Nervous about Mbakwe

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Weisbrod

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As the season approaches, I'm getting more and more excited about the Gophers. However, it also brings the Mbakwe situation to the front of my mind. Does anyone have any "inside information" or realistic predictions about what's going to happen with him? As far as I'm concerned, he could make the most immediate impact of any new player in the Big Ten. I think the preseason prognosticators will agree with me, or, I agree with the preseason prognosticators.
 

Maybe it's the total opposite of this, but I feel like no news is good news.
 


Couldn't agree more, the less we hear the better. I have a feeling he plays, from the evidence I have heard regarding the story, I don't think the victim has much of a case against Mbakwe.
 

I don't know if I'm being naive, but I'm not too worried either. The school has all the evidence, all the info, and has not suspended him. Nothing new is going to come out, since I believe his trial will be after the season.

On a side note - I know I've said this before, but I'm also confident he'll play because I just cannot see Trevor doing what he was accused of. I can see other guys doing something like that, but not him.

I think with Trevor, we can really make a run in the tourney (I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, we need to get in first)...but he could really be that missing piece of a winning puzzle.

I am just so freakin' excited for this team! I think we're capable of a top 4 finish in the BT.
 


GopherLady said:
On a side note - I know I've said this before, but I'm also confident he'll play because I just cannot see Trevor doing what he was accused of.
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At the same time, are you confident that Mbakwe heading back to Minnesota immediately after the incident was an extreme coincidence?
 

At the same time, are you confident that Mbakwe heading back to Minnesota immediately after the incident was an extreme coincidence?
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Where would you go Plinnius?
 





I'm guessing......

he'll be allowed to go to school and practice, but we won't see him in a game until more information comes to light.
 


I'm actually not that worried about it. If he was going to be gone I think it already would have happened. The fact that Maturi is waiting so long would seem to be good news for Trevor in that, and this is only my opinion, that if anything really damning rears it's head he won't play, otherwise he's good to go.

Can't wait to see him play. :)
 

All of this talk of half-way measures (on the team but can't play, etc.) makes no sense to me. In my uninformed opinion, I think this has to be one way or the other -- either he is all the way on the team with no restrictions or he is all the way off. What possible justification could there be for some halfway measure? Unproven allegations are either enough to keep someone off the team or they aren't.

I would guess that Mbakwe is allowed to play this year. If Mbakwe is ultimately found not guilty, he would never be able to get this season back if he is suspended -- the damage could not be repaired. If he is ultimately convicted, kick him off the team then. I think Maturi will let him play until the case is resolved. If allegations were enough to prevent him from playing I think it would be because of a U of M, Big Ten or NCAA policy and we would know by now.
 



94Gopher said:
If allegations were enough to prevent him from playing I think it would be because of a U of M, Big Ten or NCAA policy and we would know by now.
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I think we're seeing the U of M policy playing out: judge each situation on its own merits. Maturi didn't feel there was sufficient justification to proceed on the suspension from school but (apparently) doesn't feel a decision is warranted as yet in terms of his playing on the team. That's why Maturi gets the title and salary and I'm more than comfortable with leaving it on his desk to decide.
 

In addition, I think Maturi wants it to be clear that he is taking this situation seriously. He weighed all the facts, etc. And then he lets him play.

This speculation about him not playing until more information comes to light is silly. The police are done with this case. They have moved on. They are doing no further investigation. The only thing left for the cops to do is testify if there is a trial.
 

Rick Mons said:
I think we're seeing the U of M policy playing out: judge each situation on its own merits. Maturi didn't feel there was sufficient justification to proceed on the suspension from school but (apparently) doesn't feel a decision is warranted as yet in terms of his playing on the team. That's why Maturi gets the title and salary and I'm more than comfortable with leaving it on his desk to decide.
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Exactly right. Maturi would be a fool to play his cards right now when he doesn't have to. What if Mbakwe screws up next week? Maturi could finalize the suspension and not appear to have been fooled. If Mbakwe, as expected, keeps his record clean then Maturi can give him the go ahead to play when it matters. The longer Mbakwe is on good behavior the better it looks for the U to let him play.
 

I basically agree with the idea that there's no reason for Maturi to pronounce anything sooner then necessary. But I'm not as comfortable in assuming he's going to let him play. Maturi has always been one not to rush into decisions and wait until the last minute, even if wasn't prudent. (See Glen Mason's last contract for an example.)
 

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