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2018 M. NCAA Previews: Finnerty the Favorite in 100 Breast

2018 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

100 BREASTSTROKE

  • NCAA record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
  • American record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
  • U.S. Open record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
  • 2017 NCAA Champion: Will Licon (Texas), 50.68

The 100 breast could end up being a close one at the 2018 Men’s NCAA Championships. The favorite heading into the meet, Indiana’s Ian Finnerty, is the only man to have broken 51 so far this season, but there are a few guys who could step up and challenge him. His teammate, Levi Brock, is the 2nd seed heading into the meet, giving the Hoosiers a shot at a 1-2 finish. Brock dropped over a seconds from his time at Big Tens for a 51.45. Finnerty took half a second off his time at Big Tens. While he’s added from Big Tens to NCAAs over the past 2 seasons, Finnerty now has those NCAA experiences under his belt and could have a breakthrough here.

Connor Hoppe (photo: Tim Binning)

The top 2 returners from last season’s final are USC’s Carsten Vissering and Cal’s Connor Hoppe. This season, Hoppe has been slightly faster, but their best times are just a hundredth apart. Vissering, despite missing the first semester of competition as he trained and studied abroad, has had some strong showings this season. Last season’s final was stacked with seniors, so the only returner besides Hoppe and Vissering is South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen. Though he has a low seed with his season-best 52.62, he’s been as fast as 51.58 before (2017 SECs). Like Wich-Glasen, Tennessee’s Peter Stevens hasn’t broken 52 yet this season, but has a best in the 51-mid range. Stevens has shown great speed in his 50 breast relay splits. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Stevens bring in a 51-low.

We have a handful of guys who have broken 52 for the first time this season. Minnesota’s Conner McHugh, the 3rd seed, is among them and has the home pool advantage. McHugh finished 3rd in the B final last season. In his first season with Missouri State, Blair Bish has clipped the 52-barrier. Last season, he placed 15th as a sophomore for Arizona and, like Stevens, he’s shown great seed in his 50 breast splits. Michigan’s Jacob Montague dipped into the 51-high range at Big Tens. Cornell’s Alex Evdokimov is another swimmer to look out for after he set the Ivy league record in 51.85.

Returning after scoring in the B final last season in Texas A&M’s Mauro Castillo. He hasn’t broken 52 yet, but we may see him get there. He’s already been 52.1 this season, a best time, and typically makes improvements from SECs to NCAAs. Louisville’s Carlos Claverie, who raced with Castillo and Bish in the B final last season, enters this year’s meet with a 52.69, but has been 51.8 before. Either of those guys could break 52 to make their way into the final, as could West Virginia’s Jake Armstrong, who won Big 12s this season with a lifetime best 52.11.

TOP 8 PICKS:

Place Swimmer Season Best Lifetime Best
1 Ian Finnerty (Indiana) 50.72 50.72
2 Connor Hoppe (Cal) 51.91 51.41
3 Carsten Vissering (USC) 52.00 51.40
4 Peter Stevens (Tennessee) 52.29 51.51
5 Levi Brock (Indiana) 51.45 51.45
6 Conner McHugh (Minnesota) 51.68 51.68
7 Mauro Castillo (Texas A&M) 52.11 52.11
8 Blair Bish (Missouri State) 51.93 51.93

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Sportsfan
6 years ago

IU one…two because it sounds good…and they are good!

Bfunk
6 years ago

Ben Cono from Loyola Maryland could sneak into the A final with a solid drop

UWRF D-Squad
Reply to  Bfunk
6 years ago

As my last overall pick in my Fantasy Swim league, I hope this happens haha

IU Swammer
6 years ago

With a 1:32.21 on the 800 relay, I think he has broken through the gap between B1Gs and NCs.

Edit: by “he” I mean Finnerty.

Random123
6 years ago

Waited to see how he did on the relay? SMART!

Reply to  Random123
6 years ago

Hi Random123- I had my picks made before the session started tonight, we just hadn’t published it yet.

Yabo
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
6 years ago

A likely story. especially after saying Finnertys gonna add In the 200 breast and miss the top 3-4…..

Reply to  Yabo
6 years ago

Actually, I didn’t write the 200 breast preview… That was a different person.

Yabo
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
6 years ago

Oof my bad I’m sorry

Random123
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
6 years ago

Just playing with ya 😉

Lauren Neidigh
Reply to  Random123
6 years ago

I knew someone would! Haha

running start to touch backstroke flags
6 years ago

Michael Andrew already won NCAA’s yesterday, as a high schooler.

Hswimmer

He’s graduated HS though

E+Gamble

In college swim years Michael would be finishing up his freshman year. He’s about to turn 19 next month.

Swammer1

Actually, it looks like he would have been second if you used everyone best times.

Peter Linn
6 years ago

Well Dan, I really like Blart Bish, he’s a great guy who really knows how to race! GO BEARS

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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