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    Jim Gibbons •

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    Laces Up: Jim Gibbons previews 197 pounds



    Big Ten Network and ESPN wrestling analyst Jim Gibbons knows wrestling. One of the best broadcasters in the business, Gibbons knows what it takes to win an NCAA championship both as an athlete and a coach. Who does Gibbons see as the favorite coming into this year's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis? Who does he think will have a breakout performance and exceed expectations as Mr. Upside? Gibbons will be previewing each of the 10 weight classes leading up to the NCAAs. Follow Jim on Twitter at @JGibLacesUp and let him know what you think if his previews and picks.

    J'den Cox (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)
    J'den Cox (Missouri) returns in his sophomore season looking to repeat as NCAA champion. I picked Cox last season to win mainly because he was sitting in a good place in the bracket. Watching him last year in OKC it was clear he was a good call. Cox is a gifted athlete, but he can get into trouble in this tournament if he's not moving on his feet and using good setups. The best athletes don't win unless they respect the skill of their opponent. There is enough skill in this field to make repeating difficult for J'den Cox, but he's the pick.

    Three guys are back that are all capable of taking home the belt: Big Ten champion Morgan McIntosh (Penn State), Big 12 champ Kyven Gadson (Iowa State) and Scott Schiller (Minnesota). McIntosh has been on a bit of a roll and seems to have a clear definition of how he wants to win matches. Gadson has career wins over every contender in the field and Schiller defeated Cox in the exhibition NWCA All-Star Classic, along with several career wins over Gadson. For Schiller and Gadson it's their last shot, but this weight class should be competitive for some time. The newcomer in the weight class is freshman Kyle Snyder (Ohio State). He owns season wins over McIntosh and Schiller.

    The Saturday morning consolation semifinals and medal round will be exciting. The top four favorites in the team race have guys that are seeded in the top six at 197 pounds. A win in the consolation semis gives a team 3.5 points. In head-to-head matches that's a seven-point swing, additionally a win in the medal round is one point plus any match bonus points along the way. For teams that struggle getting finalists this is their last chance to post a score and head to the clubhouse. It's a round where you see guys break through on sheer will. Hawkeye fans are hoping No. 6 Nathan Burak can catch someone sulking about not being in the finals. He has a win over Snyder, but hasn't yet been able break into this top group. Saturday morning may be his opportunity to show up, help himself and his team.

    There are two remaining All American spots I think are up for grabs. A perfect spot for a Mr. Upside. No. 12 Timmy McCall (Wisconsin) was the Big Ten Mr U. He performed admirably finishing sixth while being seeded eighth. No. 13 Shane Woods (Wyoming) is also a good candidate -- coached by Mark Branch. If you're a long shot there is no better guy to have in your corner than Mark -- the last unseeded NCAA champ.

    Conner Hartmann (Photo/Duke Sports Information)
    However, No. 10 Conner Hartmann (Duke) is Mr. Upside. He is only the second All-American in school history. Hartmann is from Port Orchard, Washington, and placed fifth last season at this weight class. He had no choice but to leave his home state if he wanted to compete at the Division I level and has found a home clear across the country. It' a big deal when these programs have All-Americans, proving it can be done.

    Pick: J'den Cox (Missouri)

    Mr. Upside: Conner Hartmann (Duke)

    Previews:
    125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285
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