How Much Do We Miss Mbawke?

[Tugg Speedman]

A lot of complaining about the lack of a bench.  The is fear that it will cost us Tourney time.

How different would things be if Mbawke stayed?

Thoughts?

[goan]

Players  have to make choices. They are not happy, they should move. MU will always be here. Players do not make MU. MU molds players to grow in the Jesuit tradition of 'man for others". Good example are our "Tres Amigos and Burke".

[nola03]

A lot of complaining about the lack of a bench.  The is fear that it will cost us Tourney time.

How different would things be if Mbawke stayed?

Thoughts?

Zero.

You cannot miss that which was never there.

[jaygall31]

true that Count von Count.

[bilsu]

Mbakwe only matters because Otule got hurt. The post should be how much has Otule's injury hurt MU. I have to believe Mbakwe would not have transferred, if he thought he was going to start. I believe he felt Otule was more in Buzz's plans.

[schubert33]

This was already discussed this week.  Can't worry about something that's impossible.  He was athletic, and would have made a difference, but no need to speculate.  What's down is down.  Lets just worry about the team we have.  

[schubert33]

I heard this summer that Hazel was out playing him.  This could be another reason he bailed!!

[MUshrooms]

I heard this summer that Hazel was out playing him.  This could be another reason he bailed!!

That or the fact that he's engaged to a girl in Minnesota who had his baby.

[schubert33]

That or the fact that he's engaged to a girl in Minnesota who had his baby.

I like your reason a lot more.  Curious pick on Jr. College then.  There's is a ton of Jr. colleges in Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas.

[77ncaachamps]

Who cares...

[Norm]

Are you all serious, Otule and Hazel were outperforming Mwabke? I find that hard to believe. Otule was a 2-star recruit, Hazel a 3-star and Mwabke a 4-star. The better question would be what would have happened if Mwabke had not been injured his freshman year.

[schubert33]

Are you all serious, Otule and Hazel were outperforming Mwabke? I find that hard to believe. Otule was a 2-star recruit, Hazel a 3-star and Mwabke a 4-star. The better question would be what would have happened if Mwabke had not been injured his freshman year.

What's your point.  Steve Novak was a three star recruit.  They have been wrong before.  Keep living in the past with the what ifs!!!

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

I honestly don't think he would have been much of an impact this year. This team is about our top 4 guys. He isn't any bigger than the guys we play anyways.....just another 6'7" Tom Crean big man.

[Norm]

My point schubert is that Mwabke has more talent than Otule and Hazel and if he wasn't injured last year for 3/4 of the season, he may have gotten more invested in the program, especially if he played a lot with the Big 4. Sometimes rankings are off, but from what I've seen, Otule and Hazel have not shown the athleticism that Mwabke has.

[ChicosBailBonds]

What's your point.  Steve Novak was a three star recruit.  They have been wrong before.  Keep living in the past with the what ifs!!!

Steve Novak finished at #57 in the final RSCI rankings for the country.  Hardly a 3 star recruit.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~rsci/RSCI_100_PostSeason_2002.htm



And yes, we do miss Mbakwe.  Defensively, on the boards, 5 more fouls to give.  We miss him.  He won't be a star at Minnesota, but he'll be more than serviceable. 

[RubyWiscy]

Mbawke!?  Are you kidding me? We have a top 10 team!!!  We are tied for 2nd place in the BEast!  Who cares? I mean really?

[AZWarrior]

No rational reason exists for his departure.  Multiple rational reasons existed for his staying.  Gotta conclude that he's not a rational guy. 

The milk's been spilled, train's left the station, water under the bridge, over the dam, et al.  Maybe its entertaining talking about what might have been but we need to see the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be.

And he's dead to me, too.

[MarquetteDano]

A better question than do we miss Mbakwe would be: "does Mbakwe miss Division I  basketball?"  I read article saying he is concentrating on quote... "focusing on winning a junior college national title".  Y A W N.

After all of this, he will have what, 2 years at Division One?  The first year will be a transition, so he will have one year make an impact at Minnesota, as a senior.  Just not a competitor in my book.

[Tugg Speedman]

Trevor Mbakwe named NJCAA Player of the Week

http://minnesota.scout.com/2/839230.html

Minnesota Gopher signee Trevor Mbwake, a 6-foot-8 forward from Miami Dade (FL) CC, was named NJCAA Player of the Week for games Feb. 1 through Feb. 8. He had 43 points, 32 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks in two wins. Mbakwe is making a strong case to repeat the award as he had 26 points, 20 caroms and two blocked shots Monday.

Trevor Mbakwe had his eighth double-double of the season last Wednesday as he had 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a 102-70 win over Broward College. Mbakwe followed that up with his ninth double-double on Feb. 7 with 25 points, 19 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in an 88-85 victory over Palm Beach College. Mbakwe shot 63% (14-22) from the field and 75%(15-20) from the free throw line.

Miami Dade moved up to #3 in the latest NJCAA poll. The Sharks are in the 

[tower912]

If the player didn't want to be here or was a head case, we don't miss them at all.   Would it be nice to have a player of TM's physical skills (or Amorosa) who wants to buy into the program, be a good teammate, work hard every day?   Obviously.   But if they decide they don't want to be here, we don't miss the chemistry/head case issues at all.

[4everwarriors]

...about as much as a hemrhoid.

[DonCornholeone]

Why is everyone so terrified of discussing how he would have helped us?  Just by talking about it and having an opinion doesn't mean you like the current team any less or are any less of a fan.  I for one think Mbakwe would have made a big difference.  He's much better than anyone we have inside right now (burke, otule, fulce, hazel) and it appears he is a bit of a rebounding force down there at that juco...that would have translated at least somewhat in DI ball.  He's got a few post moves too.

[MarquetteDano]

Why is everyone so terrified of discussing how he would have helped us?  Just by talking about it and having an opinion doesn't mean you like the current team any less or are any less of a fan.  I for one think Mbakwe would have made a big difference.  He's much better than anyone we have inside right now (burke, otule, fulce, hazel) and it appears he is a bit of a rebounding force down there at that juco...that would have translated at least somewhat in DI ball.  He's got a few post moves too.

The guy has talent.  I don't think anyone is doubting that.  The problem is that there are many, many talented players in high Division I basketball.  Some have what it takes, others do not.  I remember when we signed him,  FOUR different posters predicted he would never play a game in a MU uniform.  They were basically correct.

I don't know the exact real reasons for his transfer, but I do have to question the integrity of someone who transfers at the last minute, really burning the team he departs... leaving said team with no other options at the last minute.

Finally, a guy who was going to play for a Top 25 team in arguably the best conference in the country, with probably a guaranteed starting spot, decides to leave?  If you have to question the desire of someone like that.

So, would we want a talented player with questoinable integrity that does not appear to have the desire to start for a Top 25 team in a good conference with great media exposure?  The only real reason he is missed is because he transferred at the last second.  Had he transferred after the coaching change, Buzz would have brought someone in right away to help.  So, yes, we miss him because he burned us at the last second.

[tower912]

Everyone projects what Mbakwe would have done based on potential just like they based their expectations of Ryan Amorosa off one magical night.    Both had the talent to contribute.  Neither felt MU was the best place for them.   Assuming that each was committed to the program as well as getting the most out of their ability, then both would have helped.    A player who doesn't like where they are at generally doesn't make the team better.    We miss having a player with Mbakwe's skill set on this team.   We don't miss Trevor Mbakwe. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Why is everyone so terrified of discussing how he would have helped us?  Just by talking about it and having an opinion doesn't mean you like the current team any less or are any less of a fan.  I for one think Mbakwe would have made a big difference.  He's much better than anyone we have inside right now (burke, otule, fulce, hazel) and it appears he is a bit of a rebounding force down there at that juco...that would have translated at least somewhat in DI ball.  He's got a few post moves too.

My thoughts exactly.  We miss him from a talent perspective.  I also understand the rationale that others are using in terms of him wanting to be here (or rather not wanting to be here), etc, etc.  But at the end of the day, that doesn't mean we miss his basketball talent any less. 

Another big, with talent.  Rebounding prowess.  Five more fouls.