ILLINI v. MIZZOU PREDICTIONS

[1032004]

9 minutes ago, ionel said:

Knee ... don't think there was any contact second time.  I'm sure Smith would've been all over it if head bump. 

Ah you’re right in re-watching…he was wobbly afterwards and I thought it could’ve been from head injury but was probably just from the knee.

Looks like BTN put most of the matches on YT btw

 

 

 

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

2 hours ago, flyingcement said:

Byrd up 3-0 with about a minute of RT after the first period.  

Byrd starts down in the 2nd, flaps his wings into a standing position, Moore holds on too long and gets the stall.

Moore chips away at riding time (down to 33 in favor of Byrd) by concedes the escape.  Byrd gets his worm with another takedown with one second left in the second. 7-0 Byrd after 2 with one stall against Moore.

3rd period starts with Moore on bottom.  Byrd applies forward pressure and spiral ride, gets a bit over aggressive, and Moore slickly reverses him.  

Cartwheel by Byrd on bottom and he re-reverses.  Then allows Moore to escape.  Grabs another three for himself, shoves Moore out of bounds, and earns a stalling point.  Byrd's pushing for a tech here.  Goes for a low single, shelves it, gets around Moore's Funk.  17-4 with riding time.  Byrd proudly goes back to his nest.

YOU ARE THE FIRE! 

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

About the Scoles/Steed match, it did seem like a head injury for a time, then a knee injury. Steed has a brace on one leg and a sleeve on the other. I never boo when a wrestler takes an injury timeout, as I used to pretend to have been hit in the groin area all the time, and I'm a very convincing actor. But my resolve to be a good fan was seriously challenged when Steed got up and hit a lightning-quick double on the restart. 

Later, you could see him limping around. 

Steed won the battle on the feet, but Scoles' relentless pressure and riding abilities and the injury were too much. ILLINI fans get to see the Webster and Scoles show for four years. Wow! For Scoles' ELO and rankings, I will be a Cam Steed fan for the rest of the year unless they meet again. 

As for the dual itself, I had a blast! This is IMAR and AOC talking to some VIPs after the match (I can't camera very well):

 

[ionel]

11 minutes ago, ILLINIWrestlingBlog said:

 ... and I'm a very convincing actor.  ILLINI fans get to see the Webster and Scoles show for four years. I can't camera very well:

  an actor?  Here we all thought comedian but certainly not production crew. 

Yes we are gonna get four years of new dictionary definitions plus a little scoles on the side. 

[flyingcement]

5 minutes ago, ionel said:

  an actor?  Here we all thought comedian but certainly not production crew. 

Yes we are gonna get four years of new dictionary definitions plus a little scoles on the side. 

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

3 minutes ago, ionel said:

  an actor?  Here we all thought comedian but certainly not production crew. 

Yes we are gonna get four years of new dictionary definitions plus a little scoles on the side. 

Thanks for the play-by-play for everybody who couldn't watch. It was fun to relive the match in my mind with what y'all posted. 

The team came to wrestle. Loved their fight! I was skeptical of a wrestling meet in a tent, especially since it snowed in Champaign this morning, but with tailgaters for football, they've got it down to a Science. Saw your pickleball buddy Zane Richards tonight. He is impressive every time. Big smiles from me after that dual! 

[flyingcement]

We obviously need to refer to Scoles as being "a pinch better" in all future matches that do not result in injury default

[flyingcement]

12 minutes ago, ILLINIWrestlingBlog said:

Thanks for the play-by-play for everybody who couldn't watch. It was fun to relive the match in my mind with what y'all posted. 

The team came to wrestle. Loved their fight! I was skeptical of a wrestling meet in a tent, especially since it snowed in Champaign this morning, but with tailgaters for football, they've got it down to a Science. Saw your pickleball buddy Zane Richards tonight. He is impressive every time. Big smiles from me after that dual! 

Was it my imagination or was it Chael Sonnen on the mic?  Sounded like a version of him that was not going on crazy rants

[ionel]

19 minutes ago, ILLINIWrestlingBlog said:

Thanks for the play-by-play for everybody who couldn't watch. It was fun to relive the match in my mind with what y'all posted. 

The team came to wrestle. Loved their fight! I was skeptical of a wrestling meet in a tent, especially since it snowed in Champaign this morning, but with tailgaters for football, they've got it down to a Science. Saw your pickleball buddy Zane Richards tonight. He is impressive every time. Big smiles from me after that dual! 

Looked like a great environment.  I agree with Mike, everybody wrestled hard but there were some key mistakes.  Wasn't expecting the half time team event, good to see video of those guys but my good coffee buddy MJ looking a little older.  Related, talked to Jimmy Kennedy out in Utah last Friday.   

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

36 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

Was it my imagination or was it Chael Sonnen on the mic?  Sounded like a version of him that was not going on crazy rants

LOL! That was my podcast partner Brian "Voice of the ILLINI" Swaw. He was really good last year, and he sounded even better tonight. Brian used to do talk radio, so he's a real pro. He has energy, is super knowledgeable about wrestling and a great sense of humor. 

The student announcer sounded like the same undergrad from last year. He has also gotten better. There was one "play" in there, but for the most part, he was on top of things. Plus, he's got Brian to shepherd him through the process.

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

27 minutes ago, ionel said:

Looked like a great environment.  I agree with Mike, everybody wrestled hard but there were some key mistakes.  Wasn't expecting the half time team event, good to see video of those guys but my good coffee buddy MJ looking a little older.  Related, talked to Jimmy Kennedy out in Utah last Friday.   

I wanted to ask a bunch of people for interviews, but those guys from the 2005 Big Ten Championship wrestling team were there to celebrate their season, and you just know that every second they get to spend together is gold. If by MJ you mean Mark Jayne, I've been trying to get an interview with him for about 2 years! LOL! 

[flyingcement]

6 minutes ago, ILLINIWrestlingBlog said:

LOL! That was my podcast partner Brian "Voice of the ILLINI" Swaw. He was really good last year, and he sounded even better tonight. Brian used to do talk radio, so he's a real pro. He has energy, is super knowledgeable about wrestling and a great sense of humor. 

The student announcer sounded like the same undergrad from last year. He has also gotten better. There was one "play" in there, but for the most part, he was on top of things. Plus, he's got Brian to shepherd him through the process.

oh man I wasn't even joking but now I feel like an ass for asking haha. the voice sounded like it for some reason.  he did an excellent job anyway.

[ionel]

21 minutes ago, ILLINIWrestlingBlog said:

I wanted to ask a bunch of people for interviews, but those guys from the 2005 Big Ten Championship wrestling team were there to celebrate their season, and you just know that every second they get to spend together is gold. If by MJ you mean Mark Jayne, I've been trying to get an interview with him for about 2 years! LOL! 

No wrong MJ the top dog MJ but do have good memories of Jayne's mom at duals etc taking pics. 

[MidwestMan]

Congrats to our neighbors to the east for their current "right to brag" with their win last night.  Win or lose, I enjoy the spirit of the rivalry and tradition that passes with each generation.  

Much like how Illinois was going through a transitional year in 22/23, I think Mizzou is having one of those years in 23/24.  Lots of room for growth and fairly young roster.  

Crossing my fingers Cam Sneed's injury is not a "season ender!"  Mizzou has been a rolling ambulance since towards the end of last season.  Northern Iowa is coming up and is always tough as they seem to embody the "Schwab ethos."  If the Tigers don't get their lineup in tack and everyone healthy, they could very easy fall to 1-3.

I know it's early in the season, but I also said that last year, and last year just got worse.  Division 1 wrestling is "Tough Stuff!"

Edited 12 hours ago by MidwestMan

[Truzzcat]

1 hour ago, MidwestMan said:

Congrats to our neighbors to the east for their current "right to brag" with their win last night.  Win or lose, I enjoy the spirit of the rivalry and tradition that passes with each generation.  

Much like how Illinois was going through a transitional year in 22/23, I think Mizzou is having one of those years in 23/24.  Lots of room for growth and fairly young roster.  

Crossing my fingers Cam Sneed's injury is not a "season ender!"  Mizzou has been a rolling ambulance since towards the end of last season.  Northern Iowa is coming up and is always tough as they seem to embody the "Schwab ethos."  If the Tigers don't get their lineup in tack and everyone healthy, they could very easy fall to 1-3.

I know it's early in the season, but I also said that last year, and last year just got worse.  Division 1 wrestling is "Tough Stuff!"

I truly do not know if I have watched a cam steed match where he did not take injury time. Really a shame because he looked stellar in that first period. On the bright side I think you guys got good ones with Walker and Sinclair.

[nhs67]

Webster's victory is impressive.

Prior to this season, if you ignore his post-injury results last year, he had held everyone else he had lost to to a regular Decision.  The guy just doesn't give up points... Webster went Lebron and took over the match - with ease.

[MidwestMan]

I agree about Walker and Sinclair, but Cole (true frosh) was in the match with Ruth, down 2 with short time and had to take a couple of desperate shots.  Throw these guys with Mizzous incoming recruits and could rebound fast.

[nhs67]

I know hindsight is there, but I had thought I posted it yesterday - apparently it was sitting there in my memory tab, or wtf ever it is called when the site saves what were posting... BUT... Brawnagel losing to Sinclair was not a surprise, and I was eluding to not being surprised, even picking Sinclair (sorry... sue me).

That said, I believe they have rolled together a few times in the last year (national team camps) and Sinclair has some of the highest match IQ and after-match adjustments of any incoming frosh, ever... maybe even the actual highest.  If he has wrestled with someone, even if not an actual match, I think he stands a very good chance to beat just about anybody - so far as there are no other serious gaps there (size, strength, skill, etc.), which Brawnagel does not have.

[killdozer]

Steed's knee gave out again on the 2nd injury time. I also thought that the brick Smith threw was justifiable. It looked on TV as if Scoles went against the joint to bring the knee out and Steed cried out right after he did that. But the ref didn't see it that way. As a Mizzou fan I have been holding my breath that Steed doesn't get injured (again). I said before the season Steed would be a problem if he stayed healthy. I hope it is not serious. But as far as faking I didn't think that in the least bit. 
Logan Cole did great for being a true frosh and jumping up a weight class. It was 4-2 Ruth with :50 seconds of riding time in favor of Cole when he tried his last two desperation takedowns. Ruth wouldn't have got out from Hawks if Cole got :50 seconds of riding time. 
BTW, I know there was still another period left when Steed had to default. But if he continued and the results stayed the same... Guess what 17-17 tie. Also, If the total points stayed the same Illinois would have won on most total points 84-83. Man I can almost call it

Edited 8 hours ago by killdozer

[JBluegill133]

Love seeing all of Poeta's hard work paying off. This team is going to be fun this year. A couple things I noticed:

- Score could've been even more decisive if Pucino doesnt give up that last second takedown and we win that match,  Little Braunagel giving up the major in the last few seconds left a bitter taste after a really hard fought match against otoole (side note the announcer kept calling Keegan "the toolman". That needs to end.) Kraisser getting that fall would've been incredible (side note Steed was looking strong against Scoles for Injury so that would've been a swing too) 

- Was interesting to see Sinclair chase down and outwork bigger braunagel...For a guy who is known for his brawling and pressure that was not an impressive ending of the match (it's november so take it with a grain of salt)

- Ruth is going to Ruth. He lives by 1-2 score matches.  It stinks because the 2 times he attacked...He scored.  Play with fire and you are bound to get burned

- Byrd, Webster, Luffman look like the best chances for AA, with Ruth right there and outside chances for bigger Braunagel, Kraisser, and Scoles

 

Glad to see my home state putting out a good product finally. It's been awhile!

[ionel]

15 minutes ago, killdozer said:

Steed's knee gave out again on the 2nd injury time. I also thought that the brick Smith threw was justifiable. It looked on TV as if Scoles went against the joint to bring the knee out and Steed cried out right after he did that. But the ref didn't see it that way. As a Mizzou fan I have been holding my breath that Steed doesn't get injured (again). I said before the season Steed would be a problem if he stayed healthy. I hope it is not serious. But as far as faking I didn't think that in the least bit. 

I also don't think he was faking but appeared if Smith got the illegal move on review he would prob deem Steed unable to continue and take the 6pt.  I think Scoles was going to grind out a win in that match he was coming on strong in the 2nd.  I wonder what Steed said to ref on edge second time knee gave out?  The ref could have just hit him with stalling but maybe Steed said he was done.  

[killdozer]

He was done no matter what after his knee gave out. You only get two injury breaks the time had nothing to do with it.  I think Scoles was coming on. But if Steed didn't injure his knee, that forward pressure might not have worked so well as in the previous 3 takedowns.
I think Scoles best shot was on top. I thought they made the wrong choice in picking bottom after the injury timeout. Steed was clearly compromised and probably wouldn't have gotten up. Scoles could had choice in the third and would have taken top and maybe got a turn. Plus possible stalling calls. 

Edited 8 hours ago by killdozer

[ionel]

15 minutes ago, killdozer said:

He was done no matter what after his knee gave out. You only get two injury breaks the time had nothing to do with it.  I think Scoles was coming on. But if Steed didn't injure his knee, that forward pressure might not have worked so well as in the previous 3 takedowns.
I think Scoles best shot was on top. I thought they made the wrong choice in picking bottom after the injury timeout. Steed was clearly compromised and probably wouldn't have gotten up. Scoles could had choice in the third and would have taken top and maybe got a turn. Plus possible stalling calls. 

If Steed had given up the back exposure he prob wouldn't have injured his knee but then who knows how rest of match plays out.  

[The_KC_Godfather]

I bet Kraisser is really happy with whoever took this photo and put it on the recap article on Illinois' website