Golden Nugz 01.25.12

by GopherNation on Jan 25, 2012 9:30 AM CST in Golden Nuggets

The Gopher news most talked about today is the appeal by Trevor Mbakwe and the Gophers with the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.

"It's going to be a tough waiver to kind of get through. The biggest question is going to be the year that I sat out when I first got here. That's probably going to be what the NCAA is going to look at as the determining factor if I'm able to get it or not. I'm just praying that I'm blessed with the ability to come back if I wanted to."

That last phrase, "if I wanted to." is the key one. Gaining a 6th year can be challenging but it did recently happen for Gopher athletics with Kim Royston receiving the extra season. Considering Mbakwe missed a year because of legal issues, his might be harder to get through the NCAA. But we will see.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the NCAA Basketb-Brawl between the Gophers and Ohio State. Hardball Times is a baseball site but because of the involvement of Dave Winfield he remembers the ugly incident (with link to youtube of the event). Not a proud moment for the Gophers.
Dennis Brackin has a good article on the decline of football for the city schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. "Gophers coach Tim Brewster got four players in a single recruiting class out of Dallas Skyline High School -- or one more than the Gophers have gotten out of Minneapolis the past 15 years."
ESPN B1G Blog takes a look at the number of returning starters for each of the Big Ten teams. They also look at the remaining recruiting needs for the teams in the Legends Division.

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Comments

Mbakwe

Well, at least it’s not a sure thing he’s gone yet.

As for the brawl, I hadn’t seen that footage before. Ugly stuff.

by amiller92 on Jan 25, 2012 10:17 AM CST reply actions

I'd be dying to get out if I was him

he’ll be like 28 or something….I’d kill myself if I was still in college at 28. However, by the time I was 28 I had been working for 7 years and I was dying to get back into college…so maybe he’s taking the short-cut method by sticking around.

I’d love having him with a one more year matured Coleman….

by jimipig on Jan 25, 2012 11:57 AM CST reply actions

Isn't he 23?

Plenty of people are still in college at that point because of military service, careers, etc.

"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa

by mnbrewer on Jan 25, 2012 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

The real reason to leave

He’ll be graduated. Once he has the degree he’s probably better off playing in Europe.

by DJL44 on Jan 25, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Sounds familiar

You mean, the idea of having Mbakwe and Mo Walker in the same frontcourt with Joe Coleman and Dre Hollins/Julian Welch in the backcourt? Sounds alot like how this season was supposed to turn out.

Journalism. Enhanced.

by MNdailyGuy on Jan 25, 2012 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

hey

Don’t forget my boy Austin.

by amiller92 on Jan 25, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

he's 23

being 24 is old for a college super-senior, but it isn’t ancient.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher

by GopherNation on Jan 25, 2012 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

Minneapolis Football

The Gophers’ biggest recruiting obstacle is that Minnesota as a state produces only between 10 and 15 Division I players a year

That’s really depressing.

by Brian Moen on Jan 25, 2012 11:59 AM CST reply actions

I don't get this.

Does the state of Iowa really produce more than 10-15? Somehow, Ferentz has been able to make do with a roster that, in 2011, had 38 Iowa players on it, despite the fact it had another D-1 school to compete with.

Kill has to get half of those 10-15 kids, and establish his recruiting pipelines in Florida, Texas, California, and Ohio, and the team will be fine.

by JG2112 on Jan 25, 2012 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely.

No doubt this is killing us…also pertains to basketball and was ONE free pass I gave to Tubby.

Also, just need to get the top 5 of those (or 7 of the top 10?) and then it’s no longer an obstacle…but that will take this current class including Nelson to join the recruits. MacDonald would help as well…but I consider him gone. I find it extremely unlikely that such a wishy-washy kid would stay home. He’s got stars in his eyes….

by jimipig on Jan 25, 2012 12:12 PM CST reply actions

basketball is different

there are a handful of BCS scholarship basketball players every year from MN. You only need a couple recruits every year. They are not all of the Royce White caliber, but there is some basketball talent in Minnesota. Especially 2007, 08, 09 and 11produced a decent sized crop of MN kids who get high level scholarships. And that is not including a large number of kids who go to mid-majors and do very well. 2013 is going to be pretty weak but then 2014 is going to have several big time kids.

2012 – Sanjay Lumpkin – Northwestern

2011 – Joe Coleman – MN
2011 – Shelby Moats – Vandy
2011 – Ross Travis – Penn St

2010 – Kevin Noreen – West Virginia

2009 – Royce – MN/ISU
2009 – Rodney – MN
2009 – Bruesewitz – Wis
2009 – Mike Brodhammer – Notre Dame
2009 – Trent Locket – AZ St (leading scorer)

2008 – Jordan Taylor – Wis
2008 – Berggren – Wis
2008 – Anthony Tucker – Iowa
2008 – Andrew Brommer – Iowa

2007 – Al Nolen – MN
2007 – Hoffarber – MN
2007 – Cole Aldrich – Kansas
2007 – Jon Leuer – Wis

what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher

by GopherNation on Jan 25, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions