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Gopher basketball - We have a lot of bodies at forward

I will start by putting my 'NERDY MATH MIND HAT' on....There are 6 players listed as forwards though it probably will be 5 if Lynch is not allowed to play because Gaston will have to swing to center for depth.

6 forwards: Murphy, Curry, Gaston, Fitzgerald, Hurt, and Gilbert.. Sharp is more of a SG because of size, IMO.

So with PERMUTATIONS in math(6 players but 2 at at time) then there are 30 possible combinations... In reality, it will be Murphy and someone else. Murphy is a stud.. Love that he has good footwork(he is in balance and squared to the basket when shooting and rebounding. Also squared to the man he is defending for the most part). Murphy has a huge upside, IMO. I think he has a ton of room to expand his game. Never more have I wished a Gopher would grow 2-3 inches than in Murphy's case. If he had those 2-3 extra inches, with the length that accompanies that, I think he could transition into an elite player.. Definitely a guy I look to assume some team leadership.

The person who starts with Jordan Murphy, I AM GUESSING, is completely up in the air.. I am really interested to see how much Gilbert and Fitzgerald will have worked on their games over this summer. What Hurt's contribution is early along with Curry... IMO, WE HAVE TO GET GUYS THAT CAN ADD FIREPOWER TO OUR OFFENSE, either by scoring themselves or facilitating scoring from others. I am not sure we can have any more role players that don't score well. We have to get offense somewhere though I am aware Springs is aboard plus Coffey will add to the totals as well... Not saying we have to have a 15-20 point a game scorer but Murphy's partner in the front court better be able to be a viable scoring threat. We wont get a lot of points from the center position and Mason cant handle the load of doing everything. A lot of pressure could be taken off the team if we can get scoring from our 2 forward positions. There is always room for the 'workers' and the 'facilitators' but I believe we need a guy that can put the ball in the basket with consistency.. That is what we need on offense to get to the NCAAs.. I know defense factors in as well as rebounding but that scoring becomes important as the success on one end of the court fuels energy on the other end, as well. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

RIP Ali

Rest in peace Champ. There are great athletes and great entertainers, but not often are great athletes also great entertainers. I miss the big boxing bouts that have been replaced by the MMA. I would rather see 2 guys slug the crap out of each other, than 2 guys kick like women. If you are too young to know Ali, watch the YouTube of the Rumble in the Jungle. That is one of the greatest fights ever IMO

Gopher Wrestling Sends 10 to University Nationals

While the JRob/Xanax saga continues...Gopher Wrestling is back in action on the mat this weekend at the University Nationals Freestyle tournament in Akron, OH!! This event allows current college wrestlers to compete in Freestyle.

I started speculating that maybe those wrestlers who are participating in this event might not be among the Gopher Wrestlers that dealt or used Xanax. But, then I dismissed this line of thinking as inappropriate. I don't think it's right to start speculating who was doing what until we have clear information that names the wrestlers who were involved. So, on to the action!!!

As much of the wrestling has already taken place today, I will post the results, thus far, after this article:


Gophers Send 10 to University Nationals

A group of 10 Minnesota wrestlers will compete in freestyle at the national summer tournament for collegiate student-athletes

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Gophersports.com
June 2, 2016

A collection of 10 Gophers are heading east to Akron, Ohio this weekend to compete at University Nationals. All 10 will wrestle freestyle, which begins with preliminaries on Saturday and concludes with championship matches on Sunday.

Two weight classes will be particularly heavy with Minnesota wrestlers. At 70 kilograms, NCAA qualifier Jake Short will be joined by teammates Carson Brolsma and James Berg. Up at 86 kilograms, four Gophers will try to navigate the field: Chris Pfarr, Bobby Steveson, Faris Karaborni and Dalton Lunde. The remaining Gophers – Skyler Petry, Tijani Karaborni and two-time All-American Michael Kroells – won’t see any teammates in their brackets at 57, 80 and 125 kilograms, respectively.

University Nationals will be the first major competition of the summer for many of the Minnesota grapplers competing this weekend. Among those who have seen freestyle action elsewhere this year, Steveson has experienced the most success, with a run to the championship match of the challenge bracket at the recent U.S. World Team Trials.

Petry is the only Gopher returning to University Nationals. In last year’s event, Petry placed eighth wrestling at 57kg, the weight at which he’ll wrestle this weekend. In reaching the podium, Petry won his first three matches by tech fall, outscoring his opponents 33-2, before falling in the quarterfinals. In total, Petry racked up four tech falls on the day.

The event is unique in that its restricted to athletes currently taking college classes and progressing toward a degree. Those who don’t met this requirement are not eligible to compete.

Saturday’s action will start at 8 a.m. Central at the University of Akron’s Stile Athletics Field House, with the opening prelim session running until approximately 1 p.m. The second preliminary session will start at 2 p.m. and conclude that evening. The final rounds of the freestyle competition will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Wrestling recruiting targets win Cadet National Championships

Gopher Wrestling recruiting targets rising Juniors (2018/19) #1 ranked Gable Steveson (Apple Valley) and #13 Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside, AZ) both won UWW Cadet National Championships today in Akron, Ohio. Steveson, the younger brother of Redshirt Freshman Bobby Steveson, and Bravo-Young are very close friends and most people think they are leaning towards committing to Minnesota. Bravo-Young was also named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler (OW)!!

This Cadet National team will be wrestling at the World Cadet tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia Sept. 13-18.

Rising Junior Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville) took 5th place and #34 ranked rising senior Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville) took 4th.

If we can hurry up and get this Xanax scandal resolved, we can get back to some important recruiting work. A recruiting class of Steveson, Bravo-Young, Patrick McKee and Alex Lloyd (Shakopee) would be the #1 rated class of 2018/19. And...this is very do-able!!!


World champs Diaokomihalis and Steveson repeat, Bravo-Young breaks through at UWW Cadet Freestyle Nationals

By Richard Immel, USA Wrestling | June 05, 2016, 4:35 p.m. (ET)
RomanBravoYoungAkron400x250.jpg

Roman Bravo-Young (Arizona) in the freestyle finals of the 2016
UWW Cadet Nationals in Akron, Ohio. Photo: Sam Janicki.


AKRON, Ohio – Arizona sensation Roman Bravo-Young capped off a stellar performance at the 2016 UWW Cadet Nationals with two decisive wins over 2015 Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion Jordan Decatur in the 54 kg/119 lbs. championship series on Sunday.

After several close attempts, Bravo-Young, a two-time Arizona high school state champion, secured a berth on his first U.S. Cadet World Team. He opened the finals with a 13-2 technical fall of Decatur and iced the series with an 8-2 win over the Ohio standout.

“Just using my counter defense. I knew he was going to get to my legs a lot. He’s quick. I just had to use my counter offense. I knew if I got on top I could turn him too,” said Bravo-Young.


Bravo-Young has won four Cadet National championships in Fargo, N.D. the past two seasons, two in Greco-Roman and two in freestyle. In addition, he snagged a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals crown in March. He was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

“I’ve been training for it,” he continued. “I lost this past year and it’s a horrible feeling. I just really wanted it bad this year. This means everything. Better than Fargo. I can’t wait to represent the USA.”


Champions in every weight class except 125 kg/275.5 lbs. qualified for the U.S. Cadet Men’s Freestyle World Team that will compete at the Cadet World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sept. 13-18.

A pair of reigning Cadet World champions claimed the top spot in Akron and secured a return trip to the Cadet Worlds.

Four-time New York high school state champion Yianni Diakomihalis downed two-time Cadet Freestyle Nationals All-American Jamie Hernandez by scores of 9-0 and 10-0 in the best-of-three championship series at 63 kg/138 lbs.

Diakomihalis booked his second-straight trip to the Cadet World Championships with seven wins, five of which came by technical fall. The defending Cadet World champion outscored his opponents by a combined 69-0 tally this weekend.

“I really worked on getting more physical and more tricky, not just shooting straight shots, because guys are going to know what I do now. I didn’t tech everybody, so clearly there’s things I need to work on. When I get to the World’s any mistake will be taken advantage of, so when I get there I want to be perfect,” said Diakomihalis.

Also boasting the title of Cadet World champion, Gable Steveson will have the opportunity to return to the international pinnacle.

The two-time Minnesota high school state champion was tested in his 100 kg/220 lbs. championship series against two-time Cadet Nationals All-American Noah Adams of West Virginia. Steveson was unable to get his traditional offense going on Adams in match one, but he was able to squeak out a 2-1 decision. Round two was all Steveson as he dominated to the tune of an 11-0 technical fall.

“I didn’t wrestle well. The second match I came out more ready. Just keep getting better and working with good guys, my brother. He pushes me to be a better guy, just like in the second match. World champ 2016,” said Steveson.


Three-time New York high school state champion Vitali Arujau triumphed over Sammy Sasso in a battle of 2015 Cadet Freestyle Nationals champions at 58 kg/127 lbs. Arujau controlled both matches, 6-3 and 8-3.

Both Diakomihalis and Arujau are committed to wrestle at the next level in their home state of New York at Cornell University.

Returning Cadet World Team member Dylan D’Emilio did not fare as well in his repeat bid as did his 2015 World Championship teammates. D’Emilio, a 2015 Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion, was stifled by Minnesota’s Aaron Cashman in the championship series at 50 kg/110 lbs., 4-2 and 1-0.

Illinois high school state champion Jacob Warner became the only wrestler to qualify for the Cadet World Team in both international styles by topping Pennsylvania’s Michael Beard, 12-4 and 11-3, in the 85 kg/187 lbs. finals. Warner was the Outstanding Wrestler in Friday’s Greco-Roman competition.

Other wrestlers earning a coveted stop sign and securing U.S. Cadet World Team berths were Kurt McHenry (42 kg/92.5 lbs.), Malik Heinselman (46 kg/101 lbs.), David Carr (69 kg/152 lbs.) and Travis Wittlake (76 kg/167.5 lbs.).

Tony Cassioppi backed up his Greco-Roman victory from two days ago with another dominant win in Akron, this time in freestyle. He defeated Kayne Hutchison of Kansas, 12-2, in the 125 kg/275.5 lbs. finals.

Wrestlers eligible to compete in the UWW Cadet age group were born from 1999 to 2001.

For complete brackets and results from the UWW Cadet and University Nationals visit Trackwrestling.com.

ASICS Men’s Freestyle UWW Cadet Nationals
June 4-5 in Akron, Ohio


Best-of-Three Championship Finals Results:

42 kg/92.5 lbs.
Kurt McHenry (Virginia) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno (Missouri), 10-0
Jeremiah Reno (Missouri) dec. Kurt McHenry (Virginia), 13-5
Kurt McHenry (Virginia) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno (Missouri), 12-0
McHenry wins series 2-1

46 kg/101 lbs.
Malik Heinselman (Colorado) tech. fall Eric Faught (Iowa), 14-3
Malik Heinselman (Colorado) tech. fall Eric Faught (Iowa), 10-0
Heinselman wins series 2-0

50 kg/110 lbs.
Aaron Cashman (Minnesota - Mound/Westonka) dec. Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio), 4-2
Aaron Cashman (Minnesota) dec. Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio), 1-0
Cashman wins series 2-0

54 kg/119 lbs.
Roman Bravo-Young (Arizona) tech. fall Jordan Decatur (Ohio), 13-2
Roman Bravo-Young (Arizona) dec. Jordan Decatur (Ohio), 8-2
Bravo-Young wins series 2-0


58 kg/127 lbs.
Vitali Arujau (New York) dec. Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania), 6-3
Vitali Arujau (New York) dec. Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania), 8-3
Arujau wins series 2-0

63 kg/138 lbs.
Yianni Diakomihalis (New York) dec. Jamie Hernandez (Illinois), 9-0
Yianni Diakomihalis (New York) tech. fall Jamie Hernandez (Illinois), 10-0
Diakomihalis wins series 2-0

69 kg/152 lbs.
David Carr (Ohio) dec. Joe Lee (Indiana), 9-5
David Carr (Ohio) dec. Joe Lee (Indiana), 4-1
Carr wins series 2-0

76 kg/167.5 lbs.
Travis Wittlake (Oregon) dec. Jack Jessen (Illinois), 6-2
Travis Wittlake (Oregon) tech. fall Jack Jessen (Illinois), 14-3
Wittlake wins series 2-0

85 kg/187 lbs.
Jacob Warner (Illinois) dec. Michael Beard (Pennsylvania), 12-4
Jacob Warner (Illinois) dec. Michael Beard (Pennsylvania), 11-3
Warner wins series 2-0

100 kg/220 lbs.
Gable Steveson (Minnesota) dec. Noah Adams (West Virginia), 2-1
Gable Steveson (Minnesota) tech. fall Noah Adams (West Virginia), 11-0
Steveson wins series 2-0


125 kg/275.5 lbs. *Non-World Team weight, one match wrestled
Tony Cassioppi (Illinois) tech. fall Kayne Hutchison (Kansas), 12-2


Placement Matches:
42 kg/92.5 lbs.
3rd – Justin Bierdumpfel (New Jersey) dec. Dylan Ragusin (Illinois), 11-9
5th – Andrew Chambal (Michigan) dec. Caden McCrary (Georgia), 4-4
7th – Kase Mauger (Idaho) fall Blake Noonan (Michigan), 0:54

46 kg/101 lbs.
3rd – Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) dec. Lucas Byrd (Ohio), 8-6
5th – Ridge Lovett (Idaho) inj. def. Steele Dias (Nevada)
7th – Matthew Ramos (Illinois) dec. Sammy Alvarez (New Jersey), 12-6

50 kg/110 lbs.
3rd – Matthew Cardello (Ohio) dec. Colton Yapoujian (Colorado), 2-1
5th – Patrick McKee (Minnesota) dec. Joey Melendez (Illinois), 11-4
7th – Jesse Vasquez (California) dec. Ty Smith (Nevada), 10-6

54 kg/119 lbs.
3rd – Nick Raimo (New Jersey) dec. Real Woods (New Mexico), 8-5
5th – Jack Skudlarczyk (Texas) inj. def. Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois)
7th – Chase Zollmann (California) dec. Andrew Alirez (Colorado), 5-3

58 kg/127 lbs.
3rd – Max Murin (Pennsylvania) dec. Kyran Hagan (Missouri), 4-1
5th – Theorius Robison (Colorado) inj. def. Marco Regalbuto (Ohio)
7th – Keaton Geerts (Iowa) dec. Beau Bartlett (Pennsylvania), 11-5

63 kg/138 lbs.
3rd – Brayton Lee (Indiana) dec. Jaden Van Maanen (Wisconsin), 9-2
5th – Will Lewan (Illinois) tech. fall Jason Renteria (Illinois), 10-0
7th – Nikolas Chavez (Missouri) inj. def. Alec Hagan (Missouri)

69 kg/152 lbs.
3rd – Julian Ramirez (New Jersey) tech. fall Frankie Gissendanner (New York), 15-4
5th – Andrew Merola (New Jersey) tech. fall Trevell Timmons (Illinois), 10-0
7th – Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) tech. fall Robert Patrick (Pennsylvania), 12-2

76 kg/167.5 lbs.
3rd – Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) dec. Jake Allar (Minnesota), 14-5
5th – Clay Lautt (Kansas) tech. fall Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania), 11-0
7th – Daniel Butler (Kansas) dec. Joshua Ramirez (Louisiana), 9-3

85 kg/187 lbs.
3rd – Jacob Raschka (Wisconsin) tech. fall Anthony Perrine (Ohio), 10-0
5th – Jake Boyd (Missouri) dec. Andrew Davison (Indiana), 6-3
7th – Jared Krattiger (Wisconsin) dec. John Borst (Virginia), 7-0

100 kg/220 lbs.
3rd – Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) dec. Brady Daniel (Maryland), 11-9
5th – Luke Luffman (Illinois) inj. def. Henry Willoughby (Texas)
7th – Jake Cook (New York) inj. def. Dakota Howard (Ohio)

125 kg/275.5 lbs.
3rd – Jon Spaulding (Ohio) dec. Brendan Furman (Pennsylvania), 7-0
5th – Ronald Tucker (Illinois) fall Keaton Kluever (Wisconsin), 2:27
7th – Matt Spaulding (Ohio) dec. Jack Carruth (Wisconsin), 3-1


Semifinals:

42kg: Kurt McHenry (VA) tf. Dylan Ragusin (IL), 12-1
42kg: Jeremiah Reno (MO) tf. Andrew Chambal (MI), 11-1

46kg: Malik Heinselman (CO) tf. Ridge Lovett (ID), 10-0
46kg: Eric Faught (IA) dec. Steele Dias (NV), 6-2

50kg: Dylan D'Emilio (OH) dec. Patrick McKee (MN), 11-2
50kg: Aaron Cashman (MN) dec. Matthew Cardello (OH), 2-1

54kg: Jordan Decatur (OH) dec. Real Woods (NM), 12-7
54kg: Roman Bravo-Young (AZ) tf. Nick Raimo (NJ), 11-0

58kg: Sammy Sasso (PA) tf. Kyran Hagan (MO), 12-2
58kg: Vitali Arujau (NY) tf. Max Murin (PA), 10-0

63kg: Yianni Diakomihalis (NY) dec. Will Lewan (IL), 9-0
63kg: Jaime Hernandez (IL) ff. Jason Renteria (IL)

69kg: Joe Lee (IN) dec. Andrew Merola (NJ), 9-7
69kg: David Carr (OH) tf. Tervell Timmons (IL), 16-5

76kg: Jack Jessen (IL) p. Jake Allar (MN), :46
76kg: Travis Wittlake (OR) dec. Trent Hidlay (PA), 7-3

85kg: Jacob Warner (IL) tf. Andrew Davidson (IN), 10-0
85kg: Michael Beard (PA) p. Jacob Raschka (WI), 1:13

100kg: Gable Steveson (MN) dec. Cohlton Schultz (CO), 7-1
100kg: Noah Adams (WV) dec. Brady Daniel (MD), 8-2

125kg: Tony Cassioppi (IL) p. Ronald Tucker (IL), :44
125kg: Kayne Hutchison (KS) tf. Brendan Furman (PA), 10-0


Quarterfinals:

42kg: Kurt McHenry (VA) tf. Justin Bierdumpfel (NJ), 11-0
42kg: Dylan Ragusin (IL) tf. Kase Mauger (ID), 12-0
42kg: Andrew Chambal (MI) dec. Paxton Creese (MN), 6-3
42kg: Jeremiah Reno (MO) tf. Caden McCrary (ID), 12-2

46kg: Malik Heinselman (CO) tf. Sammy Alvarez (NJ), 10-0
46kg: Ridge Lovett (ID) dec. Lucas Byrd (OH), 9-7
46kg: Steele Dias (NV) dec. Camden Russell (NE), 7-4
46kg: Eric Faught (IA) dec. Oscar Sanchez (OH), 8-2

50kg: Dylan D'Emilio (OH) tf. Kyle Biscoglia (IA), 14-4
50kg: Patrick McKee (MN) tf. Ty Smith (NV), 14-4
50kg: Matthew Cardello (OH) tf. Rayvon Foley (MI), 12-1
50kg: Aaron Cashman (MN) dec. Colton Yapoujuan (CO), 2-1

54kg: Jordan Decatur (OH) tf. Travis Ford-Melton (FL), 13-1
54kg: Real Woods (NM) p. Chase Zollman (CA), :49
54kg: Nick Raimo (NJ) dec. Andrew Alirez (CO), 9-3
54kg: Roman Bravo-Young (AZ) tf. Josh Saunders (MO), 11-0

58kg: Sammy Sasso (PA) tf. Jack Karstetter (OK), 12-2
58kg: Kyran Hagan (MO) dec. Alex Thomsen (IA), 5-4
58kg: Max Murin (PA) dec. Peyton Robb (MN), 4-0
58kg: Vitali Arujau (NY) tf. Beau Bartlett (PA), 11-0

63kg: Yianni Diakomihalis (NY) tf. Nikolas Chavez (MO), 11-0
63kg: Will Lewan (IL) dec. Jaden Van Maanen (WI), 6-2
63kg: Jason Renteria (IL) dec. Rodrick Mosley (OK), 9-0
63kg: Jaime Hernandez (IL) dec. Brayton Lee (IN), 6-1

69kg: Joe Lee (IN) dec. Frankie Gissendanner (NY), 10-3
69kg: Andrew Merola (NJ) dec. Tyler Dow (WI), 12-4
69kg: David Carr (OH) tf. Danny Braunagel (IL), 11-0
69kg: Tervell Timmons (IL) tf. Robert Patrick (PA), 10-0

76kg: Jake Allar (MN) inj. Cameron Caffey (IL)
76kg: Jack Jessen (IL) p. Clay Lault (KS), 1:54
76kg: Travis Wittlake (OR) dec. Marcus Coleman (IA), 6-4
76kg: Trent Hidlay (PA) tf. Shane Sosinsky (NJ), 10-0

85kg: Andrew Davidson (IN) tf. Jake Boyd (MO), 15-5
85kg: Jacob Warner (IL) dec. Brandon Whitman (MI), 10-2
85kg: Jacob Raschka (WI) tf. John Borst (VA), 14-4
85kg: Michael Beard (PA) tf. Danny Salas (CA), 10-0

100kg: Gable Steveson (MN) tf. Luke Luffman (IL), 10-0
100kg: Cohlton Schultz (CO) tf. Dakota Howard (OH), 10-0
100kg: Brady Daniel (MD) p. James Barte (OH), :43
100kg: Noah Adams (WV) p. Henry Willoughby (TX), 1:49
125kg: Ronald Tucker (IL) dec. Keaton Clever (WI), 4-0
125kg: Tony Cassioppi (IL) tf. Matt Spaulding (OH), 10-0
125kg: Kayne Hutchison (KS) p. Jack Carruth (WI), :53
125kg: Brendan Furman (PA) dec. Jon Spaulding (OH), 3-1
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Nice day at Spicer

Enjoyed the Gopher road trip tour yesterday. I thought Tracy Claeys did a good job of speaking, showing a good sense of humor I hadn't seen before. He readily took the blame for the end of the Mich game when asked about it.. Adamantly said this will be the best Gopher team since he's been here. I suppose one would expect him to say that, but I believe he is right. All the coaches that spoke did well, Mike Grimm did a good job as host. Mark Coyle was upbeat and, I think, is ready for the mess he has to clean up. They really accentuated the positives and there are many that we need to remember along with the negatives.

Claeys with Sid and Dave

Recruited Amoako out of high school, Houston Baptist similar defensive scheme as us, he buys us time in developing young kids, big physical kid, help at safety, fills a need, one year.

Starting Monday, current kids allowed 8 hours a week to work with strength and conditioning staff...2 of those hours allowed with position coaches.

300 kids on campus today...coaches at satellite camps about every day now.

Ryan thinks punting is his best thing...he will get opportunity to play in NFL...
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