Tonight's game is really kind of a tease, isn't it?
Gophers fans have suffered through an 11-day break, only to get treated to just one game (against Lafayette) before another extended layoff.
Will the Big Ten season ever be here?
But the fact is, while Lafayette shouldn't give the 11-1 Gophers much competition, there could in fact be something very exciting to see tonight, and that is Trevor Mbakwe in the starting lineup.
Coach Tubby Smith said yesterday that he was considering inserting the sixth-year senior (finally) into the starting five in the near future, but he wouldn't say whether he meant tonight vs. Lafayette or for the start of Big Ten play, against Michigan State on New Years Eve. But logic would have it that Smith would want to see his conference lineup in action before the league schedule starts. Tonight's game could be a good test run for the lineup of the future without as much pressure as a first go-round against, say, Michigan State would carry.
If Mbakwe is in the starting lineup tonight, he would most likely play at center, replacing Elliott Eliason, who has struggled offensively for most of the season. That would keep Rodney Williams at power forward, where he has excelled this season.
We'll have to see whether it actually happens come game time.
Other notes on tonight's game:
