Iowa tries to quiet Cowboys buzz

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa wrestling coach is aware of the noise surrounding Oklahoma State, which has been capturing the attention of college wrestling followers.

That attention will focus on Carver-Hawkeye Arena tonight as the top-ranked Hawkeyes host No. 4 Oklahoma State for a dual, beginning at 7 p.m.

“I think there's a buzz about them,” said Brands, whose team is coming off a National Duals title by beating No. 2 Iowa State, 19-12. “We got to be in a state of mind to work real hard and stop that buzz.”

Aside from last year's 20-13 victory at Stillwater, Okla., the Hawkeyes have had trouble stopping the Cowboys in duals. Oklahoma State (8-0-1) has won 9 of the last 10 meetings, including four straight in Iowa City.

“It's a little bit deceiving,” Cowboys Coach John Smith during a teleconference Wednesday. “I know it's a pretty long record of winning there in the last several years, but in that time we did win four national championships. So, we were the better team for the most part.

“The last win there was an upset. If we win there this weekend, it would be an upset.

Winning swing matches and tallying bonus points will be vital to avoiding the upset and extending the Hawkeyes' dual win streak, which stands at 51 straight. Iowa's last dual loss came at the hands of Oklahoma State in 2007.

“The keys are being able to put a string of victories together in that dual meet,” Brands said, “like we've done in other tough dual meets and tough situations in the past.”

The teams boast a combined 15 ranked wrestlers by InterMat in their probably lineups. A few of the top matchups, including Iowa's No. 4 Matt McDonough and No. 9 Chris Notte at 125, the Hawkeyes' No. 2 174-pounder Jay Borschel and seventh-ranked Mike Benefiel and No. 9 Phil Keddy of Iowa against No. 13 Clayton Foster at 184.

Keeping the advantage in this rivalry will rely on doing what the Hawkeyes couldn't the last time they met in Iowa City - winning matches.

“We have to execute,” Brands said. “We have to put guys down.

“We've got to be ready when we step out on the mat.”

Smith said the Cowboys have to win at least six matches to be victorious.

“I do believe if we wrestle hard and we wrestle well it could be a tight dual,” Smith said. “If we don't, it could be an ugly dual for us.”