Post by FIUFanatic on Nov 4, 2007 15:20:40 GMT -5
Nice FIU basketball preview by Pete Pelegrin at The Herald. Let's hope we can make good use of our new height availability. I have a concern over Hicks' propensity to get in fould trouble over his career at Pepperdine...he also fouled out in the pre-season game against Barry...hopefully, he learns to "use" his body and strengths better, so that he can play a good 25-30 minutes...
www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/fiu/story/295088.html
As it appears in The Miami Herald story by Pete Pelegrin:
www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/fiu/story/295088.html
As it appears in The Miami Herald story by Pete Pelegrin:
FIU
****************************************************
FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS
Coach: Sergio Rouco (33-54, three years at FIU).
Last season: 12-17 (7-11 in Sun Belt); no postseason.
Returning starters: G Michael James (4.9 ppg, 2.9 apg); F Chris Fuller (10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Alex Galindo (13.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Key newcomers: G Kenneth White (Texas A&M), C Russell Hicks (Pepperdine), F Badara Ndiaye (Southeastern Iowa Community College).
Outlook: With Hicks (7-0) and Ndiaye (6-11), the Golden Panthers could be among the Sun Belt's top teams this season. White's shooting will provided another offensive threat after Galindo.
Season opener: vs. Florida Tech, 7 p.m. Nov. 12.
Tickets/information: FIUsports.com, 866-348-4263.
***************************************************
FIU's 2 new centers are taller, faster
FIU's two new centers, Badara Ndiaye and Russell Hicks, bring a height and speed advantage the team didn't have last season.
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
While watching the Florida International guards run sprints in practice, there seems to be something amiss.
Among the guards -- who range in height from 5-9 to 6-1 -- is 6-11, cat-quick forward/center Badara Ndiaye.
With Ndiaye being faster than the other Golden Panthers big men, coach Sergio Rouco has him running with the guards.
''He's faster than some of the guards, as well,'' Rouco said. ``He's un gato .''
When the Golden Panthers run the break in the practice, center Russell Hicks doesn't lag behind like most centers. Instead, Hicks, a 7-0 Pepperdine transfer, is right there with his teammates attacking the basket.
''To carry the size Russell has, he runs well,'' Rouco said. ``He runs better than he looks.''
Joked senior small forward Chris Fuller: ``If they don't run with us, they get lost.''
With the two new centers on the team, Fuller's joke could be amended to: With Ndiaye and Hicks running with the Golden Panthers, FIU won't be as lost this season.
FIU (12-17 in 2006) struggled in scoring and defending in the paint last season because it had to rely on players 6-8 or smaller who played out of position.
For the most part last season, the Golden Panthers were a jump-shooting team that played stingy defense on the perimeter, but was vulnerable inside.
Now, with junior centers in Hicks and Ndiaye, the floor should open up more for scorers such as forward Alex Galindo and guard Kenneth White, a Texas A&M transfer, and allow the Golden Panthers to be more aggressive on defense.
''It's a big change for our team, when last year our biggest man was 6-8,'' senior point guard Michael James said. ``They are going to be good for us in the long run. They are going to be a big contribution to our team.''
When Pepperdine coach Paul Westphal was fired after the 2005-06 season, Hicks transferred to FIU after being named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman team.
New Pepperdine coach Vance Walberg was a more guard-oriented coach, and Hicks wasn't comfortable in the new system.
Ndiaye, a native of Senegal, arrives from Southeastern Iowa Community College, where he was one of the top junior college shot-blockers.
Hicks, who knows the troubles FIU had near the basket last season, is ready to contribute.
''Just a presence down low in the post will help us,'' Hicks said. ``Because even if we don't block a shot, we're going to change it, and that's important. The height is a huge advantage. If we play hard, there is no stopping us.''
Hicks has the more polished game, offensively and defensively, of the two big men.
Ndiaye, however, has been honing his offensive skills since joining the Golden Panthers.
''I've always been more known for my defense,'' Ndiaye said. ``I'm becoming more of an offensive player. I'm more aggressive towards the basket.''
Rouco has said Hicks will start at center and that Ndiaye will come off the bench. But Rouco, entering his fourth season as coach, also plans on using both centers at the same time.
''The way I coach, I can't just have a big lug in there,'' Rouco said. ``Russell is a legit center. Badara is a legit center that can move, that can screen, that can do things with the basketball, and they both can score on the block. I'm excited about the big guys.''
****************************************************
FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS
Coach: Sergio Rouco (33-54, three years at FIU).
Last season: 12-17 (7-11 in Sun Belt); no postseason.
Returning starters: G Michael James (4.9 ppg, 2.9 apg); F Chris Fuller (10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Alex Galindo (13.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Key newcomers: G Kenneth White (Texas A&M), C Russell Hicks (Pepperdine), F Badara Ndiaye (Southeastern Iowa Community College).
Outlook: With Hicks (7-0) and Ndiaye (6-11), the Golden Panthers could be among the Sun Belt's top teams this season. White's shooting will provided another offensive threat after Galindo.
Season opener: vs. Florida Tech, 7 p.m. Nov. 12.
Tickets/information: FIUsports.com, 866-348-4263.
***************************************************
FIU's 2 new centers are taller, faster
FIU's two new centers, Badara Ndiaye and Russell Hicks, bring a height and speed advantage the team didn't have last season.
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
While watching the Florida International guards run sprints in practice, there seems to be something amiss.
Among the guards -- who range in height from 5-9 to 6-1 -- is 6-11, cat-quick forward/center Badara Ndiaye.
With Ndiaye being faster than the other Golden Panthers big men, coach Sergio Rouco has him running with the guards.
''He's faster than some of the guards, as well,'' Rouco said. ``He's un gato .''
When the Golden Panthers run the break in the practice, center Russell Hicks doesn't lag behind like most centers. Instead, Hicks, a 7-0 Pepperdine transfer, is right there with his teammates attacking the basket.
''To carry the size Russell has, he runs well,'' Rouco said. ``He runs better than he looks.''
Joked senior small forward Chris Fuller: ``If they don't run with us, they get lost.''
With the two new centers on the team, Fuller's joke could be amended to: With Ndiaye and Hicks running with the Golden Panthers, FIU won't be as lost this season.
FIU (12-17 in 2006) struggled in scoring and defending in the paint last season because it had to rely on players 6-8 or smaller who played out of position.
For the most part last season, the Golden Panthers were a jump-shooting team that played stingy defense on the perimeter, but was vulnerable inside.
Now, with junior centers in Hicks and Ndiaye, the floor should open up more for scorers such as forward Alex Galindo and guard Kenneth White, a Texas A&M transfer, and allow the Golden Panthers to be more aggressive on defense.
''It's a big change for our team, when last year our biggest man was 6-8,'' senior point guard Michael James said. ``They are going to be good for us in the long run. They are going to be a big contribution to our team.''
When Pepperdine coach Paul Westphal was fired after the 2005-06 season, Hicks transferred to FIU after being named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman team.
New Pepperdine coach Vance Walberg was a more guard-oriented coach, and Hicks wasn't comfortable in the new system.
Ndiaye, a native of Senegal, arrives from Southeastern Iowa Community College, where he was one of the top junior college shot-blockers.
Hicks, who knows the troubles FIU had near the basket last season, is ready to contribute.
''Just a presence down low in the post will help us,'' Hicks said. ``Because even if we don't block a shot, we're going to change it, and that's important. The height is a huge advantage. If we play hard, there is no stopping us.''
Hicks has the more polished game, offensively and defensively, of the two big men.
Ndiaye, however, has been honing his offensive skills since joining the Golden Panthers.
''I've always been more known for my defense,'' Ndiaye said. ``I'm becoming more of an offensive player. I'm more aggressive towards the basket.''
Rouco has said Hicks will start at center and that Ndiaye will come off the bench. But Rouco, entering his fourth season as coach, also plans on using both centers at the same time.
''The way I coach, I can't just have a big lug in there,'' Rouco said. ``Russell is a legit center. Badara is a legit center that can move, that can screen, that can do things with the basketball, and they both can score on the block. I'm excited about the big guys.''
