SocraTease

I like the idea of inviting the top 2 placers in the Division II tournament and the top guy in Division III to the Division I dance. Give them a low seeding (even #'s 31-33) and see what they can do.

I don't know the answer to this counterfactual. But I do know I very much dislike the awful word, "Natty", for National Titles. It makes me think of gnats

I speculate it was because NCAA basketball went first to the silly idea of a few play-in games to add to the 64 team bracket and get 68. That was obviously a move based on money (more games, more TV commercials and advertising, and hence more revenue). I suspect NCAA wrestling thought the idea was cute and would add some kind of interest or intrigue or drama to have a pigtail match. Obviously, it doesn't generate either revenue or additional interest except for wrestler #33 and his family Either that ... or because 33 is: the largest positive integer that cannot be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers. the smallest odd repdigit that is not a prime number. the sum of the first four positive factorials. the sum of the sum of the divisors of the first six positive integers the sum of three cubes

It might make sense, if possible, to spread them out a bit. One around Thanksgiving, one around X-mas/New Year and one toward (at) the end of the dual season.

Apparently, Mike Carr is in med school while also wrestling.

Or maybe like one of these?

Like this?

For the anticipated Brooks-Hidlay semifinal, I suggest an invisible electronic fence that zaps Hidlay every time he tries to flee the mat. The first Zap is a warning. Each one after that is a point for Brooks and the Zaps get more painful as the match progresses. If it goes to SV, a knockout Zap might be landed.

"The deadline is March 20th" ?? If that is the case, everyone should be a winner because the tournament will be over.

An alternative:

Maybe the easiest weight is to not make weight. Then you can sit in the stands, eat French Fries, and watch the action for three days.

Perhaps. More guys have a chance at 197, but does that make it easier or harder? Yes, it seems both deeper and wider (more open). Most guys don't have a chance at 125, 165, 174, 184, and 285 (i.e., only a few are likely to win it)

Agreed. It's not his style. However, while he counsels the big picture, including the importance of play and enjoyment, he is also extremely competitive, and the seeming laid back approach can sometimes mask how much winning is part of the game. I think Cael might find accord with the message of the Bhagavad Gita: focus on your actions, not the fruits (consequences) of your actions.

It seems there is a need for clarification about what "easiest" (or "hardest") weight means: 1. Easiest for any of the 33 seeded wrestlers to win (compared to the other 9 weights)? 2. Easiest to AA (top 8)? 3. Easiest because the weight isn't very deep (compared to the other 9 weights)— e.g., only has 2 or 3 elite guys in it? 4. Easiest path to win the weight for someone given their seeding? 125 might be the easiest for Spencer Lee win because he doesn't have many true threats. 165 might be the hardest for anyone who is not a top 4 seed. It has three returning champs. 197 seems wide open and relatively "easy" for top 12 or so guys to conceivably make the finals and win. 133 won't be easy unless you are RBY, Fix or Arujau. Same for 285: on paper it looks like Parris vs. Kerk. The only weights with no returning champs are: 141 and 285. Are they easier? One way to imagine the situation would be to ask if you had no idea what your given weight was, which weight would you pick to be thrown into and have the best chance to win it given what you know about the listed wrestlers and contenders? My own sense is that 197 and 157 are the most wide open. Then perhaps followed by 141.

And one could add to this coach-wear line other accessories:

Hidlay will just wrestle the out of bounds line and then skip out when Brooks gets to his legs. Hoping they hit him hard with stalling early and often. Make him wrestle

link to the show https://www.ncaa.com/video/wrestling/2023-03-08/2023-di-wrestling-selection-show

Here's how seeding actual works (result):

Here's how seeding ideally works:

https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6131827-how-does-the-ncaa-seeding-process-work Head-to-head competition — 25 percent Quality wins — 20 percent Coaches Ranking — 15 percent Results against common opponents — 10 percent RPI — 10 percent Qualifying event placement — 10 percent Win % — 10 percent

8 PM Eastern https://www.ncaa.com/sports/wrestling/d1

Yes, relationships in the Covid Era are challenging:

I take it you are referring to the fact that Davis does not usually want to be in the corner and prefers to jump, sweat, stretch, gesticulate, cheer, curse, or swear with active mirror neurons from afar and often near the tunnel during NCAA matches when his guys are wrestling.

But, alas, there is no evidence that Nelson has ever taken a full shot in a wrestling match, except for this partial shot many moons ago:

And here is a way to drink a Nelson shot: nelson's blood cocktail: INGREDIENTS: 45ml Pussers Rum (40%) 15ml Solerno Blood Orange 15ml lime juice 15ml grapefruit/blood orange shrub 50ml cranberry juice 2 dash orange bitters 10ml Aquafaba