8B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FINAL FOUR
FRIDAY,APRIL4,2003
Final Fourmania foreign for Niang
By Shane Mettlen
smettlen@kansan.com
kansan.sportswriter
Moulaye Niang doesn't know how to say Final Four in Wolof. Of course, no sporting event in his native Senegal can match the pageantry of the NCAA tournament, so why would his native language even bother with a word for it?
"It's a very different country," the freshman forward said. "We like soccer and all that kind of stuff. I'd say that maybe the African Cup (compares to the Final Four), but this is big, really exciting."
Niang is the least experienced Jayhawk when it comes to the Final Four. He and junior college transfer Jeff Graves are the only scholarship players who weren't with the Jayhawks for last year's semifinal in Atlanta. Niang received his first exposure to the pop-culture mega event that is the Final Four three years ago when he arrived in the United States to attend high school in San Diego.
Having teammates with big game experience has been an aid to the novice Niang. Seniors Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich have helped him deal with the pressures that can be overwhelming at times.
"We try to help him keep his mind on basketball," Collison said. "We just let him know we can be proud of what we did when it's all over, but now we have to think about Marquette and nothing else."
While Niang has little Final
Moulaye Niang is the least experienced Jayhawk when it comes to the Final Four. He and Jeff Graves are the only scholarship players who weren't with the Jayhawks for last year's semifinal in Atlanta.
Four experience by Kansas standards, his mother, Seynabou Diouf, has even less. Niang said that the French cable television system that provides service to Senegal never broadcasts college basketball but does provide a skewed view of the war in Iraq.
"She's kind of worrying about me because of the war going on," Niang said. "What they hear there and what is going on here are different. She thinks that I'm in danger so she's worrying all the time. She doesn't understand, she thinks maybe the guys are fighting here."
Niang said he hoped that sharing his basketball experience will help case his mother's mind.
"I'm planning on making a highlight tape, so I can take it with me when I go home," Niang said. "I can show her how good it is over here, how happy people feel. I think that will make her feel better."
If all goes well for the Jayhawks in New Orleans then maybe Niang can feel good about adding a new word to his Wolof vocabulary—champs.
—Edited by Ryan Wood
Freshman forward Moulaye Niang defends a Colorado player on his way to the basket, Niang, a native of Senegal, has seen two other NCAA tournaments on television. This year's journey to the Final Four is the first time he has ever been a part of the madness.
Kansan file photo
Longhorn guard uses footwork talk on defense
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Royal Ivey took a long time to think about who might be able to stop his teammate, star guard T.J. Ford of Texas.
Finally, only one name came to mind: Royal Ivey.
"That's my teammate," Ivey said."I know all his moves."
"I do it in practice every day," Ivey says with a smile, drawing a big laugh from Ford and a room full of reporters.
And who's to argue? Texas coach Rick Barnes doesn't open his practices to the media, so only the Longhorns know what goes on behind closed doors.
"Our guards go at it every day," is all center James Thomas will divulge. "When he and T.J. go one-on-one, look out."
Ivey's play in games is no secret. He's the Longhorns best perimeter defender, picking up much of his nimble footwork from his days as an elite dancer in high school.
Texas counts on him to shut down an opponent's best scorer, both on the court and in his head. He's the team's best trash talker, the guy who nicknamed Ford "Rat."
"When Royal gets in some-body's head," Thomas said, "it's lights out."
His verbal jabs are subtle, under-the-breath braggadocio meant solely for the ears of the intended target. He won't say what say exactly what message he'll have for Syracuse's 6-8 freshman forward Carmelo Anthony.
"I can't give out my lines," he said.
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