Gophers walk-on Lukashewich calls playing in game 'unbelievable' experience
MINNEAPOLIS -- With 1:19 to play in the first half Friday against Seattle University, an unidentified Gophers player checked into the game.
His No. 30 jersey had no name on the back. Minnesota fans who have watched their team's games earlier in the season wouldn't recognize him, either. In fact, his teammates had only recently met him -- as in just one day earlier.
Mike Lukashewich's story is one you'll see from time to time in college basketball, and it's always the feel-good type of tale. A former high school basketball player (and volleyball player and track athlete) in Appleton, Wis., Lukashewich went to the University of Minnesota with no intention of becoming a college athlete. Instead, he was focused on studying sports management.
Yet when the Gophers announced they were holding an open walk-on tryout on Oct. 1, Lukashewich couldn't help but be intrigued. So he went there, not expecting much of anything. It was a chance to scratch the basketball itch, if nothing else.
Just before winter break, Lukashewich received a call from the Gophers: they wanted him on the team.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity," Lukashewich said. "This is a blessing. What more could I ask for here?"
Lukashewich was officially added to Minnesota's roster on Thursday, along with fellow freshman Gaston Diedhiou. Though Lukashewich is a walk-on, Diedhiou is a scholarship player from Senegal whose addition to the team was delayed for academic admissions reasons. He had to re-take his English proficiency test before he could take classes at Minnesota.
One day after Lukashewich was put on the roster, he stepped foot on the Williams Arena court in a game. The No. 30 jersey he wore wasn't even his actual jersey number of 25, a sign of just how quickly it all came together for Lukashewich. He entered the game late in the first half against Seattle and played a few second-half minutes as well -- four minutes in total in the Gophers' 92-57 victory
"Unbelievable," he said. "It gave me chills for sure."
Lukashewich only registered one stat in those four minutes, blocking a shot late in the first half of his college basketball debut. It remains to be seen how much playing time he'll receive the rest of the year. The Gophers have just two more non-conference games before Big Ten play starts at the end of December, so these next two games might be Lukashewich's best chance to see the court again.
Regardless, the walk-on guard gives Minnesota some depth during a time when the Gophers need it. Sophomore guard Daquein McNeil remains suspended following his arrest earlier this year for alleged domestic assault, and freshman forward Josh Martin transferred from the team. That left the Gophers short-handed in both practices and games.
"It's definitely going to make a difference. Practice is going to get really tough," said senior guard DeAndre Mathieu. "We try to simulate the game in practice by being up-tempo. Guys are just getting worn out. It's definitely going to be good to have some subs and guys that can give guys a break."
Gophers head coach Richard Pitino remained non-committal after Friday's game as to whether Diedhiou will redshirt this season or not. Minnesota could certainly use his 6-foot-9 presence off the bench, especially after Martin's oddly timed departure from the program. Though Lukashewich played against Seattle, Diedhiou did not. Pitino cited the fact that he'd like to see Diedhiou practice at least once before he steps on the court in a game.
Lukashewich did have a practice under his belt, although he admitted he's nowhere close to having the entire playbook memorized. ("I'm still working on that," he said.) At any rate, he went from a regular college student to a tryout participant to a Division I basketball player in the span of just a few days.
"He contests shots great. . . . He's got long arms. I'm excited about him, I really am," Pitino said of Lukashewich. "It was funny because we didn't have any players, and now it's like we have too many again. Maybe I'll run somebody off or something, I don't know. But it is good. It's very, very helpful. And with Mike, it's helpful because Carlos Morris did not have a sub. . . . Now Mike can give Carlos help, which is huge."
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