PJ Duke - Robbery of the tournament?

[nickp91]

In a few years PJ Duke will be one of the best wrestlers in the world

[Gus]

1 hour ago, OriginalAxon said:

He already had the TD with the cradle, sat him on the hip, and briefly exposed his back. Three progressions without a reaction. The only reaction was getting out of danger and the TD should already be rewarded.

It was close but they have not been awarding the takedown in that position this year. He could have gotten the takedown if they would have let it play out. 

[ionel]

1 minute ago, Gus said:

It was close but they have not been awarding the takedown in that position this year. He could have gotten the takedown if they would have let it play out. 

"could have" is key but not a should have.  Landon is pretty tough, he had his arm out and around the leg and could have defended and got out of the position just like PJ defended LR's attempt.  A cradle does not mean a TD, this has been true for years.  

[BaldAt23]

2 hours ago, OriginalAxon said:

He already had the TD with the cradle, sat him on the hip, and briefly exposed his back. Three progressions without a reaction. The only reaction was getting out of danger and the TD should already be rewarded.

If you have a cradle but the guy has his arm out keeping you out front and then you bump him to your hip, is that a takedown with the current rules? I know far hip with a cradle is, but I wasn't sure if the guy is square with you if that matters 

[scourge165]

On 3/20/2026 at 11:30 PM, Caveira said:

There are zero threads about refs screwing Iowa 

there are 83 million posts by psu fans crying that the best team ever assembled in the history of this planet we’re screwed by the refs 

The  best team in the history of earth not on only should not  rely on the refs for their wins…..  

they should tip their hat in a sportsmanlike gesture to those that beat them.   
 

The last part is the most important part.   Intrinsically psu fans are not good at this part.  It’s part of the reason they are bad for the sport.   I think it may be an eagles or Phillies or whatever thing. 

The... irony of a Iowa fan...

 

[pokemonster]

I don't disagree that having that cradle kicked up was a benefit to Duke, but converting on that when someone has squared up completely with you is not favorable. Robideau would not have given that TD up. 

[scourge165]

On 3/21/2026 at 12:47 AM, Psalm 1 guy said:

Under the current review rules, the reviewers are allowed to review an entire sequence, which wasn't the case a few seasons ago. This makes it even more important for referees to be 100% sure of their call before they make it, especially if it is part of a sequence of action. If they make a mistake in not awarding points, it can always be corrected by review. You can't help feel for any wrestler who thinks they have won the match only for the call to be overturned. About the only thing worse than that is when the overturned call occurs at the end of a match and the wrestlers don't get time to settle it on the mat. Going forward, PJ will need to focus on keeping wrestlers from tying up his hands by interlocking his fingers, especially on his left side. Robideau was able to really slow down PJ that way.  

This it true.

I also thought Davino got screwed. The whole tournament... it's just a constant theme. The "Better" Wrestler, the longer you go in a 2-1 or 1-1 match, the more opportunities you're giving the other guy to pull off the upset. 

It gets late, a guy like SVN who has been close gets tight... like I thought Duke did, he took a half shot where Robideau was heavy but he stopped, probably because... it was SV. 

I watched the McEnelly match last week and thought he probably got screwed(not as strong of an opinion as I didn't watch the time that closely) and that was 100% his fault. I don't think Welsh can stop him if he is moving his feet and attacking. Even the end of that match, you saw what INCREDIBLE fee McEnelly had when he stayed on them when Welsh got him off balance in the final ~5-8 seconds. 


So sure, I think Duke was good enough that he could he scored earlier. 
-I think if Davino had lost... I'd feel like I did about the Duke match, the better Wrestler did not win. 

But ultimately as tough as it is, I'd almost advise you start your sprint in the 1st period. A guy like SVN? Duke was pushing Robiedau around, but not really taking good shots, it was like he was trying to wear him out, but he just looked like he got tired from it and it didn't even work. He wasn't bullying Robideau off the mat. 


Also, to be clear, I think Duke is a generational Wrestler, so... Robideau winning, he deserves all the accolades that he'll get. 


I just disagree with this one call. 

[Southend]

1 hour ago, scourge165 said:

This it true.

I also thought Davino got screwed. The whole tournament... it's just a constant theme. The "Better" Wrestler, the longer you go in a 2-1 or 1-1 match, the more opportunities you're giving the other guy to pull off the upset. 

It gets late, a guy like SVN who has been close gets tight... like I thought Duke did, he took a half shot where Robideau was heavy but he stopped, probably because... it was SV. 

I watched the McEnelly match last week and thought he probably got screwed(not as strong of an opinion as I didn't watch the time that closely) and that was 100% his fault. I don't think Welsh can stop him if he is moving his feet and attacking. Even the end of that match, you saw what INCREDIBLE fee McEnelly had when he stayed on them when Welsh got him off balance in the final ~5-8 seconds. 


So sure, I think Duke was good enough that he could he scored earlier. 
-I think if Davino had lost... I'd feel like I did about the Duke match, the better Wrestler did not win. 

But ultimately as tough as it is, I'd almost advise you start your sprint in the 1st period. A guy like SVN? Duke was pushing Robiedau around, but not really taking good shots, it was like he was trying to wear him out, but he just looked like he got tired from it and it didn't even work. He wasn't bullying Robideau off the mat. 


Also, to be clear, I think Duke is a generational Wrestler, so... Robideau winning, he deserves all the accolades that he'll get. 


I just disagree with this one call. 

You probably represent the majority with the statement you made. Like it or not

[scourge165]

12 hours ago, pokemonster said:

I don't disagree that having that cradle kicked up was a benefit to Duke, but converting on that when someone has squared up completely with you is not favorable. Robideau would not have given that TD up. 

Oh c'mon! If they leg that go, he needs to hook the leg and that's a TD. I think Duke sticks him if they let it go. And I think it was ALREADY a TD before Robideau got back. 

You put them in that position to start... especially a deep as Duke had it, with all the time left, he's hooking the leg and  running him over. 

[pokemonster]

1 hour ago, scourge165 said:

Oh c'mon! If they leg that go, he needs to hook the leg and that's a TD. I think Duke sticks him if they let it go. And I think it was ALREADY a TD before Robideau got back. 

You put them in that position to start... especially a deep as Duke had it, with all the time left, he's hooking the leg and  running him over. 

You're probably right, but I'm just saying it's not a guarantee like everyone is making it out to be. I would like it if they found a way to let that play out then review it. But it's tough when the match stops in OT and with all of the scrambling today, it could end up with more of the same "no calls to let it play out" that should've ended the match. It's a tough one. 

[Southend]

No Lillard’s , Indiana, first  loss was. 

[Psalm 1 guy]

It was a quick stoppage in my mind, but the way the current SV rules are, once the referee believes the TD is completed he is supposed to stop the match. Had this not been in SV, I doubt the referee calls the TD that quickly. The best rule modification remedy I can think of is this: in SV, once the referee believes a TD has been achieved, they should hold up three fingers and hold it (just like they do with NF) until the position plays itself out. Then award the points and let any challenges occur at that point. 

[Tchfllsrfke]

Duke didn't have a takedown. A locked cradle from the front where the wrestler can neither turn nor go behind has never been a takedown. If it is, all the lanky kids need to do from a front head is a reach around and release.

All that said, bad form to award the 3 preemptively. Shoulda let the kids keep wrestling until control is established or not.

[1032004]

On 3/21/2026 at 6:18 AM, Gus said:

With the way that Robideau can scramble that was far from a sure thing takedown. It did not look like PJ had his hands locked. 

I just rewatched on the broadcast.  He did have his hands locked when it was stopped.  Based on how reaction time has been called this year though I still agree with no TD though.

[Holtfan]

On 3/20/2026 at 10:13 PM, AZ_wrestling said:

Probably the worst robbery in NCAA history. 

Ryan Churella's non-pin call against Johny Hendrinks probably ranks as the biggest robbery in NCAA history. 

This one is a close second, though. 

 

[Konquest]

LOL after the semis, a buddy of mine started calling Robideau "Landon Rob-a-Duke".

[gimpeltf]

34 minutes ago, Holtfan said:

Ryan Churella's non-pin call against Johny Hendrinks probably ranks as the biggest robbery in NCAA history. 

This one is a close second, though. 

The edge of mat tds were the problem. I was at the head table and thought at the time it wasn't a fall.

[Holtfan]

6 minutes ago, gimpeltf said:

The edge of mat tds were the problem. I was at the head table and thought at the time it wasn't a fall.

[boconnell]

12 minutes ago, gimpeltf said:

The edge of mat tds were the problem. I was at the head table and thought at the time it wasn't a fall.

One of the edge TDs was really bad.  It was close to a body lock than a TD.  Churella was fully facing him and Hendricks wasn't on the legs.  It felt like the ref got caught up in the momentum of that 3rd period.

[gimpeltf]

3 hours ago, boconnell said:

One of the edge TDs was really bad.  It was close to a body lock than a TD.  Churella was fully facing him and Hendricks wasn't on the legs.  It felt like the ref got caught up in the momentum of that 3rd period.

As I recall there were two. Looked like TDs for a split second and then Ryan turned in. Kessel was looking for help from assistant and got snubbed.

[jackwebster]

22 minutes ago, gimpeltf said:

As I recall there were two.

I think the last one was legit, but that was about the only thing he got right. 

[boconnell]

26 minutes ago, gimpeltf said:

As I recall there were two. Looked like TDs for a split second and then Ryan turned in. Kessel was looking for help from assistant and got snubbed.

I felt like there was a close one that could have gone either way.  And there was an awful one that was indefensible.

[mr.nonothingatall]

On 3/22/2026 at 4:53 PM, Southend said:

No Lillard’s , Indiana, first  loss was. 

Don't remind me

[Southend]

41 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

Don't remind me

I’m still sick. Those guys need to have their whistles confiscated, go look at the play back! Talk about highway robbery! 

[BillC]

The real problem here is that Duke had no chance to finish the hold he was in when he was awarded the TD.

There already is a rule that you can't challenge a fall. Maybe that ought to be expanded and say you can't challenge any match ending score.