2015 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Preview: Another Cal vs. Texas showdown in the making?

Deja Vu. It's another week and it's another three day where the Golden Bears will try to bring back to Berkeley, the 89th team National Championships in school history. Just like last year, when the Bears are able to triumph at the home of the Texas Longhorns, expect the 2015 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championship to be between your California Golden Bears, winners of 3 of the last 4 titles, and the Texas Longhorns, owners of 10 men's swimming titles in the last 35 years [CORRECTION Texas has the most titles since 1980, Michigan and Ohio State have 12 and 11, respectively].

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Here are your links to view this meet online:

Prelims starts at 9 AM PT, Finals starts at 5 PM PT

Possible alternative link to the Iowa Hawkeyes broadcasts: here

Thursday Prelims:Iowa Hawkeyes Website

Thursday Finals: Iowa Hawkeyes Website

Friday Prelims: Iowa Hawkeyes Website

Friday Finals: WatchESPN

Saturday Prelims:  Iowa Hawkeyes Website

Saturday Finals: WatchESPN

Live results: Meet Results

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UPDATED:

Quick highlights from Day 1 of the prelims

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Coming off a 3rd place finish behind USC and Stanford at the Pac-12 Championships two weeks ago, the Bears are actually in a better shape to win the NCAA's than they were for the conference title. The most obvious edge for the Bears is experience. Although the Bears do have a few key freshman (including a platform diver), the bulk of the team were there for the win last year, some even experienced the NCAA wins back in 2012 (I don't think there are anyone on the team that was still around for the 2011 triumph).

Bears are bringing 16 swimmers and 1 diver to Iowa City, including 11 members from the championship winning squad last year. Sophomore Ryan Murphy will seek to defend his NCAA individual titles in 100 Back and 200 Back. Bears also return 3 of the 4 swimmers in the NCAA winning 200 free relay and 400 medley relay. Former Harvard transfer Chuck Katis will be a star for the Bears in breast-stroke. Sprinters/Flyers in Seth Stubblefield and Tyler Messerschmidt are back. Senior Will Hamilton will look to pull off a Rachel Bootsma in that he will try to win back the 200 Fly title that he won back in 2012 (Bootsma reclaimed the 100 Back title last week after an one year absence). Josh Prenot will be a big factor and scorers for the Bears in the IM's. Jacob Pebley is another backstroke scorer and Long Gutierrez will score in flys and swim in relays.

Here are the full list of Cal swimmers and events:

By Events:

50 Freestyle: Seth Stubblefield (19.32), Tyler Messerschmidt (19.46), Fabio Gimondi (19.58), Justin Lynch (20.07)

100 Freestyle: Seth Stubblefield (42.69), Tyler Messerschmidt (43.03), Fabio Gimondi (43.16), Trent Williams (43.97)

200 Freestyle: Long Gutierrez (1:34.01), Trent Williams (1:34.39), Will Hamilton (1:36.46), Fabio Gimondi (1:36.78)

500 Freestyle: Adam Hinshaw (4:18.74), Long Gutierrez (4:19.56), Trent Williams (4:20.61), Connor Green (4:21.42)

100 Butterfly: Seth Stubblefield (45.84), Justin Lynch (46.22)

200 Butterfly: Long Gutierrez (1:43.23), Adam Hinshaw (1:43.61), Justin Lynch (1:44.23), Will Hamilton (1:44.97)

100 Backstroke: Ryan Murphy (44.98), Jacob Pebley (46.10), Jesse Ryckman (47.23), Tyler Messerschmidt (47.85)

200 Backstroke: Ryan Murphy (1:38.34), Jacob Pebley (1:40.48), Jesse Ryckman (1:41.53), Connor Green (1:42.80)

100 Breaststroke: Chuck Katis (52.00), Connor Hoppe (52.72), Hunter Cobleigh (53.40)

200 Breaststroke: Josh Prenot (1:52.61), Chuck Katis (1:54.30), Hunter Cobleigh (1:54.89), Connor Hoppe (1:56.49)

200 IM: Josh Prenot (1:41.79), Ryan Murphy (1:42.94), Will Hamilton (1:44.21), Chuck Katis (1:45.28), Jacob Pebley (1:45.32)

400 IM: Josh Prenot (3:38.83), Connor Green (3:42.23), Adam Hinshaw (3:44.69)

Relays: 200 Free (1:16.57, Gimondi, Messerschmidt, Murphy, Stubblefield),

400 Free (2:51.71, Murphy, Gimondi, Messerschmidt, Stubblefield),

800 Free (6:19.30, Williams, Stubblefield, Gutierrez, Hamilton),

200 Medley (1:24.15, Murphy, Katis, Lynch, Messerschmidt),

400 Medley (3:05.38, Murphy, Katis, Stubbleifleld, Messerschmidt)

Platform Diving: Finn Scribbick (658.05)

By Athletes:

Hunter Cobleigh - Sophomore from Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Will compete in the 200 breast (26th seed, 1:54.89)
Will compete in the 100 breast (40th seed, 53.40)

Fabio Gimondi - Senior from Milan, Italy
Will compete in the 50 free (30th seed, 19.52)
Will compete in the 100 free (37th seed, 43.16)
Will compete in the 200 free (47th seed, 1:36.78)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 free relay (Fourth seed, 1:16.57, lead-off leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 free relay (10th seed, 2:51.71)

Connor Green - Freshman from Sciuate, Mass.
Will compete in the 400 IM (15th seed, 3:42.23)
Will compete in the 200 back (36th seed, 1:42.80)
Will compete in the 500 free (51th seed, 4:21.42)

Long Gutierrez - Sophomore from Cottonwood, Utah
Will compete in the 200 free (14th seed, 1:34.01)
Will compete in the 200 fly (23rd seed, 1:43.23, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
Will compete in the 500 free (44th seed, 4:19.56)
A member of the Bears’ top 800 free relay (11th seed, 6:19.30, third leg)

Will Hamilton - Senior from Franklin, Mich.
Will compete in the 200 IM (25th seed, 1:44.21)
Will compete in the 200 fly (38th seed, 1:44.97)
Will compete in the 200 free (45th seed, 1:36.46)
A member of the Bears’ top 800 free relay (11th seed, 6:19.30, anchor leg)

Adam Hinshaw - Senior from Saratoga, Calif.
Will compete in the 400 IM (26th seed, 3:44.69)
Will compete in the 200 fly (27th seed, 1:43.61)
Will compete in the 500 free (38th seed, 4:18.74)

Connor Hoppe - Freshman from Merced, Calif.
Will compete in the 100 breast (22nd seed, 52.72)
Will compete in the 200 breast (42nd seed, 1:56.49)

Chuck Katis - Senior from Falls Church, Va.
Will compete in the 100 breast (sixth seed, 52.00)
Will compete in the 200 breast (16th seed, 1:54.30)
Will compete in the 200 IM (42nd seed, 1:45.28)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 medley relay (Fifth seed, 1:24.15, breaststroke leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 medley relay (Fifth seed, 3:05.38, breaststroke leg)

Justin Lynch - Freshman from Vallejo, Calif.
Will compete in the 100 fly (21st seed, 46.22)
Will compete in the 200 fly (34th seed, 1:44.25)
Will compete in the 50 free (55th seed, 20.07)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 medley relay (Fifth seed, 1:24.15, butterfly leg, Pac-12 champions)

Tyler Messerschmidt - Junior from Phoenix, Ariz.
Will compete in the 50 free (21st seed, 19.46)
Will compete in the 100 free (33rd seed, 43.03)
Will compete in the 100 back (50th seed, 47.85)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 free relay (Fourth seed, 1:16.57, second leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 medley relay (Fifth seed, 1:24.15, freestyle leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 medley relay (Fifth seed, 3:05.38, freestyle leg)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 free relay (10th seed, 2:51.71)

Ryan Murphy - Sophomore from Ponte Verde, Fla.
Will compete in the 200 back (Top seed, 1:38.34, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
Will compete in the 100 back (Second seed, 44.98, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
Will compete in the 200 IM (sixth seed, 1:42.94)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 free relay (Fourth seed, 1:16.57, third leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 medley relay (Fifth seed, 1:24.15, backstroke leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 medley relay (Fifth seed, 3:05.38, backstroke leg)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 free relay (10th seed, 2:51.71)

Jacob Pebley - Junior from Corvallis, Ore.
Will compete in the 200 back (Ninth seed, 1:40.48)
Will compete in the 100 back (16th seed, 46.10)
Will compete in the 200 IM (43rd seed, 1:45.32)

Josh Prenot - Junior from Orcutt, Calif.
Will compete in the 400 IM (Second seed, 3:38.83, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
Will compete in the 200 IM (Third seed, 1:41.79)
Will compete in the 200 breast (Fourth seed, 1:52.61)

Jesse Ryckman - Senior from Westlake Village, Calif.
Will compete in the 200 back (24th seed, 1:41.53)
Will compete in the 100 back (42nd seed, 47.23)

Seth Stubblefield - Senior from Plano, Texas
Will compete in the 100 fly (Sixth seed, 45.84, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
Will compete in the 50 free (11th seed, 19.32)
Will compete in the 100 free (15th seed, 42.69)
A member of the Bears’ top 200 free relay (Fourth seed, 1:16.57, anchor leg, 2015 Pac-12 champion)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 medley relay (Fifth seed, 3:05.38, butterfly leg)
A member of the Bears’ top 400 free relay (10th seed, 2:51.71)
A member of the Bears’ top 800 free relay (11th seed, 6:19.30, second leg)

Trent Williams - Junior from San Diego, Calif.
Will compete in the 200 free (23rd seed, 1:34.39)
Will compete in the 500 free (48th seed, 4:20.61)
Will compete in the 100 free (57th seed, 43.97)
A member of the Bears’ top 800 free relay (11th seed, 6:19.30, lead-off leg)

Finn Scribbick - Freshman from San Antonio, Texas
Will compete in the Platform Diving (Seventh at Zone E, 658.05)

Supposedly Will Hamilton and freshman Justin Lynch were sick and scratched in the Pac-12 Championships. The both of them returning to full strength would be pivotal for the Bears.

Thanks to their diving prowess and history, Texas Longhorns are apparently the ones to beat again this year. From SwimSwam:

While Texas took home the 2010 National title, the Bears seem to now be the new swimming dynasty of the decade. Durden and Cal have won three of the last four national titles producing multiple Olympians such as Adrian, Damir Dugonjic of Slovenia, Martin Liivamagi of Estonia, and Graeme Moore of South Africa at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. When Cal has won, it is worth mentioning the Longhorns have not been far behind adding three of their 11 runner-up finishes in these last four years.

Texas enters this week as the heavily favored team to win with Cal, USC, and Florida all looking to play spoiler. Where Texas has an incredible butterfly group led by sophomore Jack Conger, the Bears showcase a deep backstroke group led by NCAA record holder Ryan Murphy. Where the Texas sprint group is led by Matt Ellis and John Murray the Bears answer back with seniors Seth Stubblefield and Tyler Messerschmidt. The talk across the country of Texas sophomore Will Licon‘s emergence as a perennial dark horse in the individual medleys as well as the 200 breaststroke is matched by Cal junior Josh Prenot coming off an impressive summer at the National Championships (and let us not forget the friendly shout-out at the Big 12's from Licon to Prenot). While Texas super freshmen Joseph Schooling and Brett Ringgold look to make their mark on the championships Berkley's Justin Lynch and Connor Green look to end their freshman campaign as Murphy did a year ago, with a National Championship banner added to the Spieker pool.

The Texas Longhorns have built this year's NCAA roster around a deep sprint and distance group as well as their aforementioned quartet of butterfliers and a trio of divers. The California Bears bring a NCAA roster to Iowa City loaded with a majority of points looking to be scored by their IM'ers, breaststrokers, and the trio of Murphy-Pebley-Green in the 200 backstroke. Then again, one can never neglect the sprinters of Berkley who have seemingly dominated the 200 freestyle relay race since the freshman year of their now-senior sprint men.
Eddie has, in the minds of some, his best team since the 3-peat of the early 2000's with another incredible recruiting class expected on campus in the fall. Durden finds his roster in a similar position loaded with his most talented team since the big 3 of Adrian, Shields, and Dugonjic led the men of Cal. That, combined with the Texas' lead in the college swimming poll going into this weekend, leaves the NCAA championships with the potential to out-do last year's battle for the NCAA title in Austin. One thing is for certain, when Saturday night of the championships has closed, we will find these familiar foes in yet another battle for the crown of the NCAA.

I think the Bears will once again drop enough time this week to sort of surprise people (as much as you can as the defending champ and the winners of 3 of the last 4). It will probably be quite close again and come down to the last day. If you're looking for a better chance of Cal triumph over Texas, this may hopefully be that again.

In addition to the possible 89th Team National Championships, the Bears will also look to add to the 170 individual championships and 46 relay championships. The updates counts can be found here, after the Cal Women's Win last week.

Men's Swimming is seeking their 6th overall titles, having won the NCAA team titles in 1979, 1980, 2011, 2012, and 2014.

Scoring:

Points are awarded on a sliding scale:

For Relays (Double the point of individual events), they are

40 (extra points for the winner), 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22 for the A-Final participants

18 (again bonus points for the winner), 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 for the B-Final participants

For Individual Events

20 (extra points for the winner), 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11 for the A-Final participants

9 (bonus point for the winner), 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the B-Final participants

It should go without saying, but points are not awarded for finalists who are disqualified (DQ'ed, typically for a false start or illegal turn).

Schedule of Events:

Day 1 -

200-yard free relay 
500-yard free 
200-yard individual medley 
50-yard free 
1-meter diving - 
400-yard medley relay

Day 2 -

200-yard medley relay
400-yard individual medley
100-yard fly
200-yard free
100-yard breast
100-yard back
3-meter diving
800-yard free relay

Day 3 -

1650-yard freestyle (fastest heat)
200-yard back
100-yard free
200-yard breast
200-yard fly
Platform diving
400-yard free relay

You can check out College Swimming's predictions for day 1, day 2, and day 3.

Nope, I'm not at Iowa City for this meet, but that will mean more timely updates on the comment sections of these posts (and some tweets too). Long live the Cal Aquatics Dynasty!

GO BEARS!