Mbakwe Contributing to U.S. Gold Medal Pursuit

Trevor Mbakwe of the U of M has been a big contributor so far as the U.S. men seek the gold medal at the World University Games. The U.S. finished pool play at 5-0 and #1 in Pool D. They'll play Lithuania (4-1 and #2 in Pool C) in the quarter-finals on Saturday. If victorious it's likely that they'll get the weakest of the 4 remaining, possibly Germany. And if successful again in the semi-final, they should draw Russia in the final.

The U.S. has defeated Mexico, Hungary, South Korea and Finland by an average score of 110-66. Game #5 was the toughest by far as the U.S. edged Israel 94-84, and Mbakwe came up big with 12 points and 13 rebounds plus 3 blocked shots.

Overall, Mbakwe is the team's #5 scorer and #1 rebounder after 4 games with 11.5 points and 9 boards. He started 2 of the 1st 4 games (I haven't seen a box score for the Israel game yet). He had double-doubles against Mexico with 12 points and a team-high 10 boards, and against South Korea with 14 points and 11 boards. He also led the U.S. in rebounding with 9 vs. Hungary.

The other double figure scorers for the U.S. are:

• Ashton Gibbs, 6-2, senior, G, Pitt, 13.5 ppg

• John Jenkins, 6-4, junior, G, Vanderbilt, 13.0

• JaMychal Green, 6-8, senior, F, Alabama, 12.3

• Scoop Jardine, 6-3, senior, G, Syracuse, 11.0

Next up: Lithuania in the quarter-finals on Saturday. If the U.S. keeps winning, then there will be a semi-final on Sunday and the finals on Monday. For my money, it'll be the U.S. vs. Russia for all the marbles.