REVIEW OF THE RUTGERS DUAL :UNHAPPY FACE:

OVERVIEW.  No post immediately after the Rutgers match. Terunofuji lost for the first time in the January basho in Sumo yesterday morning, then the ILLINI lost at Rutgers yesterday evening. I was in no mood.

Terunofuji won this morning so the world looks a little better. 

Standouts at the dual were Lucas Byrd, who dominated with a veteran AA-like performance, Danny Braunagel with a workmanlike win, DJ Shannon with a win and some acrobatics, and Luuuuke Luffman with a dominant win after a surprising first-period takedown for his opponent. 

Christian Kanzler gets a pass, as he was obviously still bothered by his knee, which is wrapped up pretty well. Still, he almost beat Mike van Brill, a darn good wrestler, losing 2-3. Overall, the ILLINI need to find the Fighting Spirit within them. 

JAKE REICIN. EXHIBITION. 157. Didn't count on the extra matches. Logged on early, but was late for Reicin versus Al DeSantis. First period, Jake snatches a single, converts it to a double and gets a takedown. 2-0. Rutgers escapes, and DeSantis gets his own takedown and rides out the first period. After that, Jake gassed bad. At the end of the third, the Scarlet Knight with the riding point for the tech. Hope it's not long Covid. 

NOTE: These extra matches are great for the wrestlers. They are also great for the video/audio team. There shouldn't be any surprises or glitches with the streaming when the actual dual starts. 

JUSTIN CARDANI. 125. The ILLINI with a shot that was stopped immediately. If you're going to count on one takedown to win a match, you better make sure your opponent isn't sitting there waiting with a cow-catcher. They stalemate. Late in the first, Dylan Shawver with the nice snap down and go-behind. (Drake Ayala has a better one, so Justin better be ready for it). The Scarlet Knight with the ride out to end of the first. Cardani rides hard for over a minute in the second and gets a minute riding time before Shawver does a standing granby that Cardani does not follow. The score is 3-0. They go neutral in the third period, and Cardani cannot convert a takedown. This is a match that the ILLINI could've and should've won. He was the better mat wrestler, but he let one takedown beat him. Justin finished in first place at the Matmen Open, while Shawver finished in fifth, losing to two guys Cardani beat. 

LUCAS BYRD. 133. The ILLINI uses his underhook danger position takedown; with it, Lucas suggests a lateral drop, and Olivieri gives up two instead of going to his back. Another Byrd special is the head in the hole takedown. He runs it to perfection. Another takedown from Byrd is a single switched to a double and four back points. This is a major decision for the ILLINI All American. It was a dominant 13-2 win for Lucas over a very good but still young wrestler. The announcers even say to Oliveri in the match, "Welcome to the Big Ten, kid." Haha! Team Score is 4-3 good guys. 

NOTE:  This ref has the Slowest Swipes In The World. I ate dinner between swipe three and swipe four. Haha, hometown refs. 

WE RACHAL. 141. Quick takedown by Rivera. On top Sebastian Rivera with the wrist control. The Scarlet Knight puts in double boots. Escape for Rachal. Second stalling call on Rachal. The ILLINI tries a throw at the end of the first period but loses his grip and lands on his own back. 5-1 Rutgers at the end of one. Third stall called. 7-1. Fourth stall. 8-1 Tech fall. Got chippy. I expected more from We Rachal even though we know Rivera is a great wrestler. Team score Rutgers 8-4. 

CHRISTIAN KANZLER. 149. He's going against Mike van Brill, who looks pretty sucked out. Kanzler actually looks bigger. No real shots in 2 minutes. Escape from Van Brill with only 20 seconds of riding time in the second period. Kanzler looked limited by a large brace on his leg. That played a part in Van Brill scoring a single-leg takedown in the third period. 3-2 win for Van Brill. The Scarlet Knight is a good wrestler; if Kanzler can heal up his knee, he could beat him. Rutgers 11-4. 

JOE ROBERTS. 157. Robert Kanniard is the opponent. Roberts shoots in off the whistle, and they begin to scramble. The ILLINI left legs wide open in this dual. Takedown for Kanniard. Rutgers riding legs, and Roberts can't get out. Finally, after 90 seconds, Roberts is out. The ILLINI gave up his legs too easily here. He had a shot to tie it up at the end, but he kept giving up his leg to the Scarlet Knight who kept grabbing it. Roberts may have one better opportunity for a win in Big Ten duals this year; pity he missed this opportunity because of a slow start and the inability to get out from under a leg rider. Decision for Rutgers, team score 14-4. 

GOOD COMMENTATING TEAM FROM RUTGERS. My bad for picking on them. They have two wrestlers who know what they're talking about, and they're very familiar with the Rutgers team and adequately informed about the ILLINI. For example, they knew that Dylan Duncan wasn't in the lineup tonight. They also pointed out that both Braunagels were All Americans during the Covid-shortened season. I especially applaud them on their impartiality. Example: Two different double leg takedowns going out of bounds, one with Rutgers on offense, and one with an ILLINI on offense. The commentators watched replays for both and agreed with the call for the takedown by the ILLINI--it was a good call--and agreed that the Rutgers attempt was not a takedown--another good call. 

DANNY BRAUNAGEL. 165. He's got Andrew Clark, a guy that Brawny majored 13-0 earlier this season. Clark shoots, but Braunagel fights off and reattacks with a double. Takedown. The ILLINI rides out the end of the first period. 2-0 good guys. Start neutral in second and Brawny gets a single for the takedown. 4-1 after Danny lets him up. The ILLINI with another double for two. 6-1 going into the third. Ends up 9-3. 

DJ SHANNON. 174.  Connor O'Neil is 9-7 for Rutgers. Jackson Turley is not in the lineup. Shannon with the quick go-behind, takedown, and looks for the cradle. He gets about a minute of riding time before O'Neill escapes. 2-1. But Shannon with the quick snap-down and go-behind. Another takedown. DJ is looking really good right here. Yes, he's facing a backup, but a backup with 9 wins on the season. DJ on bottom to start second. Shannon does his flip over, but Rutgers follows. Still gets an escape. Riding time still at one minute for the ILLINI. Shannon tries a crazy inside trip, and gets close to trouble, but a late takedown gives Shannon the 7-1 lead with riding time going into the third Shannon again gets into trouble. gives up a takedown, 7-5 win for Shannon. Like Lucas Byrd, Shannon shushes the crowd. Maybe hold off on that after a win against a backup. Haha!  

ZAC BRAUNAGEL. 184. His opponent is John Poznanski, an AA last year. Zac looked like he had him dead to rights, but Poznanski scrambled for the takedown. Came down to the third period with the score at 3-2, and Poznanski scored the takedown for the win, then the ride out.  6-2 win for Rutgers. This was a situation where the wrestlers were pretty evenly matched, but Poznanski was a little stronger than expected, and he was smart enough to put himself in positions where his strength advantage would win out. ILLINI down 10-17 in team score. 

MATT WROBLEWSKI. 197. Wroblewski has the better chances in the first period. He even goes for a bull rush double-leg but doesn't get it. That's until Greg Bulsak dove at an ankle that was just sitting there and got the takedown. The Scarlet Knight rides with both legs in. Wrobocop needs to work on that. Bulsak with  the 2-0 and minute riding time lead going into the second. Matt has a massive brace on his knee. That's new to me. Bulsak escapes in second and gets another takedown. Wroblewski goes for the single, but Bulsak scrambles out for a takedown. Bulsak uses his bigger frame and strength advantage to beat on Wrobocop. 9-1 major for Rutgers. 21-10 bad guys. 

LUUUUKE LUFFMAN. 285. Boone McDermott is the opponent. The Scarlet Knight gets a takedown off a single. Kudos to the 235-pound mullet-wearing heavyweight from Rutgers. Luffman escapes and later in the first, grabs an ankle for the takedown and rides out to the end of the period. Rutgers on bottom in the second. Luke rides out the second period on top. Luuuke with the escape in the third for a 4-2 lead and riding time. Another takedown for Luke after a desperation shot from McDermott. 7-2 final. Rutgers wins 21-13. 

FINAL THOUGHTS.  I was not impressed at all with the seating arrangements for the ILLINI. There seemed to be Rutgers fans sitting right on top of them. Rutgers was pumped up for the match, and, overall, it seemed the ILLINI were too lethargic. Even in matches where the Orange and Blue had the advantage going in, such as at 165 and 174 and 285, it was the Scarlet Knight who went after  takedowns first. Covid and injuries have hurt the team from ILLINOIS, there's no doubt about that, but wrestlers still must press on with fighting spirit. In Sumo, after each basho, there is a special prize given to one of the wrestlers for fighting spirit. The ILLINI needed more of that, and they'll need much more of that against Iowa on Sunday.