Illinois Edges Wisconsin

[bmoline]

For those of you who weren't there, this was a really good dual. Here's the summary:

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports...020710aaa.html

Several tight matches, including 197, Hwt, and 125. Prater bounced back with a big win at 141, Arlis got a tech at 157, and Terrazas really fought against Ruschell. He got a third period takedown to keep the match close and clinch the dual win. I'd like to hear from some others who got to see it.

In other news, Marty Smith didn't wrestle yesterday after hurting his knee Friday night. Didn't look especially good, but we'll hope for the best.

[hulkster]

I thought it was great dual yesterday.

Deneen put on a riding clinic in his match.

Thomas is really struggling at 133. Illinois will need to shore up this slot next year.

Prater was the alter-ego of what we saw Friday night. He is a box of chocolates in that you never know what you are going to get. His attitude was much better than that brutal one we saw on Friday night. He needs to bring it every night, not just when he wants to. BIG win yesterday.

Terrazas was key in his match yesterday. That cut he suffered on Friday is bothering him and will take some time to heal given its location. He had more gas than his opponent in the third period yesterday and was able to score some takedowns. It was a great loss? He knew what he needed to do from a team perspective and got it done.

Arlis just gives you everything he has. I like his work ethic.

Polz is certainly not ducking anybody this year but he needs to improve his offense. He went all weekend without scoring an offensive point. He looks less gassed at 165 than 157 and I think he will be okay over the next three seasons. If not, this will be a HUGE disappointment for the Illini.

Blanton looked solid yesterday against an opponent that took Manuel of Purdue to the wire on Friday night. I like the way Jordan is wrestling and look forward to seeing him against Rella and Manuel over the next two weeks.

Dergo looks great. We could only wish he had more eligibility because he has really found his comfort mode this year.

Bond got robbed yesterday. I thought he had the takedown to win that match.

Nice effort by Pat Walker yesterday after stepping in for Marty Smith. Let's hope the injury to Marty is minor.

[bmoline]

Good thoughts, hulkster. Regarding Prater, both he and Heff have referenced some issues making weight recently. That may have something to do with his inconsistency. We'll see if he can overcome that for the rest of the season.

I thought Bond had the two in OT as well, but it was close. His mat wrestling hurt him again yesterday in the tiebreaker periods.

Your comment about Terrazas is interesting and makes sense. But, after the dual, Heff said he thought Terrazas came out trying not to give up the major, and started doing better once he forgot about that and just started trying to win the match.

I noticed Pucillo didn't wrestle yesterday against Northwestern. I would assume he'll be ready and fired up for a matchup with Dergo on Friday after losing to him earlier this season.

[hulkster]

I have heard the same thing about Prater regarding weight but once you cut it and make your weight for an upcoming match, that should be even more reason to want to wrestle your best. What I saw Friday night was somebody that did not want to even be on the mat. If I am correct, I believe Prater had beat his opponent once before and then he goes out and gets totally dominated.

As an aside, Illinois tends to look better when the dual starts at the heavier weights. Have you noticed the same thing? I wonder if the lower weights feel a greater need/want to hold up their end of the "deal" after seeing the bigger boys wrestle.

I could be off-base. What are your thoughts on the matter?

[hoopdawg]

IMO, Bond got screwed for sure. He was behind his opponent, with his arms around the waist, and the Wisconsin wrestler had all four supporting points on the mat, without question. The ref blew the call, cost Bond the match, and almost cost Illinois the dual.

[bmoline]

Originally Posted by hulkster

I have heard the same thing about Prater regarding weight but once you cut it and make your weight for an upcoming match, that should be even more reason to want to wrestle your best. What I saw Friday night was somebody that did not want to even be on the mat. If I am correct, I believe Prater had beat his opponent once before and then he goes out and gets totally dominated.

As an aside, Illinois tends to look better when the dual starts at the heavier weights. Have you noticed the same thing? I wonder if the lower weights feel a greater need/want to hold up their end of the "deal" after seeing the bigger boys wrestle.

I could be off-base. What are your thoughts on the matter?

In general, Illinois is stronger in the upper weights with Blanton, Dergo and Bond right in a row. That may be part of it...helps to build a little positive momentum.

I'm not totally sure what to make of Prater at the moment. Saw him in person for the first time this weekend, and it was two completely different wrestlers out there. I hope "good Prater" makes it to Huff on Friday against OSU.

[lwsingle]

Who is their starting HWT, I know it was Walker in the begining of the year all they way through Midlands I think, and then I heard that he got banged up a bit. Then they went with Smith, now he is banged up, who wins the spot in a challenge match, just wondering if anyone has an inside scoop.

[IHSAWrestleFan]

Walker is the starting HWT. He tweaked his knee some time back and Heff has been resting him. Smith has done a nice job filling in but got banged up pretty good against Minnesota.

[ionel]

My take is that all put forth a very good effort on Sunday compared to, perhaps only half the guys, on Friday. Polz was just wrestling a guy who is, at this time, at a different level (Howe is the #1 @ 165) and that game plan isn’t going to work against Howe, he needs a different approach for that type. Likewise, Graff at 133 is very good.

The dual really should not have been this close. We had a ref who: wasn’t up to the speed of DI wrestling, wasn’t well rested for the dual, or simply doesn’t understand the application of some of the newer rules, although these have been in play for ~3+ years. He missed takedown calls both ways but the critical one was in the Bond match. An earlier one went against WI when their wrestler had a takedown with one foot still inbounds.

In the case of Bond’s he had two feet in bounds. In both cases the ref called that they were out, when in fact he should first (or simultaneously) determine if there is a takedown and then look to see if there is a supporting point of either wrestler still within or touching the cylindrical plane of the wrestling circle. The new rules are much like soccer or tennis, if even the edge of a foot or finger is touching the outside edge of the circle when the takedown is secured then it is 2 points and/or wrestling can continue. Sometimes in a scramble situation it may be appropriate to call a stalemate, even when still in contact with the circle, or similarly if one wrestler is partially off the mat and onto the hardwood, but not the case here. Moreover, this guy missed Prater’s pin and a set of backpoints because he just didn’t get around in position quick enough. Hence, my feeling that he, at least on this date, just wasn’t up to the speed of DI.

Regarding 285, I’m pretty certain that Smith was/is the starter and the Friday/Sunday duals showed why and in my opinion he may need some time off and come back for Purdue or Big 10s.