Just think if this team had a healthy Mo and Mbakwe

[notagopherfan]

they would be totally dominate in the paint. I know that's not the reality right now but just imagine if these 2 guys were healthy with scorers like welch, hollins, hollins and coleman. RS3 would function so much better at the 4 spot as well. He'd be very efficient. Give it some time, Tubby will get this team playin some big time ball.

 

[MadtownGopher]

You could almost add Royce to the thread title. I don't really like thinking about what-ifs though. I'm pretty happy with what we have now, especially if we can go on a nice little run over the next few weeks. I like the way this team has been playing, especially our young guys in the back court.

 

[gbbfan]

However, don't forget the entire dynamic would be different. With Mbakwe and/or Mo in the lineup would Williams be playing as well as he is now. Would Coleman have been given the same chance to excel if Trevor and/or Mo was still in the lineup.

In a dream world all of that would have happened and we would probably to 4-2 or 5-1 instead of 2-4 in the Big Ten.

But hey, why not dream!

 

[macgopher]

Mbakwe is gone and I do miss watching him, hard working class act, 110% all the time. That said, if he were still around would we see what we are seeing today? Rodney excelling the way that he is, and three guards in the lineup much of the time? Now if you had a healthy Mbakwe and benched permanently the lazy underachiever Sampson......

 

[fryguy22]

However, don't forget the entire dynamic would be different. With Mbakwe and/or Mo in the lineup would Williams be playing as well as he is now. Would Coleman have been given the same chance to excel if Trevor and/or Mo was still in the lineup.

In a dream world all of that would have happened and we would probably to 4-2 or 5-1 instead of 2-4 in the Big Ten.

But hey, why not dream!

Mbakwe is gone and I do miss watching him, hard working class act, 110% all the time. That said, if he were still around would we see what we are seeing today? Rodney excelling the way that he is, and three guards in the lineup much of the time? Now if you had a healthy Mbakwe and benched permanently the lazy underachiever Sampson......

Both great points. Obviously it sucks that we lost Mbakwe - but in a way, it's helped the development of Austin Hollins, Rodney, and Joe Coleman among others.

Do you really think Coleman would be seeing the floor - much less closing out games for us - if we hadn't struggled those first few B10 games? Hopefully something positive comes out of this in the long run

 

[KyGopherfan]

Too bad we lost Trevor for the whole season! It would've been ideal if he could suit up now and start playing.

 

[920/414 Gopher]

Honestly, from the moment Rodney slid into his new position, it seemed like it was almost a blessing in disguise (for Rodney's personal career, not for the Gophers). I don't even think it's a question of "if" Rodney would be playing as well as he is now. I just think he flat out would not be. Rodney was visibly uncomfortable with his position with Mbakwe in there.