Moulaye Niang wasn’t in Atlanta last year when Kansas met Maryland in the NCAA semifinals.
As a high school senior, he was visiting a friend in New Mexico and watched the Jayhawks’ 97-88 loss to the Terps on television.
“I was thinking, ‘I wish I was there. Hopefully, next year we can go back,'” Niang said. “We made it, and I’m proud of the team, proud of the guys and all the effort we put in.”
The Jayhawks’ lone freshman on scholarship will get his first taste of the Final Four this weekend in New Orleans.
Niang likely will be watching the game from the bench, rather than television. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward has played in 27 of KU’s 36 games, averaging seven minutes per outing.
The lanky post player knows he needs to improve to play a bigger role as a sophomore.
“I just need to get stronger,” he said. “That’s the main problem I have. I need to get stronger so I will be able to bang against guys inside the paint. I’m going to work on my quickness and footwork. I’m going to work as hard as I can to put on weight.”
Niang has been banged around in practice by the likes of junior Jeff Graves (6-9, 265) and senior Nick Collison (6-9, 255). Both weigh at least 40 pounds more than Niang.
“Playing against a guy like Nick every day will help you get better,” said Niang, who averages 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. “I don’t think you’re going to play against too many guys better than Nick. I’m watching Nick play. I’m learning from him.”
Collison won’t be back next year, but Niang has no guarantee his playing time will increase. Graves is expected to return, and injured sophomore Wayne Simien is expected to recover from shoulder surgery in time for next season. Kansas also will add high school All-American David Padgett.
“I’ll just do the best I can to help the team,” Niang said. “That’s all that matters to me. David is a good player, and hopefully he will be able to help us win. I’m not worrying about playing time now. The only thing I care about is winning. Hopefully, I’ll be able to contribute more.”
Niang said he planned to stay in Lawrence during the offseason, work with strength and conditioning coordinator Jonas Sahratian and attend summer school. He hopes to play in the 225- to 230-pound range as a sophomore.
Niang, a Senegal native who attended high school in El Cajon, Calif., plans an extended visit to his native country in July before returning to campus in August.
It has been a rough year for Niang’s family. His father died in January. Now his mother, Seynabou, is concerned about her son living in a foreign country that is at war.
“She thinks I’m in danger,” he said. “I called her today and told her everything is OK. She doesn’t understand there is no fighting here.”
Niang’s family can’t follow his team on television. He said French-based cable TV broadcasts NBA games in his native country, but no college games.
He plans to make a KU highlight tape to take home.
“If I take it and show it to her and she sees how good it is and how we make people feel, I think that will make her feel better,” he said.
