# 1 Oklahoma State (3-0) at #3 Minnesota (4-1)
All-Time Series: Oklahoma State leads 16-9.
Last Year: Minnesota 21-14; Minnesota 19-16
Last season, Oklahoma State came into a matchup with Minnesota in the finals of the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The end result was memorable as Cole Konrad's fall at heavyweight lifted the Gophers into the top position in the country with a 21-14 win. A short time later, this time in Oklahoma City, Minnesota again beat the Cowboys. While John Smith and company lead the series 16-9, coach J Robinson and his Gophers have had the upper hand in recent years, winning seven of the last ten meetings. With some starters still banged up for Minnesota and some questionmarks for OSU, this might not be on the same elite level as some duals have been in the past with only five matches having both wrestlers ranked .
This outcome could lead to a new #1 team in the nation next week.
125: #19 Tyler Shinn (Oklahoma State) vs. #9 Jayson Ness (Minnesota) |
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Both wrestlers at 125 pounds have had solid starts with their respective teams. Both are redshirt freshmen and both will be called upon by their teams down the stretch to give an added push for an NCAA title. Both are All-American contenders right now despite how loaded the weight is nationally. Jayson Ness has a championship at the Kaufman/Brand Open, where Shinn took fifth, falling to Northern Iowa's Kyle Anson and Nebraska's Paul Donohoe. Ness notched a major decision over Donahoe last month. It isn't one particular thing with Ness, he's just all-around a solid kid. Shinn didn't break against Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkel, getting into some scrambles, but not scoring any offensive points.
InterMat Pick: Ness by decision.
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133: #4 Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State) vs. Mike Thorn (Minnesota) |
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With the injury to Mack Reiter, Minnesota calls on true freshman Mike Thorn to fill the void at 133 pounds. Thorn, a capable wrestlers, will have more than his hands full with the punishing Scott. Last time out against a true frosh, Scott picked up a major decision. Thorn's main goal -- keep this one close, don't give up unnecessary bonus points. That's easier said than done as Scott's a monster on top. Thorn will also have to watch his back. Six points in a dual this close is huge. But that's quite obvious.
InterMat Pick: Scott by major decision.
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141: #3 Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State) vs. #5 Manuel Rivera (Minnesota) |
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A marquee matchup with California natives Nathan Morgan and Manuel Rivera. Both are ranked in the top five in the nation and Rivera's rise has been steady and workmanlike. Morgan, like Scott, has adjusted to the new weight class with little incident. The two were set to meet in the semifinals of the Kaufman/Brand last month, but since it was literally hours (ok, 48 hours) before the NWCA All-Star Classic, Morgan headed back to Stillwater to prepare for his match. Rivera ended up winning the tournament, beating Las Vegas finalist Dominick Moyer of Nebraska 6-4. Many matchups that go back to high school have a lot of history to them. Not sure what Morgan and Rivera's pre-college history is, but the two haven't met yet in college.
InterMat Pick: Morgan by decision.
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149: Ryan Freeman (Oklahoma State) vs. #1 Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota) |
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Ryan Freeman's mission is much the same as Mike Thorn -- no unnecessary bonus points. With returning NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter staring at him from across the circle, that probably won't happen. Schlatter has had zero resistance this season and he'll pick up big points for the Gophers.
InterMat Pick: Schlatter by technical fall
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157: Newly McSpadden (Oklahoma State) vs. Tyler Safratowich (Minnesota) |
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Tyler Safratowich could be starting for many of the nation's wrestling teams across all divisions, but he'll get the start at 157 with C.P. Schlatter out nursing an injury. McSpadden's a scrappy kid, much like Safratowich. This one could go either way, especially with the bout being in Minneapolis and Safratowich wrestling infront of the home crowd. Tough call either way.
InterMat Pick: McSpadden by decision.
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165: #1 Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) vs. Jeremy Larson (Minnesota) |
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Two-time NCAA champion Johny Hendricks picked up his 100th win on Sunday at Bedlam and he'll look to move past the century mark against Jeremy Larson. The Minnesota native Larson's been very capable at 165 this season, wrestling several close bouts with the nation's top-ranked wrestlers in the early going. If his goal is to slow down Hendricks, it might be possible. Hendricks is a profound favorite. Back-to-back wins by McSpadden and Hendricks could give the Cowboys some much-needed momentum heading into 174.
InterMat Pick: Hendricks by decision.
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174: #8 Brandon Mason (Oklahoma State) vs. #13 Gabe Dretsch (Minnesota)
InterMat Swing Match of the Dual |
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Since Gabe Dretsch beat Brandon Mason at the Kaufman/Brand, it's been a rocky road for the Minnesota senior. While he did pick up a win against Northern Colorado, Dretsch had a day to forget at the Journeymen/BRUTE Northeast Duals, losing to Alton Lucas of Hofstra, Matt Herrington of Penn, and Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan. Mason's been back and forth, beating Ken Cook of UC-Davis to start the year, but falling to Oklahoma's Josh Weitzel at Bedlam. It's a pivotal matchup for both individually. Who gets off the schnide? A Dretsch win will really give the Gophers a push heading into the three weights where they are favored.
InterMat Pick: Dretsch by decision.
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184: Jack Jensen (Oklahoma State) vs. #2 Roger Kish (Minnesota) |
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With Minnesota favored at the last three weights, somone needs to step up. Jack Jensen picked up a confidence-building victory over Josh Hinton of OU on Sunday, but Roger Kish isn't Josh Hinton, he's a returning NCAA runner-up. This match features two wrestlers who aren't from states where their colleges reside. Jensen from Wisconsin and Kish from Michigan. Jensen's role is the same as teammate Freeman, keep it close.
InterMat Pick: Kish by decision
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197: Jared Shelton (Oklahoma State) vs. Yura Malamura (Minnesota) |
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He's not an enigma anymore. Minnesota fans got their first glimpse of JUCO champ Yura Malamura at the Northeast Duals, and for two periods, they liked what they saw. After dropping a match to Hofstra's Chris Weidman which he led at one point 7-2, Malamura has some fans to swing back in his favor. A big victory over Oklahoma State will be the cure for the common pessimist. Jared Shelton's in the same role as teammates Jensen and Freeman and we can't stress that enough. Shelton held off Joel Flaggert's charges to keep it to just a decision. He'll have to do the same.
InterMat Pick: Malamura by major decision.
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285: #11 Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State) vs. #1 Cole Konrad (Minnesota) |
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The match might be decided by the time it gets to King Cole, but he's not 100 percent, still wrestling on a knee that's not at tip-top shape. Jared Rosholt might have to bring some of the magic of Steve Mocco (pre-2006) to pull the upset. Konrad should win an otherwise push-pull-push match.
InterMat Pick: Konrad by decision.
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InterMat Projected Final Score
Minnesota 21, Oklahoma State 13 |
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