Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Still Proving Itself Each Week
1/21/2016 11:06:00 AM | Wrestling
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - There wasn't much buzz surrounding Indiana wrestling 40 days ago when the Hoosiers headed to Minnesota for their first Big Ten dual of the season.
There wasn't much reason for any, either. A youth-heavy Indiana team was still establishing itself in tournaments scattered across the country. The individual results up to that point were promising, but not necessarily telling of the future.
Then Indiana upset No. 20 Minnesota 19-18 in Minneapolis.
Then came two runaway non-conference wins at home, more consistent tournament showings, a loss to Penn State that featured Nate Jackson's upset win over the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and a dominant win against Maryland at home just last weekend. In the span of 40 days, the Hoosiers went from unranked to No. 21 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches poll heading into this weekend's matches against Michigan State and No. 8 Michigan.
A relatively unknown Indiana team has redirected some of the Big Ten's attention to Bloomington.
But as the Hoosiers are quick to point out, earning expectations is one thing—managing them is another.
"We're really taking each tournament, each practice to get us better toward our ultimate goal, which is national champions," freshman Elijah Oliver said. "We can't be satisfied until we're national champions, until we become number one."
Indiana's two Big Ten wins with six left to go already doubles the program's total conference win total dating back to the 2010-11 season. The Hoosiers, especially the younger wrestlers up and down the lineup, have regularly talked about wanting to be the group to turn the program around all season.
In the Big Ten, where 10 of the 14 teams are nationally ranked, that's often easier said than done. But the results have already come early, injecting confidence into wrestlers who don't know anything better than what they're trying to establish.
"It's kind of cool that we're finally starting to get a bunch of big wins and we're able to compete with these teams that maybe the old Indiana team wouldn't have been able to compete with," redshirt freshman Cole Weaver said. "It's cool to go out there knowing we can compete with these guys."
Indiana will head north to compete in the first of two conference doubleheader weekends with Michigan State scheduled for Friday before closing out the weekend Sunday against No. 8 Michigan.
The doubleheader could prove pivotal in determining Indiana's season-long success. A strong weekend could give the Hoosiers breathing room in the top-25 team rankings and go a long way toward assuring individual wrestlers bids into March's NCAA Tournament.
"We're pretty focused as a team, and I think we're ready for this first Big Ten doubleheader," Weaver said. "We've got high expectations as a team."
Though the internal expectations are high, Oliver said he understands why teams may still doubt Indiana. He admitted the Hoosiers' opening Big Ten win against Minnesota wouldn't have meant much if they hadn't backed it up immediately after and continued to build.
Oliver stressed the importance of staying hungry and humble in order to maintain momentum throughout the busy doubleheader weekend. He already has his plans for studying on Saturday's day off outlined so he can make the most out of his break between matches.
Because if the results go the Hoosiers' way, it may just be another sign of the breakthrough campaign the Hoosiers have been talking about all season long.
"I'm sure a lot of teams thought because we did beat Minnesota, maybe that was a fluke," Oliver said. "And that's why we're in here right now training and getting better, improving that one percent every time."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - There wasn't much buzz surrounding Indiana wrestling 40 days ago when the Hoosiers headed to Minnesota for their first Big Ten dual of the season.
There wasn't much reason for any, either. A youth-heavy Indiana team was still establishing itself in tournaments scattered across the country. The individual results up to that point were promising, but not necessarily telling of the future.
Then Indiana upset No. 20 Minnesota 19-18 in Minneapolis.
Then came two runaway non-conference wins at home, more consistent tournament showings, a loss to Penn State that featured Nate Jackson's upset win over the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and a dominant win against Maryland at home just last weekend. In the span of 40 days, the Hoosiers went from unranked to No. 21 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches poll heading into this weekend's matches against Michigan State and No. 8 Michigan.
A relatively unknown Indiana team has redirected some of the Big Ten's attention to Bloomington.
But as the Hoosiers are quick to point out, earning expectations is one thing—managing them is another.
"We're really taking each tournament, each practice to get us better toward our ultimate goal, which is national champions," freshman Elijah Oliver said. "We can't be satisfied until we're national champions, until we become number one."
Indiana's two Big Ten wins with six left to go already doubles the program's total conference win total dating back to the 2010-11 season. The Hoosiers, especially the younger wrestlers up and down the lineup, have regularly talked about wanting to be the group to turn the program around all season.
In the Big Ten, where 10 of the 14 teams are nationally ranked, that's often easier said than done. But the results have already come early, injecting confidence into wrestlers who don't know anything better than what they're trying to establish.
"It's kind of cool that we're finally starting to get a bunch of big wins and we're able to compete with these teams that maybe the old Indiana team wouldn't have been able to compete with," redshirt freshman Cole Weaver said. "It's cool to go out there knowing we can compete with these guys."
Indiana will head north to compete in the first of two conference doubleheader weekends with Michigan State scheduled for Friday before closing out the weekend Sunday against No. 8 Michigan.
The doubleheader could prove pivotal in determining Indiana's season-long success. A strong weekend could give the Hoosiers breathing room in the top-25 team rankings and go a long way toward assuring individual wrestlers bids into March's NCAA Tournament.
"We're pretty focused as a team, and I think we're ready for this first Big Ten doubleheader," Weaver said. "We've got high expectations as a team."
Though the internal expectations are high, Oliver said he understands why teams may still doubt Indiana. He admitted the Hoosiers' opening Big Ten win against Minnesota wouldn't have meant much if they hadn't backed it up immediately after and continued to build.
Oliver stressed the importance of staying hungry and humble in order to maintain momentum throughout the busy doubleheader weekend. He already has his plans for studying on Saturday's day off outlined so he can make the most out of his break between matches.
Because if the results go the Hoosiers' way, it may just be another sign of the breakthrough campaign the Hoosiers have been talking about all season long.
"I'm sure a lot of teams thought because we did beat Minnesota, maybe that was a fluke," Oliver said. "And that's why we're in here right now training and getting better, improving that one percent every time."
Players Mentioned
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FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
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FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
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FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
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