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Cloudy forecast for U men's basketball

A season of expectations has started out with multiple off-the-court sideshows, but the Gophers players that will play bring plenty of talent themselves.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 12:33 PM

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GOPHERS MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

7 p.m. today vs. Tennessee Tech • Williams Arena • TV: none (830-AM)

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Now, even local media know what it's like to get the "Tubby Stare."

Gophers men's basketball Tubby Smith flashed his trademark glare Wednesday morning while fielding a multitude of unwanted questions about suspended freshman Royce White, last year's Minnesota Mr. Basketball.

White is a possible suspect in a Saturday on-campus burglary, a little more than a week after he was suspended indefinitely following an Oct. 13 arrest for shoplifting and fifth-degree assault at the Mall of America.

The Gophers open their season tonight at home against Tennessee Tech without White, junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe (out until legal issues tied to a felony assault charge are resolved) and senior Devron Bostick (suspended indefinitely for a rules violation). Smith expressed disappointment that he has had to address the numerous off-court issues.

"We've had a situation with Royce White, [it's] one of the things that concerns us as we go into the season," Smith said. "I don't know the circumstances surrounding the last incident. ... He won't be playing until he gets his life and some of these issues that he's dealing with taken care of."

He later added, "We're moving on and Royce is not part of it right now."

White was/is the future cornerstone player for this team. He's the most talented recruit the Gophers have had since Kris Humphries played one year before leaving for the NBA. He's a potential pro who was picked by numerous preseason publications to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

And perhaps he still will do that. But for now? A broad depth chart that helped the Gophers earn a national ranking in every preseason poll that matters has holes and major question marks. Hardly the way Smith expected to open the season.

"It's frustrating, it's disappointing, but that's life," Smith said. "... A lot of things happen and occur in a family or any organization. You don't dwell on it. You move on to the next thing, because that's yesterday's news."

Something to build on

Last March, the Gophers earned the program's first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2005, only two years removed from a nine-victory season. They swept Wisconsin for the first time since the 1993-94 season. They ended a 20-game losing streak against Illinois with a 59-36 blowout at Williams Arena in January.

Damian Johnson made the Big Ten's all-defensive team and Lawrence Westbrook, Minnesota's leading scorer last year, was an All-Big Ten honorable mention after averaging 12.6 points per game.

The Gophers couldn't handle Texas in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but their top nine scorers from a year ago returned. In two exhibitions this fall, sophomore guard Devoe Joseph looked like a potential breakout star by scoring 38 total points and earning billing by Smith as a possible starter.

"He's really playing well, it's just a matter of who do you take out, who do you put in," Smith said.

A stellar group of newcomers -- led by White and Mbakwe -- was expected to give the Gophers a shot at contending against the likes of Big Ten favorites Michigan State and Purdue. But now Gophers players have come to realize the team's potential is at least partially tied to the fate of the three players who are not permitted to play.

"The frustrating part is just wanting those guys to be there because we know, potentially, how good we can be with those guys," junior point guard Al Nolen said. "It's kind of frustrating with what's going on. But at the end of the day, we've got to go out there to war with the people we have."

Johnson added: "We're just not focused on it. The whole team is focused on playing and winning. We can't let nothing else take our attention away from the game. I think our team, we're prepared to handle adverse situations."

Waiting it out

No one's quite sure how long some of the off-court adversity will linger.

Mbakwe's legal situation could be resolved by the Big Ten season, but further delays with his trial might put him out for the year. Bostick is expected to return, but there's still a gap between the hype that accompanied the former national junior college player of the year and a lukewarm debut with the Gophers.

White will go to court Tuesday for the Mall of America incident, while police continue to investigate his possible involvement in the on-campus burglary. There are no guarantees he will ever suit up for the team.

"I'm not sure, I haven't determined [White's] status in this program yet," Smith said.

Toward the end of his time with the media Wednesday, Smith praised his squad for its resiliency and ability to push forward in spite of some of its preseason obstacles. Despite the distractions, Smith, entering his third season with the Gophers, said he expects more from the team in 2009-10.

"Even through all the things that have gone on, they know what they're capable of doing," Smith said. "And I know they believe they can do a lot more and that they have a lot to prove, but they had a lot to improve on. And that will show during the course of the season."

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