[Rosiak's Blog] Mbakwe's wait continues

[ToddRosiakSays]

Mbakwe's wait continues


Coach Tom Crean said late Sunday morning that there was nothing new to report in the case of freshman forward Trevor Mbakwe, who has yet to be declared eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

"We're not sure. It's ongoing," said Crean when asked where Mbakwe's case stood at this point. "It's hard to get daily updates. We're just trying to keep him as neutralized as we can and staying focused on what he's got to do in school. The players spend a lot of time with him even though we can't, and he gets to spend time playing at the Rec Center, which is good.

"But it's not optimal, there's no doubt about that, because we're counting on him and we think he's going to have an impact. Every day you don't get a chance to work with a player - let alone a young player, like he is - it can affect your program. We're just optimistic everything's going to work out, but we have no time table at this point."

Crean is prepared for the possibility that Mbakwe's case could eventually resemble Lazar Hayward's in that Mbakwe could still be weeks away from getting the all-clear from the NCAA.

Hayward went through a similar situation last year when he was coming out of Notre Dame Prep, but received something of a reprieve when the NCAA cleard Hayward to practice the afternoon before the offical start of practice. It's unclear whether Mbakwe's case would merit the same type of response as the NCAA continues to scrutinize a summer course he took in Minnesota.

Mbakwe has already exhausted a two-week grace period that allowed him to take part in sanctioned team activities beginning with the open of the fall semester.

"There's always fear of that," Crean said of an even more protracted delay. "Every day that you're missing a day for a young player is like missing four or five with a veteran. For Dominic James or Jerel McNeal missing a day, for instance, it's a day. A young player like Trevor Mbakwe missing a day is almost missing a week. That's the drawback you have in this type of situation. Personally, I have a hard time understanding it but it's not my decision, and it's one of these things where we have to let it do due diligence and let it run its course."

Hayward, not surprisingly, has been in the forefront in terms of providing support for Mbakwe as he continues to wait out the process.

"I think it's been a good leadership situation for Lazar to do that," said Crean. "We use (his situation) as an example when we talk to the team about that, and I think Lazar is the one that can get it across because he's the only one, really, on this team that has any idea of what he's truly feeling on a day-to-day basis.

"For the most part the young players have spent a lot of time with him, his classmates, but our older players - especially Wesley Matthews - have gone out of their way to make sure that he's doing what he needs to do."

For the record, Hayward was ruled fully eligible by the NCAA late last October, more than six weeks after the inquiry into his transcripts began.

http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2007/09/30/mbakwe-s-wait-continues.aspx

[Murffieus]

Apparently they are investigating the credentials of a school where TM took a summer course to ostensibly make him eligible!

[mu_hilltopper]

Anyone know more about the rules and practices?

Besides the Vancouver trip practices .. what can the team do before Midnight Madness? -- And .. those guys know how to practice without coaches .. can't they do drills with Trevor at the Rec center?  -- I assume the entire team, including Trevor is strength training, albeit perhaps not with official oversight. 

[Harrison]

my recollection is thye can work out with a coach for no more than one hour  aday in groups of no more than 4 players.  Obviously a great opportubities for the new kids, that he is missng.  i dod not have a good feeling on this one.  Why go to a questionable schol/prgram for the course.  you woud think Mu would be more active in this type of stuff, ie making sure they review his transcripts, they get him enrolled in the proper courses at a school they have experience with, etc.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Apparently they are investigating the credentials of a school where TM took a summer course to ostensibly make him eligible!

Captain Obvious.

[Nukem2]

Maybe not so obvious.  After all this tieme, what about the transfer from Henry Sibley to St. Ben's.  Also, he did go to Georgia for a week or two at beginning of his junior season before going bsack to Henry Sibley causing some transitional record-keeping problems...?  Also, did he go to school in Georgia for his frshman season causing some transitional issues. Are there questions about some of the core courses?  And, of course, NCAA beauracracy.  Could be a combination of things?  I have no knowledge or insight here; but, there are a number of obvious possibilities just looking from the outside.  It seems like a long time to question one course?  In any event, sure hope TM gets his clearance soon for this season (and not have to sit a year similar to the guy at St. John's last year). 

[herboturbo]

  i dod not have a good feeling on this one.  Why go to a questionable schol/prgram for the course.  you woud think Mu would be more active in this type of stuff, ie making sure they review his transcripts, they get him enrolled in the proper courses at a school they have experience with, etc.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere that he took the summer class at the High School he graduated from, but it was the first year they offered summer classes and that's why the school/class is being investigated before being cleared.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Maybe not so obvious.  After all this tieme, what about the transfer from Henry Sibley to St. Ben's.  Also, he did go to Georgia for a week or two at beginning of his junior season before going bsack to Henry Sibley causing some transitional record-keeping problems...?  Also, did he go to school in Georgia for his frshman season causing some transitional issues. Are there questions about some of the core courses?  And, of course, NCAA beauracracy.  Could be a combination of things?  I have no knowledge or insight here; but, there are a number of obvious possibilities just looking from the outside.  It seems like a long time to question one course?  In any event, sure hope TM gets his clearance soon for this season (and not have to sit a year similar to the guy at St. John's last year). 

You bring up some good points.

I also think that we should consider that maybe the NCAA just hasn't gotten to his case yet. I mean, this might be a slam dunk (forgive the pun), but the NCAA might be working on a ton of other cases and haven't gotten to his yet.

I have no insight or first hand knowledge... just saying that the length of time isn't necessarily and indication that there is something wrong with trevor or his classes, but rather with the NCAA's ability to get through the cases.

[Nukem2]

At this point in October, I rather doubt that the NCAA is working on "a ton of cases".  The NCAA may, however, have a staffing issue.  Also, it is a bureacracy as well.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

At this point in October, I rather doubt that the NCAA is working on "a ton of cases".  The NCAA may, however, have a staffing issue.  Also, it is a bureacracy as well.

Agreed.

I'm as concerned as anybody, and I think your previous post brings up some good points and concerns. I'm just saying that this might be an NCAA issue (whatever the issue is) rather then an issue with the school or with the student like some people are thinking.

At this point nobody (or very few) know what is happening. Hopefully it just happens fast.

[bilsu]

What we do not know is how fast everybody responds to an inquiry. NCAA sends a letter to the school he took summer classes in asking for whatever documentation they need. How fast does that school principal respond regarding a student that took one summer class, when he has to handle this years school agenda. He could respond immediately or sit on it for two months. Without this information, we really do not know who to blame.

[NCMUFan]

It be funny if Trevor was pulling a 4.0 while the NCAA is checking his HS records.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

It be funny if Trevor was pulling a 4.0 while the NCAA is checking his HS records.

That would be more funny-business than "funny."

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

It be funny if Trevor was pulling a 4.0 while the NCAA is checking his HS records.

That would be more funny-business than "funny."

See, the first joke was funny. The second was a little poor in taste.

I don't want Mbakwe to have any posted GPA whilst the NCAA makes it decision. If he does, it means he's lost for the first semester.