Trevor Mbakwe's attitude after Gophers practice today was refreshing.
He took ownership. He accepted responsibility. He talked about playing harder, and better, starting with him.
He sounded like a leader.
"I have to play better," he said. "It's been inconsistent with me this year and these last couple weeks. I've been trying to be more aggressive. … We have to take it to a whole [new] level and it starts with me personally."
It was refreshing because for most of the season, we've heard the Gophers talk about depth and balance. We've heard them say they don't have a go-to guy – because it could be anyone – and that their plan is to feed whoever's hot.
But the "Team of Equals" theme has left the Gophers as a struggling team with no one on the hook. Yes, they all need to produce and contribute. But they also need an inspiration, someone to call them out individually, someone to set a tone of dissatisfaction.
And in their moments of collapse, in their apparent panic, in their highs and lows -- both on the court and off -- leadership has been a big problem.
Heck, their inability to lead themselves has gotten their coach acting like he got stuck with the group of middle schoolers in a high school tournament.
