I think it's much simpler than that. Mbakwe came back for one reason. To improve his NBA draft stock.
Tubby is squashing that chance like a bug. If I'm Trevor I am secretly pissed off that I am not being given the opportunity to get back into a rhythm.
DUI or no DUI, I think Trevor would have preferred to be kicked off the team and play elsewhere if he is only going to get 15 minutes a game. If his short minutes are a result of "punishment" I think Trevor has every right to be pissed off. We are led to believe that he has done everything Tubby has asked of him. If Tubby and Trevor have sat down and have agreed that he will be starting come Big Ten play then that is a different story.
His draft stock is falling and time is running short. The only reason he came back was to become a lottery pick.
Don't get defensive, I'm here to help. Here's what you need to understand about Mbakwe & how things work...
1) He's been a phenomenal college player when healthy & eligible, but he'll never be a great pro (NBA anyhow). His game does not translate at all.
2) He's undersized. At only 6'6"-6'7" he's a very short NBA PF & it's the only position he can play which hurts him because NBA teams want guys versatile enough to play 2 positions. He's not tall enough to play C or athletic enough to play/defend SF's in the NBA.
3) He's not a scorer. He's got no jumper, no turnaround, no fadeaway, no hook, no shot he can hit consistently at all. All he does is 2-hand dunks & put backs. That's not gonna cut it in the NBA.
4) He'll be a 25 year old rookie. In a league that values raw athleticism & potential above all else I suspect NBA GM's will not gamble on a 25 yo, when they can gamble on 19 & 20 yo's.
5) He's had two severe knee injuries & may not be healed up?
In summary, he came back to the U not to move up to lottery pick, but because he's got to show the NBA scouts his knee is 100% or they'll never waste a pick with guaranteed money on him. In my opinion his goal is to get back to a carbon copy of two years ago so the scouts can see that knee's fine. In that scenario, someone might take him late in the 1st round & he'd get paid around $1,000,000.00 (a million) a year. If Tubby sends Trevor out there 34 minutes a night in non conference & he re-injures that knee, or it's clear to everyone that it's not completely healed he'll likely never play a minute in the NBA. Better to ease him back in & make him look effective when he is out there. Plus, I think he likes Tubby & playing at the U.
