The plan is for Minnesota's Trevor Mbakwe to come off the bench to start the season. 

The 6-foot-8 big man, who went down with a season-ending knee injury against Dayton on Nov. 27, said he has spoken to Gophers coach Tubby Smith about not starting and he's fine with it. 

"We talked about it and I'm going to come off the bench," Mbakwe said. "I'm just happy to be playing basketball again. As long as we're winning and I'm able to come back and play to the level I was accustomed to before the injury, I don't care if I'm starting or coming off the bench. It doesn't matter to me." 

Mbakwe has become somewhat of a forgotten man, but this is a guy who averaged 13.9 points and 10.5 boards two seasons ago and was putting up 14.8 points and 10 rebounds when he suffered the torn ACL seven games into the season a year ago. He was cleared by the doctors a couple of weeks ago, and has been playing pick-up games with his teammates. He's set for Friday night's scrimmage as part of Midnight Madness -- and plans to practice Saturday. 

"Now it's just getting back in shape and getting back to my old self," Mbakwe said on SiriusXM on Wednesday night. "It's going to take some time." 

If Mbakwe is able to play to his pre-ACL injury form, the Gophers could be a factor -- along with Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin -- in the Big Ten race. The only loss from last year's team is Ralph Sampson III. 

This is a team that brings back its all-Hollins backcourt (Austin and Andre) along with Joe Coleman and Julian Welch on the perimeter. The Golden Gophers also have talented forward Rodney Williams back in the fold.  Big Mo Walker, who has battled injuries his first two seasons in college, should give Smith another option up front -- and could allow Mbakwe to play power forward and Williams to slide back to small forward. It's likely that Elliott Eliason starts while Mbakwe gets back in game shape. 

Another option is to play Williams at power forward, where he thrived last season, and Mbakwe in the middle. 

"It doesn't matter to me," Mbakwe said. "I don't care where I play -- as long as we win."