POSTERIZED: Driving Coast-to-Coast in a White Rolles Royce

You could argue that Iowa State's Royce White is the most important player in the country. Is there a single player who carries the team on his shoulders more than the Minnesota-transfer. The power forward does it all. He can handle the ball, defend, rebound, shoot, and when necessary, take the ball coast-to-coast for a power-dunk in traffic. Continue reading...

Royce White, Iowa State's GOAT? More likely than you think?

One of the columns that has been making the rounds on the blogs this week comes from Marc Hansen of the Des Moines Register. In that column, Hansen tells a story of how a long-time Iowa State fan is convinced that Minnesota transfer Royce White will -- "Not could. Not might. Will." -- become the greatest Cyclone of all-time.

Now, the point of Hansen's column wasn't to say that White will be the best Iowa State player of all-time. His point is that with the infusion of talent this season -- with transfers Chris Allen (Michigan State), Chris Babb (Penn State) and Anthony Booker (Southern Illinois) joining White in becoming eligible -- and with the performances that White has had this summer -- he averaged a freakin' triple-double in a summer league, which is summer league but still insane -- that there is a hype surrounding the Cyclones that they haven't experienced in a while.


To his credit, White, who wasn't known for his levelheadedness in his time with the Gophers, answered the question about as well as you can ask him too.

"I'm happy somebody would think of me in that way," he told Hansen, "and it gives me motivation to try to achieve that on the court and off. It's an objective term and probably a little extreme, considering all the great players who’ve been here, but I’d like to be on the list someday. I think it’s achievable. Not for what I do individually as much as for what we do as a team. Hopefully, I can make a dent in Iowa State history that way."

Confident, but not cocky. Respectful yet motivated.

But let me ask you a question -- why not? Why can't White be the greatest player in the history of the Cyclone program? We're not exactly talking about North Carolina here.

There have been some quality players and quality teams in Iowa State's history. Jamaal Tinsley and Marcus Fizer teamed up to lead the Cyclones to within a few possessions of the Final Four. Craig Brackins averaged 20 and 10 playing on last place teams. Jeff Hornacek and Fred Hoiberg (also known as The Mayor and who is currently the head coach of Iowa State) both turned excellent college careers into long NBA careers. Jeff Grayer -- who, for my money, currently holds the throne -- was an all-american and an Olympian.

With all due respect to those six players, that's a fairly reachable ceiling for White.

Granted, his talent on the court will never fully be on display unless he can tackle his issues off the court. And the two years he has spent watching basketball from the sidelines will make it difficult to shake off some of the rust. Saying he will, definitely, be the greatest Cyclone of all time is premature.

But so is saying he won't.
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Royce White denied a waiver at Iowa State

The NCAA has denied Royce White a waiver to play this season for the Iowa State Cyclones.

"We are disappointed in the decision but we will start the appeal process immediately," Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg said in a statement. "We will exhaust every option available to try and restore Royce's eligibility. Royce is disappointed as well, but he is appreciative of our intent to appeal the decision."

If you remember, White is the former top 25 that, well, youtube'd his way out of Minnesota last season.

The rest of this post can be read at Beyond the Arc.
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Royce White deserves a shot at Iowa State

Royce White's career at Minnesota wasn't much of a career.

He was suspended before the season even started, stemming from a shoplifting charge he received at the Mall of America and accusations he stole a laptop from a dorm room on campus. This led to arguably the most compelling soap opera of the 2009-2010 season, as White announced -- via youtube -- that he would be leaving Minnesota and "retiring" from basketball. He would attempt a return to practice before eventually telling reporters in February that he, once again, would be retiring.

White's one season at Minnesota didn't go well.
(photo credit: Minnesota)

So yeah, things didn't really go as the former five-star recruit had planned during his first year in college. Hopefully, his second season will pan out a little bit better, as White has signed with Iowa State. New Cyclone head coach Fred Hoiberg is hoping White can turn his life around:

"I am aware of Royce's situation at Minnesota," Hoiberg said via the school's release. "I have talked with a lot of people who are close to him, spoken with Royce in person multiple times and feel he is sincerely committed to meeting the expectations we have for our players. On one of his campus visits, Royce also met with institutional staff both inside and outside of the athletics department and he left very positive impressions on everyone."

This is a big get for Hoiberg, who got the job at Iowa State without any previous head coaching experience. While White may be troubled, the kid deserves a second chance. We all make dumb decisions when we are kids -- remember, White was just a freshman, maybe the Minnesota incident was a wake-up call for him.

Say Hoiberg is able to get through to White. Say he is able to get the young man to focus on basketball and his studies. This is a 6'8" power forward that we are talking about. This is a kid that was a five-star recruit, that could play at just about any school in the country. This is a kid that, despite the issues, was reportedly heavily pursued by Kentucky during the past few months. (White says in this interview that John Calipari offered him a scholarship.)

Its a risky move for Hoiberg, but it is a risk that is worth taking, not only because the new head coach could land the centerpiece for his team, but because White should get a second chance at making.

It may not be that simple, however. White left Minnesota during the middle of the second semester, which is not an ideal way to get yourself academically eligible. He's filed a waiver request with the NCAA, but there is a chance he may not be eligible by the second semester.

Regardless, White would do well to take advantage of this opportunity. Everyone deserves a second chance. Third chances? Not so much.

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Royce White says he's leaving Minnesota

Haven't we been down this road before?

A day after a court appearance where Minnesota freshman Royce White plead not guilty to three counts of trespassing stemming from an incident involving a stolen laptop, White told reporters that he would once again be leaving the Gophers.

Why?

"Why am I withdrawing from school? Because I don't feel like I'm protected by the school or police," White said by telephone Monday. "I feel very threatened by the police. I felt very threatened by the officer today at the court room."

White was recently allowed to return to practice with the Gophers, but wasn't going to be cleared to play in games until his legal situation was cleared up. White also plead guilty to charges stemming from an incident where he shoplifted and assaulted a security guard at the Mall of America.

White won't seek a transfer from Minnesota, and apparently has yet to talk to Tubby Smith about his decision.

Minnesota has been a disappointment this season. They've played all season without power forward Trevor Mbakwe, and they just lost Al Nolen for the remainder of the season. But there is no doubt that White has been the biggest distraction.

Whatever the result of this soap opera, it is looking less and less likely to be a happy ending.
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South Carolina's Mike Holmes kicked off team; Minnesota's Royce White coming back?

Mike Holmes has been kicked off the the South Carolina basketball team.

Holmes, who was averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg as USC's starting power forward, was dismissed for "repeated violation of team rules."

"We have a standard and basic level of expectations for our team – both staff and players – and Mike was repeatedly unable to reach those expectations, on and off the court," South Carolina coach Darrin Horn said in a statement. "We will work with Mike to help him continue his education and basketball career."

Holmes hasn't played since Nov. 27th. South Carolina had two days off after Thanksgiving. Holmes went home for the two days, and suffered a facial fracture while "horsing around."

This is a big loss for the Gamecocks, who already are playing with Dominique Archie on the shelf with after undergoing season ending knee surgery.


Two weeks ago, Royce White quit college basketball via youtube.

Yesterday, he returned to practice with the Gophers.

Apparently, despite "quitting", White still really wants to play for the Gophers. He still needs to get his legal issues worked out, but there seems that there still may be a chance that the freshman suits up for the Gophers this season.

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Royce White leaves Minnesota

Minnesota has lost star recruit Royce White, as he announced, via a youtube video, his intention to "quit college basketball".

White said he isn't transferring and has no desire to play for another coach, but that the burden and stress he is putting on himself, his family, and his team is too much for him too handle.

In the short time that White was a part of the Minnesota basketball program was a difficult period. On October 13th, White was arrested for shoplifting and assaulting a security guard at the Mall of America. He plead guilty on December 2nd to shoplifting and disorderly conduct charges. White says in the video that he was supposed to be suspended for just two preseason games.

But a wrench was thrown into those plans when a laptop was stolen from a dorm one night when White was in that dorm. He was named a suspect, and as a result was suspended indefinitely from team pending the conclusion of the legal process.

The problem is the legal process; its slow. The laptop was stolen in early November, and here we are just a week from Christmas and only yesterday was the case given to the Minneapolis attorney's office for review. It will be "at least a month" before the case is resolved.

Which brings us to the video.

The first thing you will notice is the impressive production quality. The video starts with White walking the streets of Minneapolis while Beanie Sigel's "Feel it in the air" plays. (It is especially poignant when he walks by Williams Arena.) After a four minute statement, the video ends with a photo montage of White's career over "Apologize".

Watch:



The second thing you probably notice about the video is that it is a bit disturbing. Do you really enjoy watching a kid that is so obviously struggling with the fact that he is unable to do the one thing he wants to do - play for the Gophers.

That said, maybe this is what is best for him right now. Music and production is clearly a passion of his, and could end up being a career path. There are a lot of people that make a living doing just that. I only hope that his decision to leave the team doesn't mean that he will leave school. Maybe a year off is what he needs; a chance to clear his head. Tubby Smith is a great teacher, both on and off the court, and this kid clearly needs guidance right now.

And who knows what the future holds. The kid has talent; the fact that he was a McDonald's all-american last year proves it. Why can't he take a year off, come back in the fall, and rejoin the team. If he continues to work out and stay in shape, is it really that different from redshirting a season?

If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on White going the professional route, entering the draft, or at least testing the waters, in the spring.

Whatever happens, we wish White the best.

No one wants to see someone with so much potential let it go to waste.
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Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe updates

During the 76 Classic out in Anaheim, Andy Katz reported that Trevor Mbakwe had a shot of rejoining the Gophers fairly soon as the Minnesota coaching staff anticipated that the charges against him could be dropped.

That may not actually be true, according to Gold in the Barn:

[A] source with the Miami district attorney's office said Thursday prosecutors will proceed with charges against Mbakwe and expect to establish a new trial date early next year.

"Absolutely NO TRUTH to the rumor(s) you are hearing," the source said. "[Prosecutors in the case] are proceeding with [the] deposition schedule of the defense witnesses in preparation for trial."

Between the Katz report and reports that the prosecution couldn't find the accuser, there was hope that Mbakwe would be able to join the team soon.

As of now, it doesn't look like that is the case.


Royce White is in a bit of a different situation. White has been suspended indefinitely since an incident at the Mall of America on October 13th, but on Dec. 2nd he plead guilty to charges of shoplifting and disorderly conduct.

But earlier this week White sent out an interesting tweet that got Minnesota fans a bit riled up:

'';x'REAL Royce White Story' From me. Coming 10pm Youtube tonight. 100% truth since nobody else wants to. Immm Back!!!

Well, White isn't returning, he was just promoting this youtube video of him shooting jumpshots:



Tubby Smith had this to say about White's timetable:

"This is the first time he really in his scholastic career (hasn't played). His expectations are pretty high. I can see (that). But we try to let our players know that the wheels of justice turn very slowly. You have to be patient. Hopefully, he won't get too frustrated and (will) continue to do the things he has to do to get back on the team.

"At this point in time, it really hasn't changed. I'm hoping we can get things resolved. I (was) hoping it would be resolved by now, but that's not the case."

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Droppin' Dimes: From The Barn

Droppin' Dimes is a new feature we are trying out at BIAH this year. A couple of times a week, we are going to catch up with the bloggers behind the best team-specific sites on the web. If the internet really is becoming the new newspaper, then the writers at these sites are the de facto beat writers. They know their teams inside and out, and hopefully will provide you (and us) with some detailed insights. If you would like to recommend a site or pose a question for a certain team, you can reach us at contactbiah@gmail.com or @ballinisahabit.

Today, we bring you From The Barn, a Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball blog. They answer questions on everything from Blake Hoffarber's best shot to the legal status of Trevor Mbakwe and Royce White.


1. Minnesota's legal issues have been well-publicized in recent weeks, as Trevor Mbakwe, Royce White and Devron Bostick have all missed games due to legal issues. What is the feeling around the program and its fans regarding Tubby Smith and some of the kids he is bringing into the school? From afar, it looks like he is handling a tough situation pretty well.

Royce White and Trevoe Mbakwe are both local kids, and Tubby Smith had little choice but to welcome them to the program. White came with a bad rap, but seemed to really straighten himself out his senior year in High School. Clearly, there are some real issues that are left to be sorted out.

The general consensus regarding Mbakwe is that he is a victim of mistaken identity, and is a bit of a victim himself in that he is not allowed to play even though he possibly/probably never did anything wrong. Mbakwe, of course, is transfer from Marquette, and had a tumultuous time there, though those issues dealt with his commitment to the program. His legal issues have come a surprise to everyone.

Trevor Mbakwe may be a case of mistaken identity.
(photo credit: Chicago Town News)

Bostick isn't charged with any crime and has no legal issues. He violated team rules, and the latest news is that he made amends and could return to the team this week. The announcement of his suspension on the same day as White's suspension led some to assume that he was involved in that incident, which he was not.

There has been quite a bit of consternation surrounding Tubby Smith's decisions, especially Royce White's suspension, with opinion divided more or less evenly between those that want White kicked out of school, allowed to play, and that the indefinite suspension is the right move. I fall firmly in the indefinite suspension camp. White clearly isn't ready to be a part of the team, but kicking him off the team would end his best, last chance to turn his life around.

Opinion may be shifting though after Minnesota's difficult weekend in the 76 Classic. If the Gophers continue to shoot poorly and have rebounding lapses, the cries for an indefinite suspension of suspension's will grow louder.


2. Let's assume, for a second, a worst case scenario wher both Mbawke and White are forced to miss the entire season. How will the Gophers handle this loss? Without a true four man on the roster, will Tubby go big with both Iverson and Sampson on the floor, or will the Gophers be more effective going small, playing guys like Williams, Carter, and Johnson together?

The Gophers were without a true power forward last season and still made the NCAA tournament. If neither Mbakwe or White play this season, I'd expect the same. Tubby Smith played Iverson and Sampson at the same time in most games last season and the results were mixed. The “Twin Towers” line-up hasn't been used as much this season, but it has been more effective. Colton Iverson had a bit of a coming out party during the 76 Classic with two double-doubles. Sampson has been rebounding more but his defense has been a bit soft.

Carter and Johnson are the closest thing the Gophers have to a power forward, and each bring valuable skills sets to the team, but are incomplete players. Carter struggles on offense and Johnson can't rebound. Coach Smith is still trying to find the right combination, and the power forward position is very situational right now.


3. Speaking of Rodney Williams, he has been fantastic in his first three games as a Gopher. What is the consensus on this kid? Is he just simply more athletic than the kids Minnesota as faced in their three wins, or is he the real deal?

After this weekend it would be hard to call him the real deal, though it remains to be seen if his first three games were the anomaly or if he just had a rough weekend. I don't think he is as good as his 15 ppg average before the 76 Classic or as bad as his performance in Anaheim would indicate. In short, he is a freshman with great tools and a lot of room to grow. The big test will be how he bounces back from the early season growing pains.


4. One of the things that Minnesota was missing last season was a real go-to threat; someone that could break down a defense at the end of a shot clock or half when you really need a bucket. Can Lawrence Westbrook be that guy? What about Al Nolen at the point?

Westbrook can be, but hasn't been the guy. He isn't attacking the basket like he did last year, especially during the Wisconsin games, and hasn't shown much interest in taking the initiative on offense. The senior guard lost about 40 pounds, which may be contributing to his reluctance on offense. When he was bulkier he drove the lane fearlessly. With his weight loss he can't just run through people anymore.

Nolen may never be the guy. He has one of the better first steps in the Big Ten. His problem is the third and fourth steps. He struggles with court vision and finishing at the basket, two skills that any good point guard needs. Instead of making the easy lay-ups or the dump off for the dunk, he gets caught in the air far too often or zips a pass out of bounds.


5. The Big Ten is as good and balanced as any league in the country this year. Michigan State and Purdue both are being discussed as potential conference championships and Final Four teams. Where does Minnesota fit into that equation? Do they have a shot to win the league?

Even with their recent struggles, a top 5 Big Ten finish isn't out of the question. The Gophers will have plenty of opportunities to beat up the bottom third of the league, and Williams Arena always brings out the team's best. How they ultimately finish will depend on their ability to learn from their mistakes. The team started well last season, but never got better. If they don't improve, they'll barely sneak into the NCAA tournament, if they are lucky.


Bonus: Better Blake Hoffarber buzzer beater - from his back in high school, or the miracle shot he hit to beat Indiana two years ago in the Big Ten tourney?

The second miracle shot gets my vote. The shot from his back was a fluke and undefendable. In the Big Ten tournament it was off a set play, the defense was ready, and he still made it. The shot against Indiana wasn't amazing just because of the circumstances, the opponent, or the time left on the clock. It was amazing because he never even had control of the ball. Watch it in slow motion, and try to figure out how even got the ball to go in the general direction of the basket.
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Royce White: Getting his AJ Price on?

Last week, we wrote about the suspension Tubby Smith handed Royce White, a highly touted freshman forward.

Smith said White would miss at least two games, and one could only assume that it was, in part, a result of his arrest at the Mall of America on October 13th. He allegedly shop lifted then pushed a security guard that confronted him.

But was there more to it?

Today, news broke that White was facing allegations of stealing a laptop from a dorm on Minnesota's campus. He hasn't been charged or arrested, but police were "investigating a theft at a dorm and Royce's name came up."

Not good.

Hopefully, White gets cleared and can rejoin the Gophers. Trevor Mbakwe, another notable newcomer, is also dealing with legal issues and will not be suiting up for the Gophers to start the year. Initially looking like they had one of the deepest front courts in the country, Minnesota may once again head into the season without a true power forward on their roster.
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Minnesota's Devron Bostick and Royce White suspended

Its a good thing Minnesota is deep this year, because they keep losing players.

Yesterday, it was Trevor Mbakwe, who AD Joel Maturi determined would have to sit out until his legal issues are figured out.

Today, it was Devron Bostick and Royce White. Bostick, a 6'5" senior guard that averaged 4.3 ppg last season, and White, a highly regarded 6'8" freshman forward out of Minneapolis, were both suspended indefinitely by Tubby Smith for a violation of team rules.

Devron Bostick has been suspended for at least two games.
(photo credit: Pictopia)

White was likely suspended for an arrest on October 13th stemming from shoplifting charges. Allegedly, White took more than $100 worth of merchandise from the Mall of America and twice pushed a guard to the ground that approached him.

No word yet on what Bostick did to get himself suspended.

White and Bostick will miss at least two games, Smith said.

This shouldn't be too devastating to the Golden Gophers chances of winning the Big Ten. Tubby Smith has a deep squad this season, and while both Bostick and White (and Mbakwe as well) are talented kids, none looked destined to start early in the season. Hopefully White will get his legal troubles cleared up quickly - legal troubles are the reason that Mbakwe will be forced to sit - as he has a chance to be a very good player in the Big Ten.

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No. 20: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Minnesota Golden Gophers

2008-2009 Record: 22-11, 9-9 Big Ten (t-7th)

Key Losses: Jamal Abu-Shamala (3.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg), Travis Busch (3.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

Key Returners: Lawrence Westbrook (12.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Damian Johnson (9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2.0 bpg), Al Nolen (6.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 spg)

Newcomers: Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams, Royce White, Justin Cobbs

Lawrence Westbrook is an underrated leader for the Gophers.
(photo credit: Double the post)

There really is only one way to describe the 2009-2010 version of the Golden Gophers - balanced. Last season, there were 11 guys that averaged double figures in minutes played (with no one playing more than 27 per) and nine guys that averaged 5.0 ppg or more on a team that ranked 214th in terms of adjusted tempo last season. Put a different way, they got a lot of scoring from a lot of guys for a team that didn't score a lot of points.

The depth of Minnesota's roster this year is impressive, but the most important player on the court is going to be senior Lawrence Westbrook. Westbrook's game changed a bit last year as he developed into more of a scorer (he shot more, looked to pass less), and it seemed to pay off as Minnesota went 15-3 in games Westbrook bested his season average of 12.6 ppg. Westbrook, who was able to average 12.6 ppg in just over 24 mpg, is at his best when he is attacking. He is built like a running back (6'0", 195 lb of muscle) and is quick, which means that once he gets his shoulders by a defender he is getting to the rim. But Westbrook also has three point range, and made some strides in his mid range game as last season progressed.

Joining Westbrook in the back court is junior Al Nolen. Nolen is a quick little point guard capable of scoring when he needs to, but he is at his best when he is creating and running Tubby Smith's offense. Perhaps Nolen's most valuable attribute is his ability to harass the opposing point guard defensively (case in point: Kalin Lucas shot 7-24 and averaged just 11 ppg in two games against Minnesota). Ideally, Nolen will be a guy that averaged 7.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, turns it over less than twice per contest, and knocks down free throws down the stretch.

Perhaps Minnesota's most important player is going to be Damian Johnson. A 6'7", athletic wing, Johnson has arms that extend for days, which allows him to be one of the best all around defenders in the Big Ten. Johnson is also a threat on the offensive end, as he was the second leading scorer for the Gophers last season. Not a great shotter, Johnson is excellent around the rim, whether he gets there via a post-up, penetration, or an offensive rebound.

Starting inside for the Gophers will probably be a pair of 6'11" sophomores, Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III. Iverson is a bit more polished offensively than Sampson is, but Sampson is more of a threat defensively as he is a bit longer and more athletic. The two complement each other really well when they played together last year. It wasn't uncommon to see Tubby allowing Sampson to step out to the perimeter while Iverson worked down low, as Sampson has pretty consistent range out to about 17 feet.

It may be a moot point for one of those two, however, as Tubby landed arguably his best recruit at Minnesota. Royce White is a 6'8", 240 lb forward out of Minnesota. White may very well take over a starting spot by the end of the season. He is a bruiser down low with a decent array of moves, but also has a fairly well-defined perimeter game for a kid his age. He can knock down a college three with time, and has shown the ability to get out and run the floor as well.

The place where Tubby is going to gain his biggest advantage is his depth, as the Gophers will likely have 12-13 guys that will be good enough to see minutes (although it is highly unlikely that will happen). Up front, 6'8" JuCo transfer Trevor Mbakwe (if he gets cleared to play) will provide some added muscle for the Gophers. Junior Paul Carter and freshman Rodney Williams, both long, 6'8" wings, will provide Tubby with plenty of athleticism (and highlights). Sophomore Devoe Joseph and senior Blake Hoffarber are the shooters. Senior Devron Bostick is the defensive stopper on the perimeter, and freshman Justin Cobbs may even see some minutes backing up the point.

Outlook: When you talk about this Minnesota team, what you have to mention is team play. They are patient offensively, working the ball around to find a good shot. They don't turn the ball over (Westbrook, who averaged just 2.1 t/o's, was the only player with more than two per game). They can play man just as well as a zone, in the full court just as well as in the half court, and seamlessly shuffle through defenses from possession to possession. They are as well coached and as smart as any team in the country. There are two problems, however. First of all, I don't know if the Gophers really have a go-to scorer. Is Westbrook ready (and capable) of taking that role? Will he be able to break his man down and get the Gopher's a bucket when they really need one? That is going to be important in a Big Ten conference with a lot of good defenses. The other problem is the fact that Minnesota plays in the very good and very balanced Big Ten. I could legitimately see the Gophers finishing anywhere from 3rd to 9th. Most likely, they are going to finish in the pack of three or four teams that will inevitably form two or three games behind Purdue and Michigan State. I'd expect in the neighborhood of 22-25 wins and another NCAA tournament trip.

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