NCAA Week 7: Feb. 10-16

[Regionals]

I don't understand the decision to have Lily Pederson push through a groin injury at this point in the season. There's got to be other options. Maybe not the options KJ loves, but surely there must be someone who can fill in. What if there was a major injury?

If I remember correctly, NC State had a rough go on floor last night. More concerning is the fact that Clemson went sub-196 at home. That's not gonna cut it to make regionals.

Once you add in Oregon State, Ohio State, and Denver to the NQS list, Clemson will be 28th. I’m not sure they’re that much in danger for regionals, at least round 1, considering how many teams this season are stuck in the 195’s that were solidly 196 by now last season.

 

[BB12]

I feel like Pederson’s been pretty wobbly of late, but apparently she’s also a bit injured at the moment. I can understand that a LSU home meet is probably not the best place to throw someone new in the mix, but you would think they would be trying to give her a bit of a break. Instead she’s doing the all-around.

The final scores from the Cal meet are Cal 197.050, Utah State 196.475, and TWU 195.375. Cal apparently had a bit of a rough beam rotation, which seems to be a common theme this year for them.

I wish these teams would quit going to Metroplex. It’s a black hole of a meet, although apparently you can stream it this year for the bargain price of $25.

I think it's two weeks in a row for Lily but she was rock solid before then. Still nothing to warrant changing her from the lineup though. She started the meet fine and was rested a bit through the week. Most athletes would carry some sort of small injury throughout a season and are still fine to compete. If she warmed up well and felt good, there would be no real reason to take her out.

As long as metroplex remains on podium and has notoriously crazy scoring, teams are going to flock there. Thats so much more important for teams than the price or availability of a stream.

 

[Regionals]

Two last year of eligibility transfers had a tremendous impact for their new teams last night: Mati Waligora scoring three 9.9’s for Arkansas at an away meet and SKW scoring a 39.55 all-around for Kentucky,

I’ve said before but it continues to bear out. Tim Garrison must be thrilled to have been able to pull her in the season after Worley is done.

 

[Regionals]

I thought Michigan looked ok tonight. I mean, Ohio State is clearly not having a jump up season and no Big10 program under them is going to be going 196.9 anytime soon. If Michigan remains solidly seeded into Regionals, it should be enough progress through the season for the pressure to be off the coaching staff.

Sure, the freshman class “should” have yielded a Chio or Pederson AAer, but as long as they’re improving, it doesn’t seem like a disaster to me.

 

[ugadawgkat]

1/2 way through the season and UGA is up 7 spots from this time last year. 18th last year vs 11th this year. They have tied or improved in each meet except for the last meet where their score was down by a whopping 0.075. Very consistent so far- a marked change from CKK's coaching record. If they can score up to their potential on all four events this team appears to be a solid 197.5 team. So far the co-head coach experiment seems to be working.

 

[irichluck21]

For regionals placement, that 196.900 from Michigan was huge, especially since it is a road score, so they will want to count it in NQS (unless they can manage to get into the mid 197s).

 

[Regionals]

For regionals placement, that 196.900 from Michigan was huge, especially since it is a road score, so they will want to count it in NQS (unless they can manage to get into the mid 197s).

They’re going to be ranked 2 slots above Alabama on Monday. Again, I think the 2 programs are facing the same type of season. But if Michigan can continue to improve through mid-March, they might land at like #11 by regionals, which in my opinion would be a good result for such a rebuild year.

Meanwhile, Alabama continues to count falls at away meets, so…..You really can’t be above last place in the SEC doing that. The irony with Friday’s podium meet is that Lily and Gabby were the only 2 gymnasts not to fall off beam at Nationals Semifinals. Their beam lineup is still in complete flux this late in the season.

 

[david]

For UCLA, after last year's inconsistency and a tough first meet this year, to have hit every meet since above a 197 and entering NQS in 2nd place has to be a huge boost of confidence.

 

[Regionals]

The non-expert dude commentator paired with former Ohio State male gymnast Paris McGee for the Yale quad meet talks too much. But, he clearly does his homework from the coach’s interviews and is providing helpful team insights. For example, he previewed Aine Reade’s direct round off double layout that seemed to catch Paris off guard. I don’t know why, but I always appreciate when the useless male commentator is actually useful for a change.

The funniest was the one from last season who enthusiastically named the parents of every single gymnast in the entire meet.

 

[Regionals]

For UCLA, after last year's inconsistency and a tough first meet this year, to have hit every meet since above a 197 and entering NQS in 2nd place has to be a huge boost of confidence.

Without Selena, I am guessing no one other than their most diehard fans predicted they would be ranked #2 at the NQS transition point of the season. I am very impressed with how they have figured it out with still upside on vault.

 

[MaryClare]

Ugh. I only really follow NCAA to watch UCLA implode

 

[RedBirdie]

There's still plenty of time for that.

 

[Regionals]

Ugh. I only really follow NCAA to watch UCLA implode

Obviously, given your internet history.

 

[MaryClare]

Obviously, given your internet history.

I was 8 when I chose to do RG over WAG because the drama was just next level.

 

[Regionals]

I was 8 when I chose to do RG over WAG because the drama was just next level.

Are you not MaryClare from wwgym days? Where your posts demanded things? Like literally demanded things?

 

[MaryClare]

Are you not MaryClare from wwgym days? Where your posts demanded things? Like literally demanded things?

I am MC, but I think you are mixing my posts up with somebody else…

 

[irichluck21]

Having Jordan Chiles back is a huge boost to UCLA team totals, specifically on bars and floor. They are ranked #1 on floor with Chiles ranked #1. She doesn't have enough all around scores for NQS but she'll be right up in the top 5ish when she does.