Golden Nugz 02.17.12
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 8:58 AM CST
in Golden Nuggets
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PrintBelieve it or not Gopher baseball begins their season TODAY. Hard to believe that anyone could be playing baseball on February 17th, but today is day 1 of the Big Ten / Big East Challenge.
You can listen to the game for free HERE.
Minnesota will face Louisville this morning at 9:00 am CST. The Cardinals were picked by the conference coaches to finish 2nd in the league with RHP-Justin Amlung being selected as the preseason pitcher of the year. Amlung is the probably L'ville starter and the Gophers are likely to counter with T.J. Oakes.
On Saturday they will face St. Johns, who is the preseason #1 team in the Big East. Outfielder Jeremy Baltz is the preseason player of the year. Then on Sunday the Gophers will face USF (#4 preseason). This should be a very challenging weekend for the Gophers who recently were pegged as the 3rd best team in the Big Ten by the coaches.
- If you don't get a chance to come watch the Gophers live, you can catch them on the Big Ten Network four times this season.
- Gopher Hockey is ready to face Bemidji State this weekend. The Beavers are 8th in the WCHA and the Gophers are hoping to hang on to 1st place, a well-played Friday night would be a good start.
- Trevor Mbakwe's legal issues appear to be over. This week he pleaded no contest in the assault case and will serve one year probation and pay a small fine. Nothing will appear on his record.
- Rivals.com ranked the Big Ten recruiting classes by position groups. Kind of interesting for something that has no real value.
- The MN Daily has an article on Rodney Williams and Ralph Sampson co-existing in the frontcourt this season.
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Hard for my to imagine TM
in a Gopher uniform next year. Would be great though——like TStoudemire coming back next year but I guess it is two different personal situations.
I can get REAL excited about next year with Mbakwe back
Andre and Joe are going to be very good together in the backcourt. And they’ll only get more opportunities with Mbakwe in the middle.
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by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
Really? I honestly think he will be back
I know he’s getting older, but you have to think he has a shot at the NBA, but not without another year of proving himself at a high level.
"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
My gut says NCAA won't allow him back
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
I agree. How could they?
UNLESS….UNLESS they look at a kid who got into trouble, really started to turn his life around, then was derailed by a devastating injury.
If they really care about the kid, the athlete, they would let him return. The difference in where he could be athletically if he returns vs. if he does not is large. Maybe it’s the difference between drifting off into developmental league or Europe instead of making an NBA roster…not sure, that’s a stretch, but it will definitely have an impact on him. If he can come back and work on fine-tuning, stay healthy and put up decent numbers…it would help. Then again, guy is 25? 26? I forget…but there are 19/20 year olds starting in the NBA…so his “useful life” in the NBA is diminished with each year he jerks around in college.
Then again, and I find this more likely (even probable), the NCAA can say “he came, got a full degree, sat out for legal/transfer issues, unfortunately got hurt…but it is what it is” and he’s done. I really think this happens.
If they really cared about the kid
They wouldn’t be the NCAA.
personally I don't think his future lies in the NBA
age is one thing and the fact that he can’t really score is another. There are very few guys who make a career out of being good rebounders. In the NBA his athleticism and explosiveness won’t stand out nearly as much.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
He learned to shoot free throws
In the off season last year, though. Which is one way he can score in the NBA. His stock would be much higher if he could hit a jumper, or had more consistent post moves, which maybe he can still learn? But regardless I think he can hang in the NBA for awhile as a role player for defense and rebounding. That is if he can get there.
I think had he been healthy this year he would have been drafted in the first round, as I said, might have hung around awhile. Now that’s gone. Can he fight his way to the league via Europe/D League? Seems a lot harder.
Which is why I guess I think he comes back if he has that opportunity. It puts him back in the world of maybe getting drafted.
He's 23, I think
"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
Why...
…do you keep insinuating that he is so old? He just turned 23 last month. That is a normal age for a guy in his 5th year of eligibility.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/36628/trevor-mbakwe
Just ignorance....
…or maybe he looks old with his facial hair….but I agree it’s just stupid that I keep thinking he’s 26 years old.
He does have a kid, am I right?
And he’s been through a lot, so maybe to him his life feels like it’s past the point where most 23 year-olds are. Pure speculation though
"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
guys who play for 5 years are not generally hot items in the NBA draft
he himself is not old, but there is usually a reason guys don’t go pro after their FR or SO years.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 4:22 PM CST up reply actions
My gut says he leaves anyway.
At this point, it’s prob about making some money before injury can take him down for good. If that’s in the NBA or in Europe or Europe is probably moot.
That said, I also doubt he has much shot at getting a wavier anyhow.
Rivals Smivals....
Despite my subject line I did find in interesting. Breaking it down by position group is a good complement to just an overall recruiting class ranking; it shows how your team did in the positions it was focusing on. Of course you never know for sure until they play…..of course you might not even know what position they will ultimately end up in (and hopefully shine); see T. Stoudemire.
Haha
Kind of interesting for something that has no real value.
I love it
"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
Gopher Baseball
up 4-1 in top of the 8th over #15 Louisville!
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
bottom of the 8th
and we led off with a double!
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
Definitely a nice start for the Big Ten.
Anyone know why Nebraska is the only team that isn’t partaking in the Big East-Big Ten challenge?
For some fans, Kerry Wood is that dollap of pumpkin paste.
RAIN DELAY
with 2 outs in the 9th!
Gophers up 7-3 but Louisville has some runners on.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher
by GopherNation on Feb 17, 2012 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
That is called the Minnesota Folly
Abstract, inexplicable things like being thrown on rain delay with 2 outs in the 9th winning 7-3, then eventually losing as your guys get back out in the field…guy gets walked….guy sprays a slap hit and scores 2…..yada yada yada…..
Would any of us be shocked? No.
This being said, we’ll win this one and should feel great about it!
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