The depth at 174 pounds is much better than most fans think. There are 20 wrestlers with very legitimate chances of earning All-American honors. With weight classes like this, the first round draw is so important.    Of course, everyone was hoping to avoid an early matchup with returning NCAA champion Greg Jones of West Virginia, only a sophomore. Jones remains undefeated this year, but sometimes that has upset written all over it at the NCAA Tournament.    Top Contenders  Greg Jones (West Virginia) - Jones won the NCAA title last year as a freshman, becoming the next on the short list of possible four-time NCAA champions. Jones has defeated all of his formidable opponents this season, and an undefeated sophomore year is now in sight. He surprised many last year with his dominating performance throughout the NCAA Tournament, but was overshadowed by Cael Sanderson. This year, the spotlight is on Jones. Going through the NCAA Tournament with a big target on your chest is a lot different than going through as a freshmen with some losses on your record. How Jones handles this pressure will determine how well he will perform in this year's NCAA Tournament.    Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) - Pendleton has been very solid all season long. His only loss this year came to Jones at the All-Start meet. That was a good match for Pendleton as there are no other opponents nationally with the same attributes as Jones. Now he knows what needs to be done, but Pendleton is on a tough side of the bracket. He cannot overlook any opponents, and historically, he has not. He has great size for this weight class, but he is able to defeat his opponents on quickness and technical skill. Pendleton is not a pinner, and at times he has trouble turning opponents, but he is a dominant force from his feet. That is the most important skill in an NCAA Tournament.    Robbie Waller (Oklahoma) - Waller is once again a favorite to come away with high All-American honors this year. It is the same position he has been in the last three years as well, but last year he lived up to his potential by placing sixth. This year, Waller moved up in weight and is the healthiest he has been since high school. He has improved tremendously from his feet. Waller now initiates action in his matches. He has struggled with Pendleton this year, whom he has lost four matches to this season. Unfortunately, Waller has trouble beating his main rivals in postseason competition, and being on the same side of the bracket as Pendleton hurts his chances of becoming a finalist automatically. If Waller stays aggressive, and can stay healthy throughout the tournament, he should at least make it to the semifinals.    Ryan Lange (Purdue) - Two of Lange's three losses this year came before mid-December. Since then, he has split two matches with Nixt, including his Big Ten finals win over the Hawkeye. Lange has a tendency to get ultra-defensive in big matches, which could be his downfall in this tournament. Wrestling to keep matches close and hoping to pull it out in the end can come back to haunt you at the big dance. Lange should have no problem getting to the quarterfinals this year, but he will most likely run into Nixt again at that point. Expect another defensive match between those two, but whoever wins needs to break out an offensive arsenal for a meeting with Jones.    Tyler Nixt (Iowa) - Nixt's knees and hips of rubber keep him at the front of the pack at all times. He has dropped down to the fifth seed in this tournament, but if he had won the Big Ten Championships, he would be no higher than a fourth seed. In funky, scramble positions, he is nearly impossible to stop. Some have the perception that his defense is not that good, but he lets his opponents get in on his legs. With his flexibility, he is able to spin around any shot and get control of his opponent's legs. Fans will see a lot of this in Nixt's matches. Nixt is very consistent, and does not lose matches to wrestlers ranked or seeded below him. He is a sure bet to place in the top five at this tournament, but he is just one upset away from being in the NCAA finals.    The Others  Eric Hauan (Northern Iowa) - Hauan has been solid all season long. He has one-point losses to Nixt and Pendleton, but a loss to Brian Glynn of Illinois earlier this year takes him out of title contention right now. He is a dangerous opponent, and with the sixth seed, may be able to cause some havoc for Waller in the quarterfinals.    Brad Dillon (Lehigh) - Dillon should just be happy to finally make it to the NCAA Tournament after having his last two postseasons cut short by injuries. He has been on a hot streak heading into the tournament, and that should continue with some favorable draws. Dillon is very tough to score on and is a solid technician on his feet. If he can keep his matches in the neutral position, he could go far.    High-Impact Freshmen  Matt Herrington (Pennsylvania)    NCAA Finals:Greg Jones (West Virginia) vs. Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State)  
TheMat.com's Pick:Greg Jones (West Virginia)  
All-American Dark Horse:Rashad Evans (Michigan State)