT thinking to catch PSU would require Dee to be that guy.
I imagine DT hoped that might have been the best motivator for Dee to change what he is doing ... and it doesn't seem like it was, which has to be frustrating because I imagine DT thinking to catch PSU would require Dee to be that guy.
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