The three veterans returning to the starting lineup are supposed to dominate the paint and bolster the Gophers' inside game. It should be their undeniable strength. It probably is. But the inside presence hasn't quite been as overpowering as people anticipated or hoped.

Trevor Mbakwe has been as expected, but his supporting cast – Ralph Sampson III and Rodney Williams – hasn't provided the same consistent boost. Mo Walker is out for the foreseeable future while rehabbing a reconstructed knee. Andre Ingram and Elliott Eliason -- who had a solid start Monday in place of the temporarily injured Sampson but is still very raw -- haven't been reliable in their contributions. While the Gophers have outrebounded teams in three of four games so far, against South Dakota State, the home team lost the battle on the boards.

"It's early yet," head coach Tubby Smith said. "I'm pleased with where we are. I think our inside play is a real plus for us."

The reserves are still more physical than "most" of the starters, the coach has said more than once. Sampson has had trouble getting pushed around in the post, Smith has said, which usually leads to frustration-fueled turnovers, or simply retreating and scoring from outside.

Asked if Sampson has gotten stronger and tougher from his freshman season, Smith chose his words carefully.

"Stronger? Yes. Tougher? I tell our players all the time -- you can be physical and not be tough, but you can't be tough and not be physical," he said. "So he's got to be more physical and that comes with being tougher. I think he's made a lot of strides since his freshman year and after his sophomore year and I'm hoping that after this summer, that will be beneficial to him too."

There are small positive signs emerging. Williams has done a good job of defending away from the ball and led the team in deflections against South Dakota State. Sampson, in that game, showed glimpses of physicality – and Smith praised him for doing a good job of pitching the ball out when he needed to.

"I think Ralph is fighting more inside and being more aggressive," Smith said of Sampson, adding he hopes to have the big man back and healthy Thursday for the start of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. "Now we've got to find a way to get the ball to him."