Big 12 Men
- Dates: Wednesday, February 26th – Saturday, March 1st (Co-Ed)
- Location: Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, University of Texas (Central Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Texas (17x) (links to each days results here)
- Live Results:
- Live Video (If available):
- Championship Central
Much like the women’s meet, the winner of this meet has practically already been engraved on the trophy. TCU and West Virginia bring some solid talent to the table, but ultimately, the men’s Big 12 Championship team race is all about Texas.
The Longhorns are hosting this weekend, and will be looking to set themselves up for a shot at the NCAA title next month. While Texas graduated three of their biggest contributors in Austin Surhoff, Michael McBroom, and Dax Hill, they added one of the best incoming groups in the country, with Jack Conger, Matt Ellis, and Will Licon immediately adding depth to a previously-thin squad.
Unlike last year where the Longhorns didn’t have a lot of relay flexibility, this year’s team is loaded with freestylers, and has multiple options in the other three strokes. After a pretty strong mid-season meet, we will get an even better indication here of what we might see in terms of events choices and relay combinations from Eddie Reese’s squad.
Not all of the stars at this meet are based in Austin, however. West Virginia’s Bryce Bohman is having a career season coming off his redshirt 2012-13, turning in a 46.40 to earn the top seed in the 100 back at this meet. TCU has a pair of excellent backstrokers in Cooper Robinson (#2 seed in the 200 back) and Adam Szilagyi.
The Stars
Texas: Jack Conger (freshman everything), Kip Darmody (junior backstroker/flyer), Matt Ellis (sophomore sprint freestyler/butterfly), Imri Ganiel (sophomore breaststroker), Will Licon (freshman breaststroker/IMer), Charlie Moore (junior sprint freestyler), John Murray (sophomore freestyler), Jacob Ritter (junior freestyler), Caleb Weir (senior sprint freestyler), Clay Youngquist (junior freestyler/flyer)
TCU: Mitchell Adshead (junior breaststroker/IMer), Sebastian Arispe (senior distance freestyler), Luis Azarias (senior flyer), Corey Nix (sophomore sprint freestyler), Cooper Robinson (junior backstroker), Ford Story (sophomore breaststroker), Adam Szilagyi (sophomore backstroker/butterflyer)
West Virginia: Bryce Bohman (redshirt-senior backstroker/butterflyer), Christopher Brill (junior breaststroker), Nathan Cobbe (junior mid-distance freestyler), Daeton Davenport (junior distance freestyler), Ross Glegg (sophomore sprint freestyler), Julian Vialette (junior sprint freestyler)
SHOWDOWNS
100 freestyle – One of the better “intrasquad” battles of the meet should be the 100 free, where Caleb Weir, John Murray, and Matt Ellis should all be in the 42-mid range. All in all, the Longhorns probably have six guys on their roster who should be under 43 seconds individually, so this race has relay implications, as well.
200 butterfly – Another intrasquad race here: The Longhorn men have the top five seeds in this event, with the first four all seeded between 1:45.00 and 1:46.00, including true freshman and top seed Clark Smith.
100 breaststroke – The Longhorns are still looking for who their #1 breaststroker will be. Will Licon has looked great all season, but he’ll be focused on the 400 IM on Friday. Imri Ganiel, Ian Carbone, Matt Korman, and Charlie Moore could all be in contention for an NCAA relay spot on either medley relay. TCU’s Ford Story, the fourth overall seed, will be looking to play spoiler.
STANDINGS
1. Texas
2. TCU
3. West Virginia
Little video preview of the meet about Texas men and women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSaBRP6sHoQ
Again, after Missy Franklin, I like “Jack Conger, everything”.
I can’t wait to watch him at the NCAA championships at home.
Time to know what he’s able to do in his first college season.
Any idea about his possible lineup next month?
500 free on day 1?
100 back (probably) or 100 fly (he can do it) or 200 free (I continue to think he has the perfect speed/endurance mix to be the next big US star in that event) on day 2?
200 back on day 3?
It seems like both the 100 back and 200 free are deeper than the 100 fly right now. I’d say he’s almost guaranteed a top three finish in the 100 fly, with Giles Smith and Cieslak as his main competitors. In the 100 back, you’ve got Murphy, Pebley, and Nolan, at least. The 200 free is even deeper, in terms of guys around Conger’s time.
I’d bet 500, 100 fly, 200 back, and every relay except the 200 free.
Depending on if Conger does 100 fly or 100 back, Bohman could be a title contender in the opposite.
Very true. I see Conger doing the 100 fly, but leading off the 400 medley, just to see how he fares in each event.
He doesn’t have an ‘A’ cut in the 100 back yet. Does he need one? Or should he already be a safe invite with a 46.6?