The Big 12 champion at 184 lbs Parker Keckeisen (Photos courtesy of Mark Lundy; LutteLens.com)The NCAA tournament starts Thursday and here are five questions from the Big 12 conference that we'll get answered soon enough.
5. How good is Wyatt Hendrickson?
Wyatt Hendrickson has been excellent this season for Air Force. He went into the Big 12 tournament with an unblemished 19-0 record. He dominated the conference tournament and won the first-ever Big 12 title for Air Force along with the Most Outstanding Wrestler.
But he hasn't seen the top guys from the Big Ten yet. He received the five seed here, but if the seeds hold, he'll run into Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet in the quarters. Can he win that? Can he contend with some of these top guys from the Big Ten? Something to watch.
4. Can Keckeisen breakthrough?
Parker Keckeisen caught an interesting draw at the NCAA tournament. Aaron Brooks is a guy that's had his number, when no one else has. But by virtue of his win in the Big Ten finals, Myles Amine takes the #1 seed and should see Keckeisen in the semis.
It's obviously no easy task to beat an Olympic medalist, but my gut feeling is Keckeisen "can" do it. Will he? We'll find out soon enough.
3. Can Fix finally get one?
Daton Fix has two finals appearances, two overtime losses, and two second-place trophies from the NCAA tournament. He's been wrestling well and got a good draw with both Austin Desanto and Roman Bravo Young on the opposite side of the bracket.
All signs point to another RBY-Fix final. Can Fix avenge his loss from last season and get his first National Title this year?
2. Can anyone push David Carr?
David Carr has been untouchable this year. After dominating 157 last season, he's doing more of the same again and looks to be a heavy favorite going into this NCAA tournament. But there are a few undefeated wrestlers at this weight with Ryan Deakin and Jacori Teemer, and there are a few other talented wrestlers in the field beyond these three.
Can any of them find a way to challenge David Carr or is Carr destined for another NCAA title?
1. What can the Big 12 do at 197?
I'm a believer that there is one weight nationally that is better in a conference that's not the Big 10. And 197 in the Big 12 is that weight class. Even without NCAA champion AJ Ferrari. All American's Stephen Buchannan, Jake Woodley and Rocky Elam, along with Tanner Sloan, Yonger Bastida, Evan Bockman, Owen Pentz, and Alan Clothier, all enter the field this week with a chance to prove that.
Buchanan is the two seed with a real chance to win a National title and Woodley, Elam, Sloan, and Bastida all look like contenders for deep runs in the tournament as well. This will be a fun weight to follow if you're a Big 12 fan.
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