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Three Sentences Or Less: 2023 D1 NCAA Indoor Championship Men's DMR Preview
- Finn Birnie
- Mar 3, 2023
- 4 min read
Written by Finn Birnie, edits and additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin
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Editor's Note: Our TSR writers were asked to produce three sentences or less of analysis on every entrant in every distance event for every division. We will be slowly rolling out these previews in the week leading up to the indoor national meets. Stay tuned!
Predictions coming next week
The below list is ordered by seeding.
1. Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys boast a star-studded lineup that will be entering this race completely fresh. Fouad Messaoudi on the opening leg and Ryan Schoppe on the anchor leg is a deadly combination, one that has proven itself against a juggernaut Washington group a few weeks ago. And given the fact that no one is doubling, these men are probably larger title favorites than some people initially anticipated.
2. Washington Huskies
Coach Andy Powell’s distance roster is filled to the brim with firepower and depth. However, with Joe Waskom and Cass Elliott potentially doubling back from their open events, we can't help but wonder if the Huskies will be fresh enough to keep up with the well-rested Cowboys. They'll at least have a shot with a fresh Kieran Lumb on the anchor.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
Having North Carolina ace Ethan Strand scratch from the open mile in order to be fresh for this relay signifies that the Tar Heels are going all-in. They were wildly impressive at the Alex Wilson Invite and they could be the team to provide the most significant challenge to both the Cowboys and the Huskies. On paper, they have a near-perfect group for the DMR.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers have all of the necessary pieces to be All-Americans in the DMR -- and maybe pull off a major upset. Having Adam Spencer and Jackson Sharp at their disposal is huge as they provide some serious firepower, even if Spencer will be racing the mile prelims first. However, the most vital piece to Wisconsin's puzzle could be 1:46 (800) man Abduhalli Hassan who was the key differentiator the last time this squad toed the line.
5. Villanova Wildcats
Much like the Tar Heels, the Wildcats have gone all-in for the DMR. And why wouldn't they when they have a 3:55 miler, a 3:56 miler and a 1:46 half-miler? Villanova’s team, on paper, could theoretically win this national title, but do they have enough firepower to match a fresh Oklahoma State squad?
6. Michigan Wolverines
This Michigan relay is shaping up nicely and there's a feeling that they are peaking at just the right time. Cole Johnson and Nick Foster have been instrumental to the success of this group in the past, and the added experience that Arjun Jha brings is going to be crucial. But with Foster doubling back from the mile prelims, he'll have to hope that the Wolverines put him in a strong enough position to earn an All-American honor.
7. BYU Cougars
The BYU 800/1600 combo of Sebastian Fernandez and Casey Clinger was lethal earlier this season at the Alex Wilson Invite. However, with Clinger contesting both the 3k and the 5k next weekend, the likelihood of him anchoring this DMR is extremely low. Luckily for the Cougars, they have strong milers such as Lucas Bons and Aidan Troutner who have shown promise this winter.
8. Ole Miss Rebels
This lineup was built for the DMR, so seeing the Rebels run 9:21 in this event earlier in the season was no surprise. With half-mile standout Baylor Franklin potentially not doubling back, Ole Miss' middle distance depth is going to give them a huge advantage. They could easily reshape this relay by adding 3:57 miler Shane Bracken into the mix should Franklin not come back for the relay.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks have proved that they are a well-oiled machine despite some questions about the season-long form of a few individuals. The Arkansas men put together a fantastic DMR effort at the Arkansas Qualifier last month, exceeding many of our expectations. They can emerge as All-Americans if they can bring their “A” game, but trying to replicate that magic is not necessarily going to be easy, either.
10. Indiana Hoosiers
The dynamic duo of Camden Marshall and Jake Gebhardt have been holding it down this season for the Hoosiers. The somewhat young squad has proven that they can peak when it matters and that they are not afraid to rub shoulders with the nation's finest. We're excited to see how this group performs on the big stage, but it will also be interesting to see if Gebhardt will be able to replicate his monster 3:54 anchor split from a weeks ago.
11. Tennessee Volunteers
Coach Sean Carlson has put together a terrific DMR squad that doesn't even feature superstar distance talent, Dylan Jacobs. The Volunteers, despite some significant inexperience in certain areas of their lineup, have shown that they can operate under pressure and exceed expectations. Also, how can we forget what Yaseen Abdalla did when anchoring Texas' distance medley relay last winter?
12. Texas Longhorns
Who will run and in what order? Those are the questions that we can debate all day when it comes to the Longhorns' DMR. They do have a lot of flexibility in terms of where they place certain men within their relay, but the idea of Yusuf Bizimana and Crayton Carrozza doubling back from the 800 meter prelims seems unlikely.
