3 Penn State wrestling thoughts three days before the NCAA Tournament

Penn State wrestling is now just days away from making another run at an NCAA Tournament title.

This year’s event will be held Thursday-Saturday in Detroit, Mich. The action begins Thursday at Noon ET and concludes with the final session, which starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

As we continue the wait for the first competitors to take the mat, here are three Tuesday thoughts three days before things kick off at Little Caesars Arena.

Why Penn State is seen as the favorite entering the tournament

Penn State last won the NCAA title in 2019. It did so in blowout fashion, as it ultimately ended up with a 41 point advantage over runner-up Ohio State. The Lions finished second a year ago, as Iowa outscored them 129-113.5. The Hawkeyes ended PSU’s four-year winning run in the process.

For those who are unaware, each wrestler can earn points for his team based on how he performs. You get more points for wrestlers who advance in the championship bracket compared to the consolation one at the double-elimination tournament. Yet, the championship is usually won and lost based on how those wrestleback matches go.

Besides advancement points, competitors can also earn their team additional points in the team race if they win by major decision, technical fall, or pin/opponent forfeit.

Penn State has nine wrestlers in Detroit. It will be represented at every weight class but 165 pounds. Three schools — Iowa, N.C. State, and Northwestern — qualified all 10 starters. Nine schools, then, sent nine, including Big Ten champion Michigan.

Penn State has four number one seeds, a No. 2, and a No. 4. When you combine the scoring potential of that group with an expected bounce back for 125-pounder Drew Hildebrandt after a disappointing Big Ten tournament, plus whatever might be earned by Beau Bartlett at 149 and Brady Berge at 157, the math looks good for Penn State on paper. Per a school release, the qualified Lions have racked up a 70-15 record against the field.

That’s why the Lions are the projected favorite, even if they down a starter. They’ll have to earn it. And, as always, a target will be on each wrester’s back in every match.

Two top seeds make the Lions’ focus clear

Anyone who has ever listened to Sanderson speak knows one thing: He wants his wrestlers to push the action and focus on doing what they do best rather than worrying about what the opponent will do.

It goes without saying that the coaching staff will review each wrestler’s matchup to look for trends or tendencies that could be exploited. But, as 141-pound top-seed Nick Lee and 197-pound No. 1 Max Dean made clear last week, they prefer to enter the tournament with little to no concern about their first foe. That way, the only thing they are focused on mentally is their own arsenal of moves to try and score as many points as possible.

“Yeah, I haven’t looked,” Dean said. “I won’t look. This tournament, you have to take it a match at a time. I mean, crazy stuff always happens at it, so you really don’t know who you’re going to wrestle except for the next guy you’re wrestling.

“And at this point, I’m sure if there’s something I need to know for my first guy my coaches will let me know.”

Both Lee and Dean shared stories of big matches from their past where they didn’t know the opponent going into it. Each has succeeded at high levels, and it’s safe to say others on the Penn State roster share their, and Sanderson’s, philosophy because of it.

“At this point, you’ve wrestled almost every guy in the bracket for the most part,” Lee said.

“So in your experience you kind of know what to expect. I let my coaches worry if there’s anything specific to worry about.”

Fast start will be key for the Lions

As noted above, it’s paramount to keep as many wrestlers alive as possible for the team race. But, the more you have in the championship brackets, the higher your maximum number of possible points will be as the tournament continues.

It’s why a fast start will be important for Penn State. Drew Hildebrandt did not make it out of the first round of the Big Ten tournament but the No. 16 seed must do so in Detroit. Then, after top-seeds Roman Bravo-Young and Lee wrestle in their respective weight classes, it will be on No. 13 Beau Bartlett and No. 16 Brady Berge to try and advance. Each will have an enormous task to make it to the quarterfinals, but they can earn points in wrestlebacks. The key out of the gate is sending all wrestlers to Round 2. It might sound simple, but it can be easier said than done at this event.

For the tournament favorites, however, it’s a must if they want to start down the easiest path to another NCAA title.