It’s always where most young D1 guys have the most difficulty. It’s not surprising. This was a good lesson for Harv. Let’s see where he is in a year.
Soldier Solute
- Thread starter Cedarfalls
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157 is pretty deep with contenders, but no elite hammers (at least not yet with Duke as a true frosh), which makes it one of the most wide open weights this year. A guy like Williams in the mid to low end of the contenders could win if he gets hot at the right time or he could not AA at all. It’s rare for a weight to be that wide open.
Every major program has and is using the portal, not just Iowa.
A lot of true freshman struggle on the bottom. High caliber wrestlers don't get much experience on the bottom in high school. I think he'll be pretty good in a year or 2.
I think Platt is young div 1 guy and got out from Harvey. Hope he improves but needs work on top and neutral as well. Wasn't riding well. Just needs to clean up what looks like a good single leg.
I'm sharing my opinion, which won't be well received due to my avatar.
As a Steelers fan, I kind of see the Brands/Iowa situation similar to the Tomlin/Steelers situation. I like Tomlin, and I don't think he is a bad coach by any means. You don't coach as many seasons as he has without losing if you are a bad coach. However, I think it's time for the Steelers and Tomlin to go their separate ways. (Yes, I expect them to lose tonight or in round 1 of the playoffs)
Iowa wrestling is still really strong, and I think the Brands are great coaches. However, it might just be time for the program and the coaches to go separate ways. Iowa is and will always be a top wrestling program because of the history, fans, etc.
Just my $.02
As a Steelers fan, I kind of see the Brands/Iowa situation similar to the Tomlin/Steelers situation. I like Tomlin, and I don't think he is a bad coach by any means. You don't coach as many seasons as he has without losing if you are a bad coach. However, I think it's time for the Steelers and Tomlin to go their separate ways. (Yes, I expect them to lose tonight or in round 1 of the playoffs)
Iowa wrestling is still really strong, and I think the Brands are great coaches. However, it might just be time for the program and the coaches to go separate ways. Iowa is and will always be a top wrestling program because of the history, fans, etc.
Just my $.02
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Platt is also a freshman ranked #32. I think Harvey will be fine in the future, but I didn't think he'd struggle that bad on bottom.
Nothing says success quite like cleaning up issues finishing takedowns in the Iowa room. Great recipe for success.
The biggest thing this tourney has told us are two things we already knew: 141 & 157 are a bit of a mess or more, and we have very little quality depth outside of Arnold.
He looked a weight class smaller than Conway. Would like to know what he weighs in at.
He looks big at 141. Something has to be medically or mentally wrong with him. He should have a thorough medical work up if he is this exhausted all the time going up a weight.
Still have some faith in Estrada. However not sure he would be significantly better that JW. Hope so. But 141...go fish.
I'm all for fixing holes with the portal but Brands ain't great with it. Not a lot of vision with it. Just more of a who's the highest ranked guy left and Bob cut a check. Oh they dont want to come here then who's below them. That's sure what the LR guys portal felt like.
The issue with the current regime is their inability to develop their wrestlers in anything but top/bottom wrestling. The scrambling and finishing on this team is dreadful and it doesn’t seem to get better being in this room.
The only thing keeping me off the fire TNT train is the upcoming recruiting classes, but even then it’s getting hard to defend them.
The only thing keeping me off the fire TNT train is the upcoming recruiting classes, but even then it’s getting hard to defend them.
4th at our own tourney. This whole fiasco feels like in order to protect Agelo in future NCAA seeding we had to bench the rest of the starters to appear as if we werent ducking just 184. Then spin the weight cutting.
I get the Natty Duals are in play and all that but sad Brands is doing this. And a bit of a slap in the face of Eustice imo
I get the Natty Duals are in play and all that but sad Brands is doing this. And a bit of a slap in the face of Eustice imo
Some folks are just better at seeing it for what it is. Other folks just stand in line and wait.
Agree, even Angelo struggled on bottom last year. I would just like to see a little more energy out of him, he more athletic than he showed. You see why Brands brought in Mo after not getting Elam. Harvey was a top 20 guy with upside, but far from being ready to AA in his first few years.
1 million percent correct. Control freak coaching doesn't teach such tom foolery shenanigans. Get out there and hand fight to your death because it worked for me
Was surprised against Novak, but was surprised with Platt, who isn’t a big 197.
Just because it's "wide open" doesn't make it any more likely for our guy to be an AA. He's been majored by 2 guys in the top 10 and our coach wouldn't even put him on the mat against Okie or Ohio. He has a long way to go to show that he's an AA contender.
Nothing. But he’s right.. wtf is going on with the HWC? Do they compete? Is Dennis even the coach anymore? Is it just the college guys plus Spencer AD Buchanan Sorensen
& Ybarra ?Stop donating $ to this mess. It’s (been) time to move on.
So, just a general pig-pile on a lackluster tourney thread?Nothing. But he’s right.. wtf is going on with the HWC? Do they compete? Is Dennis even the coach anymore? Is it just the college guys plus Spencer AD Buchanan Sorensen
Stop donating $ to this mess. It’s (been) time to move on.
I thought Ludington looked pretty good for the most part. The Wyoming kid (2025 AA, ranked 6th) is a beast on top, plus the ref let him throw the leg in and beat up Ludington with power half forever with no stalemate calls. He is also a bit undersized as a true freshman 197 pounder - he weighed in under 195, so he must not be cutting much. He needs to put on some more muscle before next season and grow into the 197 pound weight class.
What genius said that 157 was paper thin??
Post #22 in the 12/15 rankings thread. I’m partial to bulimic runway model thin
It wasn’t him just struggling on bottom. Sure looks like a common theme to me. The lack of hand control from bottom is a head scratcher for me.
Who did you have your eye on at the time that Iowa should’ve taken in the portal?
They don’t develop guys on top. Guys get less effective earning back points in the Iowa room over time.
Well for one we only gave two starters going. For two… RE: Angelo…lol. No.
As a fellow Steelers fan, I’ve noticed the same correlation. However, the Brands have been more successful, more recently. I just truly see no better options at the moment,
even if Dake decides he wants to coach. That said, I would take Askren in a heartbeat.
That is one of the problems with wrestling. Even if they did decide it was time to part ways, are there any options out there that would be obviously better, who they know would take the job?
Why is the Flo mat schedule showing no mats scheduled for this event?
Edited - nevermind.
Edited - nevermind.
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There was only 1 slam dunk guy and the timing wasn't right.
Askren might have been an interesting guy but he has serious health issues and who really wants a guy who has openly stated how much he hates Iowa Wrestling? Dake and JB, no thanks.