Williams Excites Gopher Crowd
December 11, 2012
The team was different. His number was different. The name on his back was different. Yet for an instant in the University of Minnesota men’s basketball game at Williams Arena on December 11, it looked like Michael Jordan had appeared in a Gopher uniform.
Senior forward Rodney Williams showed the crowd of 10,472 that he could be like Mike with an amazing 360 helicopter dunk that wound up No. 1 on ESPN’s “Play of the Day” list. With that play Williams displayed to the world that he indeed had attained the power of flight.
Williams and sixth man Trevor Mbakwe led the Gophers past a determined squad of North Dakota State Bison 70 to 57. Mbakwe had 14 points and 18 rebounds.
After the game, Bison coach Saul Phillips joked that Mbakwe “got three rebounds when I was in the elevator coming up here to the interview room. Tonight he was a bear on the boards.”
Williams contributed 19 points and six rebounds. Phillips was asked to compare the Gophers with top-ranked Indiana. (NDSU lost to the Hoosiers, 87-61, on November 12.) “Both are NCAA tournament teams,” he said. “But Minnesota is the better rebounding team.” He noted that Mbakwe excels at “grabbing rebounds out of his area.”
NDSU stayed within striking distance of the Gophers thanks to the efforts of 6-7 guard Taylor Braun. The Bison were unable to mount a serious run, however, and trailed by 37 to 26 at the half.
“It was a hard-fought game,” said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith. “I have the greatest respect for coach Phillips.
“We didn’t shoot well (38 percent), but we got big games out of Rodney and Trevor.” He called Mbakwe the “best big man I’ve ever coached.”
As for Williams, the coach indicated there was still room for improvement. “I’d like to see Rodney get to the (free throw) line more.”