There's a Maverick among the U's point guard rotation

He's not the starter. He's not exactly second-string either. But Maverick Ahanmisi is not getting shoved out of the point guard competition -- in fact, his role seems to be only growing.

Heading into the Gophers men's basketball team's fourth game of the season Monday against Mount St. Mary's, Andre Hollins remains the starter, and his job, for now, doesn't appear to be threatened. Julian Welch, who has shown a defensive aggressiveness coach Tubby Smith likes, has been the primary backup. Smith believes Hollins' ultimate ability and raw talent make him the best man for the role, with Welch a near second. But Ahanmisi is getting every opportunity to prove him wrong.

After playing only eight minutes in the season opener, the sophomore has gotten quality court time in the past two games and has played in key situations. Smith is testing him -- as he is all his point guards -- and he likes what he sees.

"He's a guy that understands the system best and he does a good job getting us into our offense," Smith said. "He's been very good with that second unit of guys."

Smith seems willing to use different combinations and try his point guards at shooting guard as well. Thursday he played several lineups featuring two of the three at a time. Ahanmisi might not be the ultimate choice for big-time minutes at point guard, but he certainly could fill an important niche.

Last Monday night against South Dakota State, that skill was much-needed. Hollins, after getting into foul trouble early, played just 11 minutes. Welch committed three turnovers. With the team lingering a step behind the Jackrabbits, Ahanmisi led the Gophers on an 18-1 run down the stretch. Afterward, Smith called Ahanmisi the key to turning the offense around.

"I felt like I needed to step up," Ahanmisi said. "Everybody was kind of getting in foul trouble, so I just needed to get in there and pick up the intensity and keep it up. I try to pride myself in that and helping the whole team pick up the intensity."

Last season, the then-freshman was thrown into the fire after point guard Al Nolen broke his foot in January. Ahanmisi got valuable minutes -- filling in, making mistakes, learning on the fly much the way the other two point guards are now.

"That helped me a lot especially because I got the experience, and [Nolen] helping me through it even though he was injured helped me a lot," Ahanmisi said. "He guided me through the times that I had struggles."

And perhaps most important, Smith said, he became comfortable with the Gophers' complicated system. Hollins is picking it up now, but he still makes rookie mistakes and has mental lapses. Welch, Smith pointed out, has played in four different systems in four years -- from high school to California Davis to Yuba City Community College to the Gophers. With nearly 50 different sets, including options off plays, mastery can take time.

The ability to throw in Ahanmisi -- the closest thing Smith has to a veteran at the position -- has become a luxury, the coach has realized.