The Gophers have lost five in a row and six of seven in Big Ten play, but head coach Tubby Smith won't be blaming the struggles on the absence of injured star Trevor Mbakwe. Instead, Smith believes his team is struggling psychologically. He says he needs to find a way to boost the players' confidence, and that playing at Wisconsin on Tuesday will be a real test of character.

The injured senior forward could find out as early as next week if he'll get a sixth year of eligibility. The Pioneer Press reports coach Tubby Smith is "optimistic" Mbakwe will be given the opportunity to play. The St. Paul native suffered a knee injury that ended his season in November.

The NCAA granted Gophers' forward Trevor Mbakwe a sixth year of eligibility on Friday, but Mbakwe hasn't decided if he'll return to the Gophers or enter the NBA draft. Mbakwe says "there's still possibility" that he'll enter the draft, but he also wants to help the Gophers get to the NCAA tournament.

The Gophers' basketball season may have come to a crashing halt Monday when the University announced Trevor Mbakwe will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Tubby Smith is now facing the challenge of replacing his best player.

Tubby Smith might make some big changes to the starting lineup now that Trevor Mbakwe is out for the season with a torn ACL. During his weekly radio show, Smith said Rodney Williams could start at power foward, where he'll be expected to be more of a rebounding presence.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith knows good teams across the country "come up with the wins and big plays" this time of year that are needed to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament. Smith also says he doesn't like being under .500 in the Big Ten -- something he hopes to change Thursday night against Wisconsin.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse says frustrated Gophers coach Tubby Smith wants Ralph Sampson III to go strong to the basket and not settle for jumpers -- even though that's never been his game.

It'll take a minor miracle for the basketball Gophers to make the NCAA basketball tournament this year, which has many wondering if coach Tubby Smith should be replaced.