A New Mid-Year Signing: A So Flo Preview
Who is Ousmane Ndour? He’s a 6’9” Senagalese hooper who played in Spain’s second division. He averaged about 10-points and 5-rebounds per game in about 20-minutes per game. He was called “skilled” and has four years of eligibility, despite his experience and age (20 years old). Will he play four years at North Texas? Likely not, if he is even mildly good. Such is life in modern American college basketball.
Brett Vito tweeted that the staff said there is no guarantee that he plays this season at all, so it’s all just a curiosity right now.
Tonight, the hoops squad will play South Florida at 7pm in the Super Pit. USF is coming off a come-from-ahead loss to UAB at home, while North Texas upset Tulsa last time out.
The Mean Green played against type offensively, and scored points. Tulsa’s high octane offense was held in check by the physical NT defense. Daniyal Robinson is on a mission to prove us all wrong, apparently.
USF is coached by Bryan Hodgson, a former Nate Odoms assistant who has brought some talent to Tampa.
Here is MGN’s quick-and-dirty scout report on this team.
Starters
11- CJ Brown
5 - Joseph Pinion
35 - Izaiyah Nelson
8- Josh Omojafo
2 - Wes Enis
Subs
21 - Adriel Nyorha
7 - Caleb Sanders
CJ Brown is a good ball handler, who is their primary offense-creator. He uses the pick-and-roll a ton, with Nelson as the primary screen guy. Nelson is the leading scorer, and is a skilled big inside. He has a soft touch, good feet, and some moves around the basket. He’s light, but long (6'10") and will get some easy dunks on rolls, put-backs, and that type of thing. He’ll get some possessions where they let him go to work, but a good majority of his offense is off screens and pocket passes.
Wes Enis is a catch-and-shoot guy, and he will fire it up from anywhere. He was on a roll vs UAB, but missed a couple late as they blew an 11-point lead with 5:31 to go. Josh Omojafo is a pure slasher, hustle guy. He can’t shoot, or dribble, and gets lost on defense, but he’s an athlete and will get points simply by out running guys, getting put-backs, or just bullying people. Joseph Pinion is an Arkansas St. transfer (along with Nelson) who is a leading scorer, but was pushed around by UAB in spots. He’s another shooter.
From the bench, Nyorha can shoot the ball well, but is primarily a ball-handler for them, and doesn’t get much time or shots. Caleb Sanders was very active defensively. Damien Collins (6) is the backup big who is limited to screens, put-backs, and that sort of deal.
They are a squad with a high ceiling but are still putting together their situation (like all teams in this league). They blew a lead in winning time by allowing a 9-0 run to UAB, and then got in a double-overtime war of attrition. UAB had too much athletic depth and it showed after a while.