A nightmare scenario for the Gophers.
Writer’s edit: On Monday, Minnesota announced that Mbakwe suffered an ACL tear and will miss the remainder of the season. As discussed last night, I believe this effectively means his days of playing college basketball are over. His toughness and support from the sidelines will still be a great value to this year’s team and I hope for a full and speedy recovery and good things on the court professionally for Trevor.
There are numerous examples of student-athletes being granted a sixth year that is added onto their standard five-year clock, but again, the fact pattern in Mbakwe’s circumstance is significantly different than those examples and I believe the likelihood of another year is extremely remote.
First off, like most everyone interested in or involved with college basketball, my thoughts are with Trevor Mbakwe and it’s not certain how serious the injury to his knee is. Let’s hope for the best.
I was at the postgame presser tonight here in Orlando after Minnesota’s 86-70 loss to Dayton and Tubby said, “it ain’t good” before saying that he hopes Mbakwe’s right knee injury is nothing serious. We should know soon just how bad it is, but the questions about his future should he be out the remainder of this season are already being asked.
This is not simply a hardship waiver matter (often referred to as a medical redshirt). If unable to play the remainder of the season, Mbakwe would likely be granted an additional year of competition were it not for the Five-Year Rule. However, the 2011-12 academic year is the fifth year on Mbakwe’s clock.
A Five-Year Rule waiver is a different discussion from a medical hardship waiver and it would be relevant should Trevor be out for the remainder of this season. In general, a Five-Year waiver is granted by the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement for reasons, based on objective evidence, beyond the control of the student-athlete or institution which deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season within the five-year period.
The circumstances here don’t fit into the requirements of the Five-Year Rule waiver. However, requests can be made and the Committee has the ability to review requests that do not meet the more-than-one-year criteria in cases of extraordinary or extreme hardship.
Based on the circumstance here, I highly doubt Trevor Mbakwe would be given the opportunity to complete in 2012-13.
Mbakwe did have knee surgery as a freshman at Marquette University, but on his left knee. Tonight’s injury was to his right knee. Late in that season with the Warriors, he was lightly used by then-coach Tom Crean and therefore used a year of eligibliity.
In the near future, Tubby will likely look for more from Andre Ingram and Rodney Williams. In limited minutes, Ingram has been a tough workhorse inside, but a question would be his durability. Smith said that Ingram “is still learning our system and what his role is”.
As for Rodney Williams, Tubby was blunt. “We need more out of Rodney. Just getting him on the boards. We need more rebounds.”
The Gophers return to action Wednesday night when they host Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. It’s a late tip (8:15pm CT) and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
J.B. Bauer
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Twitter: JBBauer612