Mbakwe to Return for Marquette

The Marquette basketball team announced today that red-shirt freshman Trevor Mbakwe has been cleared return to the team. The 6'7", 240 pound freshman forward injured his knee in the pre-season and was considered to be out for the season. Coming out of St. Paul, MN St. Bernard's high school, Mbakwe was to be relied upon to bolster Marquette's thin front line and provide much needed low post scoring.

By returning to the Golden Eagles this season, Mbakwe forfiets his red-shirt status and his eligibility will be a sophomore next season.

"Trevor made it clear to us early in the rehabilitation process his desire to return this season and we told him that the possibility to return would be a decision made by our medical staff," said Tom Crean.

"He worked extremely hard throughout his rehabilitation and our team is excited to have him back." His return could not come at a better time with the #25 Golden Eagles (17-6, 7-5 Big East) facing #24 Pittsburgh (19-5, 7-4) Friday night in Milwaukee.

The Panthers boast a front line of Sam Young and DeJuan Blair who have been a force throughout the Big East this season. With the return of Mbakwe, Marquette now have a defensive presence to counter the Panthers' frontline.