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    Jim Gibbons •

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    Laces Up: Jim Gibbons previews 133 pounds



    Big Ten Network and ESPN wrestling analyst Jim Gibbons knows wrestling. One of the best broadcasters in the business, Gibbons knows what it takes to win an NCAA championship both as an athlete and a coach. Who does Gibbons see as the favorite coming into this year's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis? Who does he think will have a breakout performance and exceed expectations as Mr. Upside? Gibbons will be previewing each of the 10 weight classes leading up to the NCAAs. Follow Jim on Twitter at @JGibLacesUp and let him know what you think if his previews and picks.

    The last three previews were definitely the toughest and that's why they were written in the order presented. The reason 133 pounds is last is I can see a path for nine guys to get to the finals. You have a lot of style matchups that are complicating my thought process as well. Adding to the complexity: some tough seeds for some really experienced and tough wrestlers. How about No. 9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro)? Last season he finished fourth. He was five seconds away from beating Tony Ramos and going to the finals. Then there is two-time All American Cody Brewer (Oklahoma). Last week he avenged his only loss of the season to 2014 125-pound All American Earl Hall (Iowa State). For doing so he got a handshake and the 13th seed. The No. 10 seed Mason Beckman (Lehigh) finished sixth in last year's tournament. Of course there is more to each these stories, but it made it tough to find the pick.

    Chris Dardanes (Photo/GopherSports.com)
    Finally I went to an old friend, William of Ockham (1287 - 1347), and borrowed his razor. You know Ockham's razor states that among competing hypothesis that predict equally well, choose the one with the fewest assumptions. All along Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) was there he wrestles hard, he has come from behind. He's undefeated and has a lot of quality wins. He's the pick. Dardanes has gotten better all year. He beat a very tough No. 2 Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin) in the Big Ten finals. This season Dardanes is down from 141 pounds where he did not place in 2014. I'm sure that was a big-time heartache because the Gophers, among other performances, were one Dardanes placing away from winning the team title. Following last season up with an NCAA belt is good medicine.

    Cody Brewer (Photo/SoonerSports.com)
    There are plenty of Mr. Upside candidates. No. 6 Earl Hall (Iowa State) has stepped up and has some nice wins and a Southern Scuffle championship. He is explosive and can catch anyone in the field. No. 7 Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State), who Hall defeated at the Scuffle, can definitely improve on his seed. No. 9 Schopp and No. 10 Beckman both have the ability to make a good run. Schopp vs. Dardanes quarterfinal could be exciting. However, I'm going with No. 13 Cody Brewer (Oklahoma). Catching the two-time All American at the 13th seed is a gift. By seeding the tournament out to 16 seeds the 13 and the 4 meet in the second round on Thursday night. 13 = 4.

    Pick: Chris Dardanes (Minnesota)

    Mr. Upside: Cody Brewer (Oklahoma)

    Previews:
    125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285
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