Add another player to the 2010/2011 roster. Aziz N’Diaye, a seven-footer from Senegal will be a Husky next season.
Here’s a link to a video of Aziz talking about his decision.
This is great news. Aziz chose the UW over Oklahoma and others. The middle should be a lot more solid next year at Montlake!
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Who was that munchkin that walked by early in the interview?
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This is excellent news! I think he has the potential to really help us. MBA is a great player, but he is more of a Kevin Garnett guy (big forward agility in a very tall package). Even if Aziz doesn’t contribute much on offense, he has the ability to match up with big players, which would take the heat off of MBA. Amaning is fast enough to guard smaller players, while Aziz is, apparently, a very good defender and rebounder. This will make it really hard on other teams to score. We may have one of the best defensive teams in the country — I’m starting to get really excited about next year.
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If he can help on defense and rebounding we have enough guys who can score on offense. Our biggest weakness has just been addressed. Terrence Jones next I hope???
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RossB….like out team but we won’t be one of the best defensive teams in the country.
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does this mean no terrences?
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To my knowledge we are still in pursuit of both of the terrances, more specifically on Terrence Jones. Aziz committing today had nothing to do with what Jones/Ross may or may not do. Although we are out of scholarships, Romar will not turn down Jones or Ross if they choose to come here.
As we all know Romar math will take over if this dream comes to fruition where Jones wants to be a dawg. Getting Ross in however may be more challenging.
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So..how will Romar Math work this year then?
How and whom will he push out the door to make the numbers work??
Suggs, Gant, Trent and/or Turner moving on in search of more playing time?
If either of the two Terrances end up with us then…someones gotta go…or someone’s gotta pay their way…I doubt any of the out of stater (excluding Trent) listed above wants to be part of this team bad enough to pay the out of state tuition, including the 15% increase slated for next year when they can get a full ride elsewhere.
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Ross stop comparing MBA to Durant.
I know what you mean. This is great news for us. I bet we play MBA and Aziz together a lot, meaning more rebounds for MBA. More fast breaks, more easy baskets, more Gaddy in the open court. Can’t wait. -
Like this year, next year will be a big balancing act. We have lots of talent and it will be a challenge using it properly. Consider the following lineup: N’Diaye, MBA, Gant, Holiday and Overton. We would probably be faster and taller at every position (with the exception of Overton, but only because he is smaller, not slower). If we started with that lineup (not that we would) then I would have to bring a cane (my legs would get sore from all that standing). Obviously we won’t see that lineup very often (not enough offense), but I would expect to see something similar when we need a stop.
This is why I think there will be lots of different lineups next year (like last year). No matter who plays, we will have a lot of talent on the bench.
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I like the height he brings, but I am a bit concerned about how fast he can make it up and down the court. Also with such a full team I am getting kinda worried about playing time. We did so well when we narrowed down the rotation. So now we have a bunch of above average players but no real stars other than IT. This is not an insult to the other players but they have their defined roles. I hope J. Holiday continues to find offense and MBA gets even better, but if that doesn’t happen I think we are in trouble.
With Aziz signing I don’t think we get T. Jones. Calipari will find a way to make T. Ross’s grade issues disappear and they can be a package deal.
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I hear what you’re saying on the rotation Venoying…but to Romar’s credit he seems to do an excellent job each year of figuring out how to effectively tighten the rotation. Though we can’t right now figure out the top 8 or 9 for next season…some guys will progress further than others and by early conference play I bet the primary rotation will be once again narrowed down to 9 max and there will probably be one player we didn’t expect getting PT and at least one sitting on the bench who will really surprise us.
I’d bet a lot of money that I.T., Gaddy, Overton, MBA and Holiday are primary guys…but beyond that I think it is anyone’s guess.
I’m not too worried about Aziz…even worst case scenario I imagine by his senior year he’ll havve figured out how to dominate pretty well down low.
We also need to recall that Huskies have been really fortunate to not lose any guys to serious injuries that last several years…that can’t continue forever.
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Paul – I agree. Aziz isn’t heralded as a prominent scorer, but more for his defensive presence. But at 7’1″, I would bet my money that we can expect to see a lot of passes going toward the rim from Mr. Gaddy for an easy alley oop.
From what I have heard on the pay sites, Aziz used to play soccer in Senegal and CSI’s coach claimed that he has a motor on him when he’s 100% healthy.
My best guess is that it will take half the season for Aziz to get in full playing shape, but once he does, I think will take up a lion’s share of the minutes amongst the bigs. I would love to see him play alongside MBA. With another interior presence, MBA will have more freedom to score inside (much like we saw from Gant when Brockman was playing).
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used to play soccer in Senegal!? That is the best news so far!
Hmmm…Hakeem Olajuwon…???
(just dreamin’)
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“I like the height he brings, but I am a bit concerned about how fast he can make it up and down the court.”
Doesn’t matter how fast he can make it up and down the court. We don’t need to have 5 guys out there who can run the floor. Someone’s got to rebound and outlet. What is critical is that he has the lateral quickness and reaction time to rotate and bring the weakside help on D. If he can’t do that, he won’t play. That was Wolf’s problem.
Fortunately, from what I’ve heard, he’s a very mobile and athletic 7-footer. Hopefully he recovers quickly and completely from the knee surgery.
“So now we have a bunch of above average players but no real stars other than IT.”
MBA was a STUD for the last 10-12 games of the year, just like Q was down the stretch the year before. No reason he shouldn’t be first-team All-Pac10 next year. He’s got all the tools. Gaddy started in the McDonald’s all-American game. Most kids who do that don’t end up as “above average players”. He’s still on a lot of draft boards as a lottery pick in 2011. Give the kid a chance. This team could have a few stars next year.
Holiday, Overton and Turner may be role players, but they’re REALLY good role players, and savvy, experienced upperclassmen. Breshers has the potential be a big-time post player, if he can get himself into playing shape. Suggs was the Missouri state player of the year. We haven’t seen what Wilcox, Trent and now N’daiye can bring to the table. This isn’t the pros–many of these kids will make major strides from one season to the next. We have a proven coaching staff, and it’s the nature of the college game.
“With Aziz signing I don’t think we get T. Jones. Calipari will find a way to make T. Ross’s grade issues disappear and they can be a package deal.”
Maybe. I don’t know how serious they are about wanting to be a “package deal”. Those things rarely work out. I think Jones will do what’s right for him, and playing w/ Ross will be a pretty low priority. And unless any of us actually know these kids or their families, I think we’re just blowing smoke out our arses.
“…I bet the primary rotation will be once again narrowed down to 9 max…”
That’s what I thought last year too, but Romar kind of went w/ a 9-10 man rotation. I could see him doing that again this year. There’s just a lot of talented players who can all bring something unique to the court. It might be tough to narrow it down to a steady 9 like in ’08. This team won’t have any dead weight.
Overall, I love the way this team is coming together. Great chemistry and a high ceiling. As is, I think this team can win the Pac10 and break through the Sweet 16 barrier, but w/ Terrance Jones added to the mix, I think this group becomes a very serious national championship contender.
That is, unless that luck w/ injuries finally does catch up w/ us. You’re right on that score, Paul.
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“I like the height he brings, but I am a bit concerned about how fast he can make it up and down the court.”
Doesn’t matter how fast he can make it up and down the court. We don’t need to have 5 guys out there who can run the floor. Someone’s got to rebound and outlet. What is critical is that he has the lateral quickness and reaction time to rotate and bring the weakside help on D. If he can’t do that, he won’t play. That was Wolf’s problem.
Fortunately, from what I’ve heard, he’s a very mobile and athletic 7-footer. Hopefully he recovers quickly and completely from the knee surgery.
“So now we have a bunch of above average players but no real stars other than IT.”
MBA was a STUD for the last 10-12 games of the year, just like Q was down the stretch the year before. No reason he shouldn’t be first-team All-Pac10 next year. He’s got all the tools. Gaddy started in the McDonald’s all-American game. Most kids who do that don’t end up as “above average players”. He’s still on a lot of draft boards as a lottery pick in 2011. Give the kid a chance. This team could have a few stars next year.
Holiday, Overton and Turner may be role players, but they’re REALLY good role players, and savvy, experienced upperclassmen. Breshers has the potential be a big-time post player, if he can get himself into playing shape. Suggs was the Missouri state player of the year. We haven’t seen what Wilcox, Trent and now N’daiye can bring to the table. This isn’t the pros–many of these kids will make major strides from one season to the next. We have a proven coaching staff, and it’s the nature of the college game.
“With Aziz signing I don’t think we get T. Jones. Calipari will find a way to make T. Ross’s grade issues disappear and they can be a package deal.”
Maybe. I don’t know how serious they are about wanting to be a “package deal”. Those things rarely work out. I think Jones will do what’s right for him, and playing w/ Ross will be a pretty low priority. And unless any of us actually know these kids or their families, I think we’re just blowing smoke out our arses.
“…I bet the primary rotation will be once again narrowed down to 9 max…”
That’s what I thought last year too, but Romar kind of went w/ a 9-10 man rotation. I could see him doing that again this year. There’s just a lot of talented players who can all bring something unique to the court. It might be tough to narrow it down to a steady 9 like in ’08. This team won’t have any dead weight.
Overall, I love the way this team is coming together. Great chemistry and a high ceiling. As is, I think this team can win the Pac10 and break through the Sweet 16 barrier, but w/ Terrance Jones added to the mix, I think this group becomes a very serious national championship contender.
That is, unless that luck w/ injuries finally does catch up w/ us. You’re right on that score, Paul.
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I like the height he brings, but I am a bit concerned about how fast he can make it up and down the court. Also with such a full team I am getting kinda worried about playing time. We did so well when we narrowed down the rotation. So now we have a bunch of above average players but no real stars other than IT. This is not an insult to the other players but they have their defined roles. I hope J. Holiday continues to find offense and MBA gets even better, but if that doesn’t happen I think we are in trouble.
With Aziz signing I don’t think we get T. Jones. Calipari will find a way to make T. Ross’s grade issues disappear and they can be a package deal.
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used to play soccer in Senegal!? That is the best news so far!
Hmmm…Hakeem Olajuwon…???
(just dreamin’)
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