Tag: Ibrahima Diallo

The Complexities Of SJSU Basketball’s 2022 Recruiting Class

SJSU basketball’s 2022 recruiting class is a mix of misfortune and what-ifs.

The Complexities Of SJSU Basketball’s 2022 Recruiting Class

How SJSU’s 2022 recruiting class has impacted the 2023-24 season

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A mix of misfortune and what-ifs

Following San Jose State basketball’s 0-2 start in conference play, it’s easy to ponder a reality where it retained 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year Omari Moore through NIL deals. Although valid, perhaps those wonderments aren’t pointed in the right direction.

Instead of Moore, maybe fans should wonder how SJSU would be faring right now if it got more production out of its 2022 recruiting class. 

As SJSU (7-8, 0-2 MW) prepares to host No. 19 San Diego State (13-2, 2-0 MW) Tuesday night, only one player from that recruiting class – sophomore guard Garrett Anderson – will be seeing action. 

Which begs the question: How has that recruited class impacted SJSU’s 2023-24 season?

As it relates to the Spartans’ struggling front court, a sizable amount. Starting with power forward Max Allen who was one of five freshman from the 2022 class to depart from SJSU this offseason. 

Now at Marist University, Allen is averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and boasts a player efficiency rating of 26.5. His numbers are currently better than SJSU power forwards in sophomore William Humer (4.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and a 12.8 player efficiency rating) and freshman Diogo “DJ” Seixas (3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and a 11.8  player efficiency rating). 

Though Allen averaged just 1.3 points and 2 rebounds in eight games last year, could his size and scoring have prevented any of SJSU’s four late-game collapses – including the squandered 17-point lead to Wyoming and a nine-point second half lead to Boise State? 

But to say Allen’s situation and the five transfers renders the 2022 class a complete disappointment, is to ignore the gem SJSU found in junior power forward Robert Vaihola and the misfortune of his season-long absence due to a foot injury.

Following his freshman year in 2021-2022, Vaihola entered the transfer portal when Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson suggested he go the junior college route. 

The result? 

Vaihola transferred to SJSU, became the Mountain West leader in offensive rebounds (3 per game) and helped SJSU finish with the sixth-best rebounding margin nationwide. Surely, his presence would have prevented the Spartans from getting outrebounded 43-23 and outscored on second chance opportunities 20-5 against the Broncos last Friday night. For that matter, maybe his presence would’ve prevented SJSU from ranking ninth in points allowed per game (71.8) in the Mountain West this year after it ranked fourth (66.2) last year. 

In essence, Vaihola’s absence is the bad break SJSU just simply couldn’t afford. But unlike Vaihola, SJSU knew grad transfer Sage Tolbert wouldn’t return following the 2022-23 season. 

That’s the yin-and-ying of the transfer portal. SJSU received someone in Tolbert who was well-seasoned and ready to dominate but those virtues were a one-year solution to a year-after-year dilemma. Going the transfer portal route every year isn’t a bad option, but with SJSU’s invisible NIL presence it’s difficult to land someone of Tolbert’s pedigree.

Which leaves SJSU to rely on Humer, Seixas and Washington State sophomore transfer Adrame Diongue who committed to SJSU to be reunited with first-year assistant coach Ed Gipson. Among those three, Diongue is the only one with Division I experience, but that came in the form of 6.3 minutes per game last year. 

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Therein lies the conundrum plaguing SJSU. Diongue, Humer and Seixas are expected to replace production from Vaihola, Tolbert and center Ibrahima Diallo who transferred to Central Florida after two years at SJSU. Which means this year’s front court is experiencing their learning curve two years after junior guards Alvaro Cardenas and MJ Amey and senior wings Trey Anderson and Tibet Gorener experienced theirs. 

After experiencing the historic 2022-23 season, those four were hoping to maintain the momentum and finish in a relatively similar position. The media, meanwhile, thought SJSU wouldn’t crater back toward irrelevance. Hence the Spartans were picked to finish seventh in the 11-team Mountain West preseason poll.

But with timelines that aren’t aligning, that’s growing increasingly more difficult. That said, it’s not impossible. After all, there are16 conference games left – however – half of those games come against opponents in the top-35 of the NET. And that gauntlet for SJSU starts Tuesday night against SDSU (No. 21 in NET). Now, that’s not to say it’s impossible. There’s still time for Diongue, Humer and Seixas to improve. Plus, Anderson, a second rotation guard, can still leave an imprint so the 2022 class doesn’t leave the 2023-24 season without any impact.

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly after falling to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater that capped a 17-point comeback.

SJSU falls to Wyoming on a buzzer-beater after conceding a 17-point lead

SJSU’s defense continues to prove costly

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The buzzer-beater that was equal parts cruel and ironic

There was a cruel irony to Wyoming guard Akuel Kot’s step back buzzer-beater to stun San Jose State, 75-73, to improve to 8-6.

It was one of the Spartans best defensive possessions of the second half. Who are now 0-1 in Mountain West play and 7-7 overall.

SJSU point guard Alvaro Cardenas was step-for-step with Kot, wasn’t deterred by any flashy dribble moves and was a hair away from blocking the shot. Unfortunately, that sliver of space was all Kot needed to send the Spartans back home in heartbreak. 

 

But don’t feel too bad for SJSU. The Spartans once led by 17 points and entered the second half up by 12 points. Moving forward, will SJSU’s shaky defense stand in the way of it making back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time ever? Furthermore, following the Spartans’ disappointing conference opener, one must wonder: Can SJSU compete in the Mountain West without an NIL presence?

According to the SF Chronicle, Wyoming is one of seven Mountain West teams to have a collective that has “reported annual NIL budgets for men’s basketball over $400,000.” Miles, meanwhile, watched recruits immediately “wig out” on Zoom calls when he mentioned he couldn’t offer NIL money. 

And it wasn’t just recruits – it was Spartans’, too.

Former SJSU center and 2022-23 Mountain West blocks leader Ibrahima Diallo “transferred to Central Florida this past June for $160,000 in NIL money,” according to that same SF Chronicle article.

If Diallo stayed, would the Cowboys have outscored SJSU in the paint 36-20 and allow seven-footer Oleg Kojenets to go for 18 points (5-for-12 from the field)? What about if SJSU could use NIL to lure recruits in the transfer portal, would Wyoming have gone 23-for-25 (93%) from the line? 

At times, SJSU seemed incapable of stopping Cowboy guard Sam Griffin, who scored a floor-high 23 points. His explosive blow by drives were just too much. 

Now one game into conference play, there’s an added pressure for SJSU’s inexperienced frontcourt of freshman forward Diogo “DJ” Seixas (three points and zero rebounds), sophomore forward William Humer (seven points and three rebounds) and sophomore Washington State transfer Adrame Diongue (two points and one rebound) to improve. 

Just a few games ago, following an 86-75 loss to Montana, Miles said, “We just got hurt inside but that’s not new news.”

The problem is SJSU must find a way to make it old news. The consequence is just too costly. SJSU has now surrendered multiple late leads. Which now makes a quote Miles gave after SJSU conceded a late-lead to Cal Poly in November feel hauntingly prophetic.

“You hope it’s not a symptom of a larger problem in the program or an unwillingness to build on a lead and play the type of defense necessary to win tough-minded games,” he said. 

Now at 7-7, SJSU must win nine of its remaining 17 conference games to be eligible to notch that prized CBI bid. Mind you, 12 of those 17 games come against teams with a higher NET ranking. 

The problem with Tuesday night’s blown lead is how easy it is to forget all the good. 

Like in the first half when SJSU point guard Ricky Mitchell soared in for a put back, blocked a shot on the other end and snapped a pass to Tibet Gorener (16 points, 3-for-5 from deep) for a three to put SJSU up 31-18. A string of plays that illustrated everything SJSU needs to bounce back; unrelenting energy from the second rotation; rim protection; timely three-point shooting. 

That Gorener three-pointer came in a first half where SJSU shot a sturdy 18-for-35 from the field and 9-for-18 from three to go up 47-35 heading into the second half.

Not to mention Cardenas’ brilliance. That final possession shouldn’t distract from him scoring 21 points on a stellar 8-for-13 mark from the field and 4-for-5 clip from three. Without Gorener and Cardenas’ clutch shooting, Wyoming might not have needed a buzzer-beater to down SJSU. 

Plus, SJSU forward Trey Anderson scored 10 points in his return to the starting lineup after missing a few games due to a knee sprain. 

But offensive production only goes so far with a defense that struggles to close games. 

All the Spartans can do now is hope to rally back against Boise State in its conference home-opener this Friday night at 7:30.

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Ibrahima Diallo transferring to San Jose State

The reserve big man is headed back to the state he played his high school ball in.

We now know where Ohio State big man Ibrahima Diallo will be playing his college ball next. Diallo entered his name in the transfer portal in early May, and it was assumed to be because of him getting lost in the shuffle behind guys like E.J. Liddell, Kyle Young, and Zed Key.

Added to the Ohio State class late in the 2019 recruiting cycle and viewed as a bit of a project with length, Diallo never really carved out a spot in Ohio State’s rotation. There was an injury he had to work through, with other players that were more college-ready receiving the bulk of the playing time.

Diallo is now headed to San Jose State to join former Nebraska head coach and Big Ten Network analyst Tim Miles according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium.

We of course wish Diallo nothing but the best in his future endeavors. He has three years of eligibility remaining if he chooses to take it out in the Bay area of California.

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Ohio State center Ibrahima Diallo to enter transfer portal

After two seasons, Ibrahima Diallo will be transferring from Ohio State to seek playing time elsewhere. He will enter the transfer portal.

After two seasons with the Ohio State basketball program, center Ibrahima Diallo has entered the transfer portal. The 6-foot, 10-inch post player will look elsewhere to get playing time.

With lack of size inside this past season, Diallo probably could’ve helped the Buckeyes with some valuable minutes. However, the Senegal native was battling an MCL injury most of the season and was limited to just five games.

Diallo came to Ohio State as a three-star center in the 2019 class out of Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He was rated as the No. 64 center in the nation coming out of high school according to 247Sports. As a freshman, Diallo played in just eight games, averaging 1.3 points per game and 1.9 rebounds in limited action.

With Diallo announcing his decision to leave, it leaves the Buckeyes shorthanded once again inside. However, this does open up another scholarship spot on the basketball roster.

Does this open the door for another center to come to Columbus… maybe five-star center Efton Reid? Reid is the No. 3 center in the 2021 class and should be making his decision known soon.

Either way, Chris Holtmann now has another spot to fill and not much time to do so.

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