Post by Earl on Mar 26, 2015 21:38:49 GMT -5
A couple weeks ago a new, but excellent poster on this message board named "GoStanford" had a post about the Top Wrestlers of this decade. He stated that Tyler Caldwell was the "Best Wrestler Not to Win an NCAA Title" from 2010 on. I agreed with him. Now that we have another season in the books, I thought that it may be appropriate to re-examine this statement. Early this week, one of our favorite posters "JohnnyThompson#1" started a thread on TheMat.com about how Mike McMullan could be take this title. It's a title that nobody really wants to have, but it is said with the most respect possible, at least from me.
Below is a breakdown of Mike McMullan's entire career. I have done the same breakdown for many other wrestlers that people consider to be the "Best Never to Win an NCAA Title" for my top secret project that I have been working on for the past few months.
What makes Mike McMullan's career unique from his peers?
I might be willing to say that Mike McMullan is the best heavyweight to not win an NCAA Championship in the last 16 years (since 2000). Prior to McMullan, I thought that Ryan Flores of Columbia/American took that title. Maybe Greg Wagner of Michigan would be second. Heavyweight is unique to the rest of the weight classes in this time period (2000-2015) because generally the great ones all have titles. From Brock Lesnar, to Tommy Rowlands, Steve Mocco and Cole Konrad there were some excellent heavys competing in the first 8 years of the 2000's. Some of these guys beat each other, but they all have at least one title. Ryan Flores may have been better at his peak; the 2012 NCAA Championships pre-concussion against Zach Rey, but Mike McMullan was very consistent over the course of his career. Flores was not at the same level when at Columbia as a Freshman and Sophomore.
He also may have been the best "pure wrestler" of any heavyweight of his time, with a good array of leg attacks and the ability to scramble. McMullan moved like a 184lber, was fun to watch, and rarely got involved in 2-1 hugfests.
The Basic Facts
These are the easiest numbers to find and they are the most basic upon which to judge a career.
102-23 Career Record
Senior Year: 31-3---3rd in NCAA; 1st in Big Ten (2nd Seed)
Junior Year: 20-5---3rd in NCAA; 5th in Big Ten (6th Seed)
Sophomore Year: 22-4--2nd in NCAA; 2nd in Big Ten (5th Seed)
Freshman Year: 29-11--3rd in NCAA; 4th in Big Ten (10th Seed)
Career Losses
One of the most important things to look at is who he lost to, at which events, and how did those wrestlers end up. The placement next to their name is what the did at NCAA's in that season only.
Senior Year:
Adam Coon (Michigan)--NCAA Semi's 3-1SV; NCAA Runner-Up
Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)--Dual 7-6; NCAA 4th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Midlands Finals 4-2; NCAA 5th Place
Junior Year:
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Dual 9-4; NCAA 6th Place
Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State)--5-3SV; NCAA Champ
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Big Ten Semi 3-2; NCAA 6th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Big Ten Consi 3-1; NCAA 4th Place
Austin Marsden (Oklahoma State)--NCAA 2nd Round 3-2; NCAA 8th Place
Sophomore Year:
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Keystone Classic Final 5-3; NCAA Qualifier
Zac Thomusseit (Pittsburgh)--Midlands Semi's Injury Default; NCAA 5th Place
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Big Ten Final 4-1; NCAA Champ
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--NCAA Final 6-2; NCAA Champ
Freshman Year:
Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)--Michigan State Open 3-1; NCAA 7th Place
Ernest James (Edinboro)--Michigan State Open 9-5; NCAA Qualifier
Kevin Innis (Boston)--Keystone Classic Final 3-1; NCAA Qualifier
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Midlands Semi's 4-2SV; NCAA 5th Place
Matt Gibson (Iowa State)--Midlands 3rd Place 9-4; NCAA Qualifier
Ben Apland (Michigan)--Dual 6-4; NCAA Qualifier
Cameron Wade (Penn State)--Dual 6-3; NCAA Qualifier
Roger Vukbratovich (Purdue)--Dual 3-1; Non-Qualifier
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Big Ten Semi 4-3; NCAA Champ
Cameron Wade (Penn State)--Big Ten 3rd Place 4-3; NCAA Qualifier
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--NCAA Quarter's 5:40; NCAA Champ
What do we learn from his losses?
11 of his 23 losses (48%) came in his Freshman year competing in the Big Ten. Very excusable.
3 of those 11 losses came in the first month of his Freshman season.
After his Freshman season only 2 losses came in dual meets.
6 of his 23 losses (23%) came to wrestlers who were eventually in the NCAA Finals that season.
7 of his 23 losses (30%) came to Tony Nelson and Bobby Telford. Telford never placed higher than McMullan at NCAA's.
1 loss at the Midlands came as a result of injury default.
Only one loss came via fall and that was as a Freshman to the eventual NCAA Champ.
Twice he was defeated at the NCAA Championships by the eventual champion.
Regular Season Tournament Placement
Freshman: Keystone Classic Runner-Up; Midlands 4th Place
Sophomore: Keystone Classic Runner-Up; Midlands 6th Place (Injury Default)
Junior:
Senior: Midlands Runner-Up
Notable Wins:
Here are the wrestlers who he defeated that placed top 5 or higher that season at NCAA's. There is always a little bit of room for error with this because he could have had a big win over a ranked wrestler that had a bad NCAA Tournament therefore was not top 5, but the win looked good at the time.
Senior Year:
Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State)--All-Star Classic 8-4; NCAA Champ (This is not an official match. It was wrestled using experimental rules. That being said Gwiazdowski finished this year undefeated and any win under any circumstances should deserve some credit.
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA 5th Place
Adam Coon (Michigan)--Big Ten Semi 7-6; NCAA Runner-Up
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Big Ten Final 4-3; NCAA 5th Place
Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)--NCAA 3rd Place 3-2; NCAA 4th Place
Junior Year:
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA Runner-Up
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA 4th Place
Mike McClure (Michigan State)--Big Ten Quarters 5-1; NCAA 5th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--NCAA 3rd Place 3-1; NCAA 4th Place
Sophomore Year:
Dom Bradley (Missouri)--NCAA Semi 3-1SV; NCAA 4th Place
Freshman Year:
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 7-5SV; NCAA 5th Place
Clayton Jack (Oregon State)--NCAA 3rd Place 10-5; NCAA 4th Place
What we learned from his wins?
Though Bobby Telford accounted for three of his career losses, McMullan did have a 5-3 overall advantage in their rivalry.
He twice beat the eventual NCAA Runner-Up in that season. In his Junior Year against Tony Nelson, Nelson came in as the 2x defending Champion.
The unofficial match against Gwiazdowski may be Nick's last collegiate loss even if his has an asterisk next to it.
He held the number one ranking at his weight class for parts of his Junior and Senior seasons.
The Big Ten Championship as a Senior was his only collegiate title.
Dominance Factor:
This will have to be graded on a curve as everyone knows that 285lber's don't put up the points that their smaller teammates do, so these may not look as impressive.
Senior Year: 5 Falls; 1 Tech Fall; 8 Major's
Junior Year: 2 Falls; 1 Tech Fall; 1 Major
Sophomore Year: 1 Fall; 2 Tech Falls; 2 Major's
Freshman Year: 6 Falls; 2 Tech Falls; 1 Major
Summation:
I stand by my hypothesis that McMullan is the best heavyweight of the 2000's not to win an NCAA Title, however I would still put him behind Tyler Caldwell when measuring the best wrestler from 2010 on without a title, Caldwell's breakdown like this had some impressive points.
Below is a breakdown of Mike McMullan's entire career. I have done the same breakdown for many other wrestlers that people consider to be the "Best Never to Win an NCAA Title" for my top secret project that I have been working on for the past few months.
What makes Mike McMullan's career unique from his peers?
I might be willing to say that Mike McMullan is the best heavyweight to not win an NCAA Championship in the last 16 years (since 2000). Prior to McMullan, I thought that Ryan Flores of Columbia/American took that title. Maybe Greg Wagner of Michigan would be second. Heavyweight is unique to the rest of the weight classes in this time period (2000-2015) because generally the great ones all have titles. From Brock Lesnar, to Tommy Rowlands, Steve Mocco and Cole Konrad there were some excellent heavys competing in the first 8 years of the 2000's. Some of these guys beat each other, but they all have at least one title. Ryan Flores may have been better at his peak; the 2012 NCAA Championships pre-concussion against Zach Rey, but Mike McMullan was very consistent over the course of his career. Flores was not at the same level when at Columbia as a Freshman and Sophomore.
He also may have been the best "pure wrestler" of any heavyweight of his time, with a good array of leg attacks and the ability to scramble. McMullan moved like a 184lber, was fun to watch, and rarely got involved in 2-1 hugfests.
The Basic Facts
These are the easiest numbers to find and they are the most basic upon which to judge a career.
102-23 Career Record
Senior Year: 31-3---3rd in NCAA; 1st in Big Ten (2nd Seed)
Junior Year: 20-5---3rd in NCAA; 5th in Big Ten (6th Seed)
Sophomore Year: 22-4--2nd in NCAA; 2nd in Big Ten (5th Seed)
Freshman Year: 29-11--3rd in NCAA; 4th in Big Ten (10th Seed)
Career Losses
One of the most important things to look at is who he lost to, at which events, and how did those wrestlers end up. The placement next to their name is what the did at NCAA's in that season only.
Senior Year:
Adam Coon (Michigan)--NCAA Semi's 3-1SV; NCAA Runner-Up
Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)--Dual 7-6; NCAA 4th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Midlands Finals 4-2; NCAA 5th Place
Junior Year:
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Dual 9-4; NCAA 6th Place
Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State)--5-3SV; NCAA Champ
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Big Ten Semi 3-2; NCAA 6th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Big Ten Consi 3-1; NCAA 4th Place
Austin Marsden (Oklahoma State)--NCAA 2nd Round 3-2; NCAA 8th Place
Sophomore Year:
Adam Chalfant (Indiana)--Keystone Classic Final 5-3; NCAA Qualifier
Zac Thomusseit (Pittsburgh)--Midlands Semi's Injury Default; NCAA 5th Place
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Big Ten Final 4-1; NCAA Champ
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--NCAA Final 6-2; NCAA Champ
Freshman Year:
Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)--Michigan State Open 3-1; NCAA 7th Place
Ernest James (Edinboro)--Michigan State Open 9-5; NCAA Qualifier
Kevin Innis (Boston)--Keystone Classic Final 3-1; NCAA Qualifier
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Midlands Semi's 4-2SV; NCAA 5th Place
Matt Gibson (Iowa State)--Midlands 3rd Place 9-4; NCAA Qualifier
Ben Apland (Michigan)--Dual 6-4; NCAA Qualifier
Cameron Wade (Penn State)--Dual 6-3; NCAA Qualifier
Roger Vukbratovich (Purdue)--Dual 3-1; Non-Qualifier
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Big Ten Semi 4-3; NCAA Champ
Cameron Wade (Penn State)--Big Ten 3rd Place 4-3; NCAA Qualifier
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--NCAA Quarter's 5:40; NCAA Champ
What do we learn from his losses?
11 of his 23 losses (48%) came in his Freshman year competing in the Big Ten. Very excusable.
3 of those 11 losses came in the first month of his Freshman season.
After his Freshman season only 2 losses came in dual meets.
6 of his 23 losses (23%) came to wrestlers who were eventually in the NCAA Finals that season.
7 of his 23 losses (30%) came to Tony Nelson and Bobby Telford. Telford never placed higher than McMullan at NCAA's.
1 loss at the Midlands came as a result of injury default.
Only one loss came via fall and that was as a Freshman to the eventual NCAA Champ.
Twice he was defeated at the NCAA Championships by the eventual champion.
Regular Season Tournament Placement
Freshman: Keystone Classic Runner-Up; Midlands 4th Place
Sophomore: Keystone Classic Runner-Up; Midlands 6th Place (Injury Default)
Junior:
Senior: Midlands Runner-Up
Notable Wins:
Here are the wrestlers who he defeated that placed top 5 or higher that season at NCAA's. There is always a little bit of room for error with this because he could have had a big win over a ranked wrestler that had a bad NCAA Tournament therefore was not top 5, but the win looked good at the time.
Senior Year:
Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State)--All-Star Classic 8-4; NCAA Champ (This is not an official match. It was wrestled using experimental rules. That being said Gwiazdowski finished this year undefeated and any win under any circumstances should deserve some credit.
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA 5th Place
Adam Coon (Michigan)--Big Ten Semi 7-6; NCAA Runner-Up
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Big Ten Final 4-3; NCAA 5th Place
Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)--NCAA 3rd Place 3-2; NCAA 4th Place
Junior Year:
Tony Nelson (Minnesota)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA Runner-Up
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 3-1SV; NCAA 4th Place
Mike McClure (Michigan State)--Big Ten Quarters 5-1; NCAA 5th Place
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--NCAA 3rd Place 3-1; NCAA 4th Place
Sophomore Year:
Dom Bradley (Missouri)--NCAA Semi 3-1SV; NCAA 4th Place
Freshman Year:
Bobby Telford (Iowa)--Dual 7-5SV; NCAA 5th Place
Clayton Jack (Oregon State)--NCAA 3rd Place 10-5; NCAA 4th Place
What we learned from his wins?
Though Bobby Telford accounted for three of his career losses, McMullan did have a 5-3 overall advantage in their rivalry.
He twice beat the eventual NCAA Runner-Up in that season. In his Junior Year against Tony Nelson, Nelson came in as the 2x defending Champion.
The unofficial match against Gwiazdowski may be Nick's last collegiate loss even if his has an asterisk next to it.
He held the number one ranking at his weight class for parts of his Junior and Senior seasons.
The Big Ten Championship as a Senior was his only collegiate title.
Dominance Factor:
This will have to be graded on a curve as everyone knows that 285lber's don't put up the points that their smaller teammates do, so these may not look as impressive.
Senior Year: 5 Falls; 1 Tech Fall; 8 Major's
Junior Year: 2 Falls; 1 Tech Fall; 1 Major
Sophomore Year: 1 Fall; 2 Tech Falls; 2 Major's
Freshman Year: 6 Falls; 2 Tech Falls; 1 Major
Summation:
I stand by my hypothesis that McMullan is the best heavyweight of the 2000's not to win an NCAA Title, however I would still put him behind Tyler Caldwell when measuring the best wrestler from 2010 on without a title, Caldwell's breakdown like this had some impressive points.
