If granted sixth year, Trevor Mbakwe says he might return to Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS -- Though the likelihood of being granted a sixth-year of eligibility is slim, Gophers forward Trevor Mbakwe is readily considering the option of returning to the "U".

"It definitely wouldn't hurt coming back another year and playing with these guys, especially with how this season is going," Mbakwe said on Tuesday, speaking to the media for the first time since suffering a season, and possibly collegiate career-ending right ACL tear on Nov. 27 -- only seven games into his promising senior year.

Barring no setbacks or hindrances to his expected full recovery, a professional playing career appears to be in Mbakwe's future, whether it begins in the NBA or another pro league.

The preseason All-America forward could delay his pro debut by a year if the NCAA approves the Gophers' application for a medical hardship waiver, which coach Tubby Smith confirmed last Saturday the team has every intention to submit.

The question, however, isn't so much what Mbakwe's decision would be as it is whether the opportunity at another season with the Gophers will even be an available option.

A sixth-year of eligibility for collegiate athletes is a rare, but not an unimaginable occurrence. The NCAA usually does not release its judgment on hardship waiver cases until the conclusion of the season, which won't arrive until March.

"We're still just gathering the facts," said Mbawke about his ongoing discussions with the Gophers' compliance director. "There's a lot of stuff we're going to have to put together, paperwork we have to file for the NCAA. It's going to be a tough call but it's something I'm interested in."

Celebrating his 23rd birthday Tuesday, Mbakwe joked he wouldn't mind having another year to play with his teammates, "even though I'm real old."

His age, coupled with the financial challenges he faces with raising and supporting his young son, further heighten the allure of turning pro though.

"I have a family to take care of," Mbakwe said. "It's not easy being a college student with all the finances. It's a lifetime goal of mine (to play in the NBA)... I'll never turn down making money doing something I love. "

For that dream to become a realization, he must first endure a lengthy rehab process.

Even two months after the injury occurred, Mbakwe is still haunted by images from the day he calls "one of the hardest moments of my life."

As soon as his knee caved in, sending him to the floor writhing in pain, an immediate realization of the severity of what had just happened set in.

"It's still tough watching it," Mbakwe replied. "It's still one of those things that's unbelievable ... I knew right away it was something with my ACL."

Without their dynamic go-to star, the Gophers were forced to reconfigure their lineup and move on, while Mbakwe began the trying journey towards a healthy recovery.

Less than four weeks removed from undergoing surgery in late-December, Mbakwe has only recently been able to dive into his rehab. Regardless of the progress he is able to make, he expects June to be the earliest date by which he could ready for full-basketball activities.

"Those first couple weeks after surgery I wasn't able to move around as much, but this last week I've been more mobile," Mbakwe said. "I'm just getting my quad strength back and my leg strength, lots of leg raises -- that's pretty much all I do is leg raises."

While it is difficult to be unable to contribute in his ordinarily dominating on-court fashion, he remains an active member of the team, though he is not currently traveling to road games. His time with the Gophers is limited by extensive work with his trainer and the responsibilities of the graduate degree he's pursuing that began this semester.

But he latches on to any opportunity or free moment to spend with his teammates.

"I still see myself as a senior leader out there," Mbakwe said. "As much as I can, I've been around, it's easy for me to stay around these guys because it keeps my spirits up and keeps me motivated. I love basketball, I love my teammates and I enjoy it."

Notes

• Smith deemed the Gophers' 75-52 dismantling of Northwestern on Sunday their "most complete game" from start to finish this season. His statement is soundly justified. Using a stout defense to sever scoring lanes and create ill-advised shots, the "U" maintained an up-tempo, flex offense to keep a double-digit lead intact for the majority of the game.

• The surging Gophers (15-5, 3-4 in the Big Ten) have halted themselves from falling into conference obscurity, currently in the midst of an energizing three-game win streak.

Their victory parade is in prime danger of coming to a close, however, as they must face No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. 1500 ESPN) in East Lansing -- a site where the Gophers have not won since Clem Haskins' 1996-97 Final Four squad did so on Jan. 4, 1997.

Nate Sandell is a contributor to 1500ESPN.com.
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