Talking with Men's Basketball's Gorgui Dieng
October 24, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 24, 2012
UofLsports.com caught up with eight different players during men's basketball media day on Oct. 21. Each day during the week, one of the men's basketball players will be highlighted with a write-up and their respective interview from media day.
By Sal Sabia for UofLsports.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball center Gorgui Dieng is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign in which he set a school record for most blocks in a single season with 128.
In his sophomore season, Dieng's 3.2 blocks per game led the BIG EAST and were eighth nationally. He averaged 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds and tallied 24 steals.
During the postseason, he was a force in the paint on both sides of the ball. In the BIG EAST Championship game against Cincinnati, he recorded five points, 10 rebounds and three blocks and was named to the league's all-tournament team. In the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 7.7 points and 8.8 rebounds, he was selected to the NCAA West Region all-Tournament team and helped lead the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four.
At the BIG EAST Media Day in New York on Oct. 17, the junior was selected as a preseason all-BIG EAST first team selection. Also receiving recognition was Peyton Siva, who was selected BIG EAST Player of the Year, and Chane Behanan as an honorable mention. Louisville was picked as a unanimous choice to win the BIG EAST's regular-season title.
At Louisville's Media Day on Oct. 21, UofLsports.com sat down with the Senegal native, and he spoke about his relationship with head coach Rick Pitino and how it has changed over the past two years.
Following Media Day, the Cardinals had their second Red-White scrimmage, and the Red Team, led by Luke Hancock's 29 points, won 85-74. Dieng, who played on White, totaled 11 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
