Good news for Minnesota fans, as Gopher forward Trevor Mbakwe avoided jail time today at a hearing in Florida for violating his parole with a DUI arrest in July. This news was reported Amelia Rayno of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, as Mbakwe was sentenced to two additional years of probation and 20 hours of community service per month during that time. His original probation stems from a felony battery charge in 2009.
This is good new for Mbakwe, but also good news for the Golden Gophers basketball team, who, assuming he stays out of trouble, will now have its star player available for the upcoming season. Mbakwe is in his sixth and final year of eligibility, so he likely would not have been able to play a full season had he been sentenced to jail time. Head coach Tubby Smith said Mbakwe was initially suspended after the DUI, but since Mbakwe likely has an NBA future, he allowed his star player to stay on the team. Mbakwe isn’t likely to see any additional suspension this season — his NBA status is part of the reasoning — and that will surely earn Smith his share of critics. It’s an interesting precedent to set, especially considering players have been suspended or kicked off other teams for much less.
People will surely say that Mbawke is getting a free pass because he’s a star — and they’re probably right that a bench-warmer wouldn’t have received the same treatment — but Smith has a point in that additional punishment shouldn’t necessarily serve to ruin Mbakwe’s NBA career, which may have taken a major hit already since he was injured with an ACL tear for most of last season. Regardless, Mbakwe and Smith are both ready to put the past behind them, and with the bulky big man on the court, the Gophers’ immediate future looks quite bright. He’s the star of a team that could be a sleeper to challenge for a Big Ten title and looks like an NCAA Tournament squad. Mbakwe adds to the depth in the frontcourt and is a potential game-changer down low, putting the Gophers in even better position for a Big Ten run.