Gorgui Dieng night.
The big guy waiting, anticipating, daring, all but begging St. John’s players to go near the basket, turning in a career best seven blocks.
That’s 13 blocks in the last two games, and he’s only getting started.
An intimidating presence in Louisville’s 73-58 win, the Johnnies studiously avoiding him, altering their shots, negating their offense, sending one ball after another into space.
Gorgui forced to dribble the ball down the floor several times. Hey, no problem. He knows when it’s time to put the ball on the floor and the times when Pitino will yell at him.
Nine rebounds, 12 points, two assists and even a couple of steals.
College basketball is slowing down for Dieng while he’s picking up the pace, continuing to get better in all phases of the game. Occasionally he makes a confusing decision or an awkward move, but that’s to be expected for a kid who grew up playing mostly soccer.
At the current pace of improvement, he’s going to be a great college basketball player. His No. 1 goal is to get his college degree, basketball is second. Let’s hope that doesn’t change.
I really believe he will be here until he gets his degree. I just hope he doesn’t do it in three years.