USASwimming.org has posted the Men’s NCAA Uncut Psych Sheet. That means that this doesn’t tell us entries, but it does tell us which swimmers have entered which events. For the top swimmers, who know that they will qualify for the meet, this gives us insight into what they will be swimming. The full, cut psych sheet is due out tomorrow (Wednesday).
Observations
Florida’s Conor Dwyer, the defending NCAA Swimmer of the Year, was the subject of hot debate as to what he would swim at NCAA’s. At SEC’s he swam the mile as his third event, and many expected him to try a 400 IM-200 free double at NCAA’s (given that he has a chance at breaking the U.S. Open Record in the 200 free). It appears that this chance will have to come as a relay leadoff, as Dwyer is entered in the 500 free (day 1), 400 IM (day 2), and 100 free (day 3). This schedule makes the most sense for him, especially from a team-scoring point of view, where he has a ton of teammates with the potential to score in the 200 free. He will likely be one of the last seeds in the 100 free, but he will crush his 44.27 seed time. The question is does he give the big guns (specifically Nathan Adrian) a scare in this race? His first challenge will be making sure that he A-finals out of the first heat.
Cal’s Tom Shields, in an interview with SwimmingWorld earlier in the season, claimed that he would try the 100 fly-200 free double at NCAA’s. After posting the third-best time in the nation in the 100 back at Pac-10’s, it appears as though he’s had a change of course. He will now be attempting a 100 back-100 fly double on day 2 instead, along with the 200 fly on day 3. This double, however, will give him a much more manageable schedule (the 100 fly and 200 free are back-to-back, whereas the 100 back is two full events away from the 100 fly).
Virginia’s Scot Robison has been experimenting with the 100 fly all season. It appears as though that may have been for the benefit of relays, or simply just to see, since he has reverted back to his old favorites: the 50, 100, and 200 freestyles.
Minnesota’s Michael Richards, who is a shock contender in the sprint freestyles, will only swim the 50 and 100 freestyle individually. At Big Ten’s, he wasn’t on Minnesota’s 800 free relay, though they may add him at NCAA’s (it’s hard to believe that he’s no better than a 1:37 in the 200 free). If he does join the 800, all five of those relays are A-final contenders, which gives the Gophers an outside chance at a top-10 finish.
Michigan’s Dan Madwed has changed his second-day event from the 200 free (that he competed in and won at Big Ten’s) to the 100 fly. Despite the 100 fly seeming to be a natural fit for the 200 fly specialist, this will be the first NCAA Championship where he will swim it instead of the 200 free.
Check back tomorrow for a full breakdown of the post-cut psych sheet.
I only see Minnesota contending for A-finals in the sprint freestyle relays. They don’t have the stud backstroker for the medleys and no standout 200 swimmer for the 8FR.