Jan. 16, 2013
- Brands Interview, Learning from OSU dual, looking ahead to Michigan
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- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — There is no time for dwelling or looking in the rearview mirror for the fourth-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team following Sunday’s 18-12 road loss at No. 2 Oklahoma State.
“I don’t know if we dwell on a whole lot on pass success or not,” UI head coach Tom Brands said Wednesday at a media gathering in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex. “We know there are going to be some battles ahead on Friday, and we don’t have time to look in the rearview mirror except for a learning point of view.”
The Hawkeyes return to action Friday at No. 18 Michigan beginning at 2 p.m. (CT). The road trip ends Sunday in East Lansing, Mich., with Iowa facing Michigan State at 1 p.m.
“Michigan is a team that a lot of people put a lot of stock in,” said Brands. “They have individuals that have done well. They’re up-and-down, and we have to be ready to go.
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“We know there are going to be some battles ahead on Friday, and we don’t have time to look in the rearview mirror except for a learning point of view.”
UI head coach Tom Brands
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“You have to be tough on the road. This affects seeds for the future — Nationals, Big Ten seeds. It’s not making it easier, but putting yourself in a better position down the road.”
In the dual loss in Stillwater, Iowa went 1-4 in matches decided by one point. Second-ranked Tony Ramos posted a 3-2 victory over No. 5 Jon Morrison, but the Hawkeyes were on the short end of 3-2 losses at 165, 184 and 197 and a 4-3 loss at 174 via riding time.
“I don’t know if it makes it more frustrating, but it shows we’re in the general vicinity of success as a team,” said Brands. “We should capitalize on that. It came down to making a move at 184 and finishing at 197.
“You can say what you want about missed opportunities or a clash of styles, but the bottom line is you have to put the guy away.”
Brands is trying to put his finger on what went wrong and what to address.
“There are a lot of cliché things like effort, attitude and energy, but I don’t know if it’s that simple,” said Brands. “I am not going to spew the rhetoric and give you a general answer that we’re on top of it because I don’t know.
“It was a big test to find out a lot about this team. We did find out about this team and you would want to find out something that would lend itself to flexing its muscles and being more bullet proof than what we showed.”
Iowa brings a 12-1 overall and 2-0 Big Ten mark into Friday’s match at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan is 6-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten action; Michigan State is 4-6 overall and 0-3 in league duals.
The Hawkeyes have won the last five meetings against the Wolverines and own a 28-25-1 advantage in the all-time series. Iowa has won four straight over the Spartans and leads the all-time series 34-15-2.
Hawkeye All-Access will provide a video stream of both duals via the Big Ten Digital Network. Both duals will also be broadcast on AM-800 KXIC with Steven Grace and former Iowa All-American Mark Ironside calling the action.