Time for Mbakwe to take Eliason's Starting Spot?

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mnsports255

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Elliot Eliason has taken several huge steps back from last season.
Last year he was a great defender,shot blocker, and rebounder.

Now he gets bullied down low, can't box out, can't secure a rebound, plays poor defense, can't defend without fouling, makes bad decisions, and misses post shots.

Mbakwe, while still not fully back to normal, or even close, seems to be the obvious option to take Eliason's spot because Eliason just can't be a starter with the way he plays and his demeanor on the court.

Mbakwe's offensive rebounding is such a plus, he is great boxing out and grabbing rebounds on the defensive side also! He plays exceptional defense while not giving up fouls. He is an option on the offensive end too even though he's not all the way back and can finish down low.

Mbakwe is already getting big minutes, while Eliason gets pulled early in each half.
So.... Time for Mbakwe to get back into the starting lineup and put Eliason into a small bench role?

I say yes! Tuesday at Florida State is very realistic.
 


From the Barn said:
His non-starting may not be because of basketball reasons.
Click to expand...

Well, I take Tubby's word that there is no hurry in rushing Mbakwe back into the starting lineup.
But if he isn't back in the starting lineup come big ten season, you could be right!
 

I doubt this is the case if you watch him. Trevor is not all there yet. Hes a little hesitant at times, which is understandable. I hope he gets his legs soon cause i agree EE and Mo were killing us out there today. Both are a liability right now.

From the Barn said:
His non-starting may not be because of basketball reasons.
Click to expand...
 

When EE walks out there to start against Stanford, I'll be shaking my head. He just hasn't earned the starting spot and the playing time. Last year he worked his way into the lineup with quality minutes off the bench, and he should have to earn his minutes this year, too. Today he wasn't doing the team much good out there. Gotta say, though, nobody was keeping the Tigers off the boards very well.
 


With Mbakwe's 19 pt, 12 rebound game today and another terrible showing from Eliason, you've just gotta make the move in time for Tuesday if you're Tubby.
 

I am sure Tubby has talked with Trevor about everything from off court issues to injury recovery to working back into condition, etc. Anything we say is pure speculation.

But Coach mnsports is on a roll.
 

Is it possible that Mbakwe starts in place of Coleman? Depending on match ups it, it will be hard to start both Rodney and Trevor down low if the other team has a lot of height. This could get the guys into early foul trouble. I know Fl St especially has a lot of height.. Coleman has been a turnover machine and has looked out of control. It may be beneficial for him to feel out the flow of the game from the bench. Rodney would be pushed out to the 3, but I think with his new found confidence and his improved shooting, this would not be an issue.
 

Bottom line is that Trevor gets his 25-30 minutes and is on the court in the final 5 minutes if the game is on the line.
 



BOUNDOUTPASSDUNK said:
Bottom line is that Trevor gets his 25-30 minutes and is on the court in the final 5 minutes if the game is on the line.
Click to expand...

This^. Starting is important only to some who don't understand the big picture. How many times does one person (me) have to say that it is not important who starts, because ya can only start 5. Who's on the court at crunch time is what matters.
 

BOUNDOUTPASSDUNK said:
Bottom line is that Trevor gets his 25-30 minutes and is on the court in the final 5 minutes if the game is on the line.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Why does ANYONE care about who is on the court at the beginning of a 40 minute basketball game. What I care about is who plays the majority of minutes to help ensure a win.

With Mbakwe we are essentially playing without a center and instead using power forwards. There will be games when doing so will work, but there will be other times when having a tall player in the lineup will be essential for defensive schemes against true centers. In those cases both Eliason and Walker will be extremely important and will need to play significant minutes.

Mbakwe is getting 25 to 30 minutes a game. He has finished the past few games. That is much more important than who starts.
 

tinyarch...OMG, shock alert. We finally agree on something. I think I am gonna toast us with a gin and tonic. :)
 




Right on Gopher brothers.

Nate Tiny Arch, yes that's my point in the Walker role thread if not plainly stated. Walker will be needed against true beefy centers.

As to EE, a work in process, and Tubby doesn't want to ruin the sophomore's confidence by banishing him to the bench. One good 10 minute game and he'll be back to what he was doing mid-season last year.
 

BOUNDOUTPASSDUNK said:
Right on Gopher brothers.

Nate Tiny Arch, yes that's my point in the Walker role thread if not plainly stated. Walker will be needed against true beefy centers.

As to EE, a work in process, and Tubby doesn't want to ruin the sophomore's confidence by banishing him to the bench. One good 10 minute game and he'll be back to what he was doing mid-season last year.
Click to expand...


I get what your trying to say, but he just hasn't shown heart and hustle when he's been in. It's about getting that 50-50 rebound he's struggling with the 75-25 balls at this point and playing with intensity at this point in time. He just isn't doing that right now.

I need to see the EE fire that he had last year! He just hasn't shown any of it this year.
 

Hopefully EE's effectiveness will improve as the year goes on. Either way, if he hits the weight room hard this offseason I bet he will be more effective next year. Needs to get a little stronger.
 

There's also something to be said having Eliason playing with the starters to pop things off where offense isn't really needed, and then when the 2nd unit gets some minutes, being able to have Trev out there during that time to feed it to him and get tough boards.

As long as Mbakwe is out there at the end of games and is getting starters minutes, I don't really care if he starts or not. And with the foul trouble he keeps getting into anyway, he's limiting his own minutes out there.

If I were to guess, there will come a time when Mbakwe is starting, but I just don't see the big push for it honestly.
 


mnsports255 said:
With Mbakwe's 19 pt, 12 rebound game today and another terrible showing from Eliason, you've just gotta make the move in time for Tuesday if you're Tubby.
Click to expand...

Why do we have to make any move at all? We're 6-1, probably ranked & playing pretty well. Saying Mbakwe is a starter won't make a lick of difference in the minutes or on-court performance.

Tubby's managed to get Mav, Oto, Ingram & Mo some minutes, while winning important games & our core guys have been getting the minutes their play dictates. Trevor's coming off a knee injury & a DWI, he can come off the bench. It doesn't matter who gets the start, it matters who gets the minutes at crunch time.
 


Its painfully obvious that Elliot is not close to the player that Trevor is. That being said, I have no problem with him starting, as long as he is playing 8-12 minutes a game max during the B10 season, unless there is foul trouble. Trevor should be up to 32+ minutes a game in the B10 season, and MO Walker is a much better talent than Elliot. Although Mo is kind of out of game shape know, I would guess that in 6 weeks he will be more involved...
 


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