Game One of the post-Trevor Mbakwe era starts tonight for the Gophers.
About 54 hours after the announcement that the senior forward is done for the season because of his torn right ACL, Minnesota (5-1) will play Virginia Tech (6-1) in a nationally televised Big Ten-ACC Challenge game from Williams Arena. Months ago the Gophers knew this would be a statement game, but no one had any idea the assignment was going to look so difficult.
“Anytime you lose your best player it puts you in a real bind,” Dan Dakich said. “You want other people to step up.”
Dakich, a former college player and coach now analyzing games for ESPN, includes Mbakwe among the top 10 players in the country. Few collegians impact a game like Mbakwe who was averaging 14 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season, after averaging a double-double last season including a Big Ten best 10.5 rebounds last year. He also ranks with the best shot blockers in the country and was a preseason All-American.
Mbakwe had improved his play this fall from last season. His free throw shooting and leadership had become assets for the Gophers. When the Gophers found themselves in close games, Mbakwe often was a difference maker.
That productivity had Dakich sympathizing with the Gophers this week. When he coached at Bowling Green, Dakich said he lost his best player during seven of 10 years.
Dakich suggested head coach Tubby Smith, his assistant coaches and the Minnesota players will have to avoid becoming “deflated” about Mbakwe. Even before the injury (sustained on Sunday in a loss to Dayton), the Gophers were predicted to finish among the bottom six Big Ten teams. Now no one will expect anything of Minnesota other than a fight to avoid last place in the conference.
Dakich said junior forward Rodney Williams and senior center Ralph Sampson III — both underachievers in the opinion of fans — must lead the Gophers now, replacing the scoring, rebounding, defense, and leadership missing without Mbakwe. Williams has been even more inconsistent than Sampson during his career but his athleticism is extraordinary. “It’s time he (Williams) played like an All-Big Ten kid,” Dakich said.
Sampson? “He has the ability and experience to be as good as any Big Ten player there is,” Dakich said.
Sampson’s lack of aggressiveness has characterized his career but Dakich said that needs to change. “You never want to leave college the way you came in. That’s your fault.”
Smith is in his fifth season at Minnesota and has lost key players because of injuries, transfers and off-court problems. Now comes the Mbakwe season ending injury. “This makes me sick for Tubby and the kids,” Dakich said.