University of Minnesota Athletics
Under The Radar: Sophomore Lawrence Westbrook
1/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Depending on who you speak with or what you read, there are as many explanations about why the Gophers have already exceeded their 2006-07 win total heading into tonight’s contest against Northwestern as there are obstructed view seats in the rafters of Williams Arena.
Whether it is the result of the new coaching staff, better execution and hustle by the players or some combination thereof, sophomore guard Lawrence Westbrook is encouraged that the Gophers are moving in a positive direction.
“Winning games certainly helps everyone’s confidence. We aren’t constantly thinking about our specific roles because we all playing as a team,” Westbrook said. “Whoever scores, scores. It doesn’t matter who has the ball. We just try to hustle, make the extra pass and play good defense. If we do that, we’ll be in lot of games and we’ll win a lot of games.”
The coaching change, as well as some player turnover, has dictated that some players fill different roles this season under new head coach Tubby Smith than they perhaps would have under Dan Monson or Jim Molinari a year ago. Westbrook is one of many Gophers who have experienced a more significant role this year under the new regime.
As a true freshman last year, Westbrook started twice and averaged 10.8 minutes per game while scoring 3.6 points per game in 21 contests. This season, Westbrook has started each of the Gophers’ first 13 games and his minutes per game have risen to 20.3. Westbrook’s point production has improved as well, as the 6’0” 195-pound Chandler, Ariz. product is averaging 7.3 points per game this season.
To simplify Westbrook’s newfound value is not as simple as citing statistics, however. It is hard for even the most loyal Tubby Smith disciple to pinpoint what sort of role each player might fall into over the course of the season, but one key play during Saturday’s 65-59 loss at No. 6 Michigan State may be a testament to the confidence that the Smith has in Westbrook.
With time winding down in the first half and the Gophers trying to keep the game close, Westbrook ran the play from the point guard position as time expired during the first frame. Although the stanza ended with a flurry around the basket without the Gophers scoring, the play was significant because the ball was in the hands of Westbrook neither in those of reliable senior Lawrence McKenzie nor those of flashy freshman point guard Al Nolen, who was on the bench. Coach Smith had timeouts to use, but rather than bring in Nolen to run the play, Smith left the ball in the hands on Westbrook as the clock ticked down.
“College is the first time where I haven’t been a point guard, so I am more than comfortable with the basketball,” Westbrook said. “We just ran a simple pick and roll at the top, and that’s something [we run] all the time.”
With the changing and expanding roles of each Gopher 10 players on this year’s squad are averaging at least 12 minutes on the floor per game Westbrook’s case is not unusual. With a coaching legend like Tubby Smith at the helm, even the most casual of Gopher fans may be noticing that there seems to be a more significant “buy-in” factor on the part of the players than there has been in recent memory.
“Everyone has personal goals, but you have to put the team goals ahead of your own,” Westbrook said. “If we meet our team goals, everyone has a much better chance of reaching their own goals.”
Coming off a 9-22 season, it is certainly no surprise that most media outlets were less than optimistic about the Gophers’ chances to be a force in the Big Ten this season. However, even the most stringent of college basketball and Big Ten sports minds are scrambling to amend their preseason predictions. Between the November 24 broadcast of the Gophers’ 77-59 victory over Central Michigan on ESPN360 and the broadcast of the Gophers’ 91-74 victory over Colorado State on December 8, ESPN360’s Mark Adams had the Gophers from tenth to fifth in his on-air preseason Big Ten conference projections.
For Westbrook and his Gopher teammates, a chip on the shoulder and low media expectations are more than acceptable.
“Sure it puts a chip on your shoulder, but it’s easier to go from the bottom to the top when there are fewer people talking about you,” Westbrook said. “When nobody is really paying attention to you, teams don’t know what to expect from you. We don’t care where we are in the standings or who thinks we’ll finish where, we’re just going to play hard every game.”
With Westbrook and his teammates winning games and filling The Barn,’ sneaking up on opponents is something that may not be a luxury they’ll be afforded much longer.
by Doug Vose, athletic communications senior student assistant
