Mbakwe

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bga1

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Trevor is reminding me a lot of Chris Webber. He just needs to develop a shot from 5 to 10 feet. Another year of development and he could be amazing. Not since Webber have I seen a guy in college ball who can rise up flat footed and slam it home in a crowd like that.
 

My hope

My hope is Trevor can keep track of our timeouts better than Webber.
 

I'm not sure I really see the Chris Webber comparison. Webber was more of a skill player. Great passer for a big man.
 

He also needs to grow another three inches, but they are both strong and run pigeon toed.
 

Webber was as complete as Glenn Robinson, inside, outside, ball handling, everywhere. Trevor might someday match their inside game, but he needs more than just a mid-range jumper to match them
 


I was thinking more like DJ White from Indiana a few years ago...not as tall but more leaping ability...but similar styles around the basket and limited range...
 


The way he can rise up flat footed in traffic and emphatically dunk it is very reminiscent of Webber. He had a few today that were just plain wicked. Trevor is a full grown man.
 

He reminds me of Ben Wallace before he became lazy in the NBA. Wallace circa '02 was a bit undersized at the 4 but could jump out of the gym and grab any rebound in sight. He did both. Was awful from the line and outside of 5 feet and spazzed at times around the basket.

Sound like Mbawke? Wallace was a better defender than Trevor is right now but it's the closest comparison I can see and not a bad one for Trevor.
 



Pewterschmidt said:
He reminds me of Ben Wallace before he became lazy in the NBA. Wallace circa '02 was a bit undersized at the 4 but could jump out of the gym and grab any rebound in sight. He did both. Was awful from the line and outside of 5 feet and spazzed at times around the basket.

Sound like Mbawke? Wallace was a better defender than Trevor is right now but it's the closest comparison I can see and not a bad one for Trevor.
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I'd say this is close...although Ben plays taller the Trev and is a much better shot blocker...but I think Trev is better at finishing than Ben...so it balances out. I don't see Trev growing another 2 inches...so its unlikely he can have the kind of pro career Ben had unless he can develop a mid-range game and better moves with his back to the basket.
 

Trevor made the journey to the stadium worth it today.
 

bga1 said:
Trevor is reminding me a lot of Chris Webber. He just needs to develop a shot from 5 to 10 feet. Another year of development and he could be amazing. Not since Webber have I seen a guy in college ball who can rise up flat footed and slam it home in a crowd like that.
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Tough to compare Trevor to Chris Webber, at this point.

When Webber was 4 years removed from high school, he was already flashing a fairly complete game in the NBA.

So far, we've primarly seen Trevor against the Eastern Kentucky's of the world. Let's wait to crown him...
 

I really enjoy watching Trevor play. His passion, strength, and athleticism are a jewel to watch. But, and this is a big but, he must improve his free throws. Come conference time and March Madness he has to hit the FTs or else his inside work will be nullified by just hacking him to miss the shot. If he misses the 1 and 1s and 2 FTs, we come away with 0 points.
 



dinkything said:
Tough to compare Trevor to Chris Webber, at this point.

When Webber was 4 years removed from high school, he was already flashing a fairly complete game in the NBA.

I will crown Trevor. He is one awesome sumbitsch.

So far, we've primarly seen Trevor against the Eastern Kentucky's of the world. Let's wait to crown him...[/QUOTE


I will crown Trevor as one awesome sumbitsch.
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Trevor reminds me of Joey Dorcey from Memphis a few years ago.
 

He reminds me of Dennis Rodman. Fearless and powerful but a raw defensive and rebounding talent with no noticeable offensive skills. I don't consider 6'8" and 240-260 dunking over someone 6'7" and 205 as an offensive skill because it won't happen with any frequency in the big ten.

Once he learns to position himself he could begin putting up some real scary rebounding numbers and altering every play the other team attempts under the basket and in the lane. I look forward to watching every game just to see his progress.
 


I'm sick of people saying that Mbakwe has no offensive skill/moves. You don't score and get fouled that often without any moves.
 

underground629 said:
I'm sick of people saying that Mbakwe has no offensive skill/moves. You don't score and get fouled that often without any moves.
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Look, Mbakwe has been playing great. His rebounding is spectacular. But he doesn't really have post moves, and he's not a great interior scorer, other than dunks. It doesn't matter, though, as long as he sinks free throws. But let's not pretend like anybody's insulting him by comparing him to Ben Wallace. He's very similar to Wallace, and that's a very, very good thing.
 

I don't think he's that similar to Ben Wallace offensively. Ben Wallace could barely score, he had the touch of the rapist, and he literally had zero moves. Just because Trevor dunks the ball a lot doesn't mean he doesn't have moves to get the dunks off. Also, when he gets fouled it usually means he's doing a move to the basket. You don't get like 8 ft attempts a game by having no moves. You don't score 14 points a game with no moves. When we throw it to him in the post, he almost always scores or gets fouled. That doesn't happen on its own. It's not like he's always literally under the basket, receives the ball, jumps straight up and scores or gets fouled.

jmag21 said:
Look, Mbakwe has been playing great. His rebounding is spectacular. But he doesn't really have post moves, and he's not a great interior scorer, other than dunks. It doesn't matter, though, as long as he sinks free throws. But let's not pretend like anybody's insulting him by comparing him to Ben Wallace. He's very similar to Wallace, and that's a very, very good thing.
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josh087 said:
Mbakwe = Reggie Evans
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I've said it before, but this is spot on. I was down at Iowa for Reggie's junior and senior seasons (don't hate me, I ended up coming home to the U and never placed the Hawkeyes above the Gophers). They are nearly identical players right down to their shakiness at the line. In fact, this entire gopher team reminds me of those Iowa teams. With Trevor playing the role of Evans and Blake as Luke Recker. I guess we do have more overall size...but it's still a fun comparison.
 

underground629 said:
I don't think he's that similar to Ben Wallace offensively. Ben Wallace could barely score, he had the touch of the rapist, and he literally had zero moves. Just because Trevor dunks the ball a lot doesn't mean he doesn't have moves to get the dunks off. Also, when he gets fouled it usually means he's doing a move to the basket. You don't get like 8 ft attempts a game by having no moves. You don't score 14 points a game with no moves. When we throw it to him in the post, he almost always scores or gets fouled. That doesn't happen on its own. It's not like he's always literally under the basket, receives the ball, jumps straight up and scores or gets fouled.
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He has one move, and really it is just to barrel his weight at the basket. And it's not bad. He is athletic and explosive enough that this is successful, and explains the foul calls. But i think when people talk about moves for a big guy as in skill post moves, which Mbakwe doesn't have or hasn't shown. And hell, he might not need them, because what he is doing now works pretty dang well. But lets not pretend he is getting these easy dunks by faking defenders out with well executed up and unders or what not. Again, this isn't an insult, its wonderful to have a guy with that great of athleticism.
 

Trevor

Trevor is my favorite player. He doesnt have a go to move that's obvious. He is using strength and athletic ability that works now but if he wants to make it to the NBA he will need to polish his skills.

He played well against Virginia but Malik Scott played well to. Guys like Malik Scott are all over the NBA. Trevor is not that big in order to make it in the NBA he will need to polish he offensive skills. He is better then Joey Dorsey who is on an NBA roster he is not at this point better then Reggie Evans.

The best thing is that despite how well Trevor is playing he needs to come back for another year which makes me happy. Trevor can worry about the NBA next year.

When he is on the left block he drops steps baseline he goes up and gets fouled that is fine in college in the NBA that shot gets paddled by Kostas Koufous.
 

Somebody needs to make a Mbakwe highlight video on youtube. He has already had a bunch of huge dunks and blocked shots.
 

Roland Brooks said:
Trevor is my favorite player. He doesnt have a go to move that's obvious. He is using strength and athletic ability that works now but if he wants to make it to the NBA he will need to polish his skills.

He played well against Virginia but Malik Scott played well to. Guys like Malik Scott are all over the NBA. Trevor is not that big in order to make it in the NBA he will need to polish he offensive skills. He is better then Joey Dorsey who is on an NBA roster he is not at this point better then Reggie Evans.

The best thing is that despite how well Trevor is playing he needs to come back for another year which makes me happy. Trevor can worry about the NBA next year.

When he is on the left block he drops steps baseline he goes up and gets fouled that is fine in college in the NBA that shot gets paddled by Kostas Koufous.
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mike
 

I guess it depends on what you consider to be a move. He usually does a hop step to the middle and then goes up and either scores or gets fouled. If he does the hop step and it's covered, he usually pivots and goes under the guy. I consider that a move and a counter move. Not very many players do that effectively. If that's not a post move, what is? A hook shot? A slow spin to a hook shot? Pivoting? Pump fake? I'm not sure why those would be considered moves if what Trevor does isn't. If you're talking about skill post moves, I think of what KG does. Almost nobody is able to do that.

The Big L said:
He has one move, and really it is just to barrel his weight at the basket. And it's not bad. He is athletic and explosive enough that this is successful, and explains the foul calls. But i think when people talk about moves for a big guy as in skill post moves, which Mbakwe doesn't have or hasn't shown. And hell, he might not need them, because what he is doing now works pretty dang well. But lets not pretend he is getting these easy dunks by faking defenders out with well executed up and unders or what not. Again, this isn't an insult, its wonderful to have a guy with that great of athleticism.
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If Trevor could develop a little better footwork with his back to the basket, and some shooting touch on those little in the paint, he could become a 20 point man by next season if he stays.
 

FWIW, Damian Johnson was talking to Trevor on twitter the other day about having to develop a go to move so he could move up in the draft projection. At this time I believe he's an early second rounder.
 

Reserve said:
FWIW, Damian Johnson was talking to Trevor on twitter the other day about having to develop a go to move so he could move up in the draft projection. At this time I believe he's an early second rounder.
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Yep- right now he's a second rounder in the 2012 draft. DJ is right, TM needs a go to move and he needs to be able to shoot the ball from 10 ft. FWIW, Rodney has now dropped off the draft lists for the next two years. He can be back on there, but this serves notice that there's a ton of skill developing that needs to happen with Rodney. So we should have both of these deluxe athletes for this year and next.
 

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