With day one of the NCAA tournament wrapped up, here are five quick takeaways from the tournament.
1. Nebraska may now be Oklahoma State’s biggest threat for second
I wrote earlier this week to watch out for Ohio State as the team for Oklahoma State to try and beat here in the race for second. Nebraska has now emerged as the biggest threat. Ohio State took upset losses at 125, 149, 197, and HWT, while several Nebraska wrestlers are currently poised to wrestle over their seeds. One adjusted projection now basically has Oklahoma State and Nebraska as ending in a tie on Saturday night. So, if you’re watching other mats and an Oklahoma State fan, Nebraska’s a team you’ll be rooting against.
2. Soldano and Mora step up big for OU
Going into this, most had had DJ Parker circled as the guy most likely to make a deep run in the tournament for OU. He was knocked out early, but upset runs for Brian Soldano and Juan Mora have them both just one win from finishing as All-Americans. Overall, OU is having a very solid tournament, and these two were the catalyst.
3. Carter Young seems to have found the right fit at Maryland
Still some wrestling left, but Stillwater/Sand Spring’ Carter Young came into this as the #12 seed and has made a run to the quarterfinals at 149. He is favored on paper in his next match and just needs one more win to finish as an All-American.
There definitely seems to be an improved fit for him at Maryland over Oklahoma State. Environment, culture, personality, whatever it may be, it seems to be working better for him and his style, and he’s on pace to close out his career on a high note and as an All-American this weekend. Side note. He can help out OSU a little if he can get a win over Nebraska in the quarters.
4. Oklahoma State needs their guys to wrestle back
The NCAA tournament is an enigma. Some guys wrestle back, some struggle with it. Second and third place as a team could be decided by just a few points. So, OSU will will really need each guy on the roster to do as much as they can on the consolation side.
5. Cody Merrill has a shot at the finals
On paper, I think a lot of people had Vega and Forrest as the two wrestlers most likely to make the NCAA finals. There have been a few upsets on his side of the bracket, and now Cody Merrill has a pretty legitimate shot at the finals. Still a lot of wrestling left, but it would be huge for Oklahoma State if they could slide a third in on Saturday night.
If you are local to Stillwater, Iron Monk Brewery will be releasing a new Wyatt Hendrickson branded beer on Monday and will host a watch party during the NCAA Tournament. Sales of the beer help support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. There will be wrestling giveaways, a silent auction, and other events across the three days of the tournament that will also support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
