BIG TEN TOURNAMENT AT WILLIAMS ARENA
Saturday, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., preliminary matches, quarterfinals, semifinals and wrestlebacks. Sunday, noon, consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches; 3 p.m., championship, third-place and fifth-place matches.
Sunday's finals will be televised live on BTN.
The favorites
With five wrestlers topping the national rankings at their weights — including Mark Hall of Apple Valley — Penn State is the front-runner to win a sixth Big Ten team title. The Nittany Lions (14-0) are the only unbeaten team in the league and are ranked No. 1 in the latest coaches' poll. Hall, the defending Big Ten champion at 174 pounds, is 23-0 this season and 6-1 in two previous Big Ten tournaments.
Four other wrestlers also will defend individual crowns: Michigan's Stevan Micic (133 pounds) and Alec Pantaleo (157), and Ohio State's Joey McKenna (141) and Kollin Moore (197). The Buckeyes, who have won the past two team titles, also are expected to be in the hunt again, along with Iowa and Michigan.
Gophers outlook
It's been 12 years since the Gophers last won a Big Ten team title, and it's been four years since 133-pounder Chris Dardanes became their last individual Big Ten champ. Coach Brandon Eggum said he would "love to be in the top five" this weekend, though he doesn't want to set the bar too low.
The Gophers are among five teams to have a wrestler seeded at every weight. Their lineup includes Gable Steveson (No. 1, heavyweight); Sean Russell (No. 3, 125 pounds); Tommy Thorn (No. 4, 149); Devin Skatzka (No. 5, 174); Mitch McKee (No. 6, 141); Steve Bleise (No. 6, 157); Ethan Lizak (No. 6, 133); Dylan Anderson (No. 7, 197); Carson Brolsma (No. 8, 165); and Brandon Krone (No. 12, 184).
Lizak, who is 23-4 this season, and Russell, who is 22-3, both are ranked No. 6 in the nation.
"We have 10 guys that can go out and score points, and every match is big," Eggum said. "Our guys seem ready. They're excited. We're healthy. I think we're in a good spot."
