Ralph Sampson III is in the final months of his college basketball career but the Gophers 6-11 senior center appears no closer to fulfilling his potential now than when he was a freshman.
A gifted athlete and the son of former college Player of the Year Ralph Sampson II, the younger Sampson has compiled similar stats and performed inconsistently this season as in the past. Tonight the Gophers play at Iowa—halfway through their Big Ten regular season schedule—and Minnesota fans wonder what contributions Sampson will make to a Minnesota team (4-5 in conference games, 16-6 overall) that could qualify for the NCAA tournament with a strong finish in February and March.
Last Saturday night, with his dad in town to watch him, Sampson played only 20 minutes before fouling out in Minnesota’s game against Illinois at Williams Arena. He had three rebounds and five points while making two of eight shots.
That performance contrasted with Minnesota’s game at Illinois in late December when the Duluth, Georgia native scored 22 points and had nine rebounds in 35 minutes on the floor.
During Sampson’s first three seasons he shared playing time with center Colton Iverson and with Iverson having transferred after his junior season last spring it was expected that Sampson’s minutes and contributions would increase. But he’s averaging 22.9 minutes per game, the fewest since his freshman season. His scoring average of 8.2 points and rebounds of 4.8 per game this season are almost identical to career stats of 8.2 and 5.1.
Sampson’s lack of aggressiveness has limited his success and frustrated fans who often target him for criticism. His dad was asked if Sampson can play more assertively for coach Tubby Smith.
“I know he is (capable),” Ralph II said. “I’ve worked with the kid for all my life. It’s just how do you do that? How do you do that with the system and don’t break the system? Tubby has that system where five guys play five minutes, and five guys play the next five minutes. That’s a little different. …”
Sampson’s dad, who at 7-4 was a four-time All-American at Virginia, said ample minutes on the floor allow big body players to have a feel for the game, becoming more comfortable with themselves, teammates and opponents. What’s evident, though, is the younger Sampson isn’t earning a lot of extra minutes in the Smith system and he doesn’t look like a player enjoying his time on the floor.
Does fan criticism bother the Gophers center? Ralph II said fans should consider that unlike Iverson and guard Devoe Joseph, his son didn’t transfer from Minnesota. Ralph III is the only player remaining from his freshman class at Minnesota. “…You didn’t transfer like everybody else did and you stuck it out,” Ralph II said. “I think they should appreciate that.”
Sampson said his son thought about transferring from Minnesota to another school. “Every year, like everybody else,” Ralph II said. “First year to this year. I wouldn’t let him leave. We started it, we’re gonna finish it.”
The Gophers’ team potential the last two seasons has lessened because of several players leaving the program. The departed include forward Royce White who has become an All-American candidate at Iowa State in his first season. Joseph is Oregon’s leading scorer at 15.4 points.
“The question is why did they leave?” Ralph II asked. “What was going on that made them leave and wanted to leave? I am not going to get into a lot of details with it because I don’t know the internal things about it. …”
What the older Sampson knows is he believes in his son’s potential to become a better player. He acknowledges, too, that Ralph III is a young man of character who has never given his father problems. “He’s a great kid,” Ralph II said. “He’s the best in the world. The sky’s the limit if he wants to work at it.”
I must say, one of the least objective people to ask about the performance of his loved one is a father. It’s hard for a competitive person like Ralph II to admit to is that Ralph III is a bit soft.
As for Royce White, the Gophers should consider themselves fortunate that Royce didn’t end up in a cell and bring yet further embarrassment to the program. We never had the Royce White of today because he has had to encounter the bumps and bruises of the real world. Bumps and bruises that have caused him to straighten up and mature to the point where he can get on the court and play basketball. That person never existed while at the UofM.
No anxiety or affliction caused Royce to steal merchandise from a store at the Mall of America and subsequently shove a security guard. No affliction caused him to be implicated in the dormitory thief of a co-ed’s computer.
If one bothered to check the record from last season, Colton Iverson took himself out of games due to penalties. He was in foul trouble virtually every game. It is difficult at best to lay the blame on Tubby’s system for Colton’s frustrations.
Then there is Devoe Joseph. Devoe had a brilliant end of season, especially in post-season play, during the end of season tournament. This during a time when Al Nolen had encountered injuries. But does anyone seriously believe Devoe could have run the point better than Al? I don’t. Al’s defense alone placed him at the top of the conference.
Coupled with Devoe’s normal expectation of starter minutes came his younger brother performing well for Texas during his one-and-done season.
I’ve never played basketball professionally and excelled like Ralph II, but I am a father raising competitive athlete sons. Believe me, Ralph II knows deep down that his son has limitations on the court. I don’t blame him for the frustrations. But Ralph III would get more playing time if he wasn’t so inconsistent and lacking in aggression.