The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513610
Back In The Groove After a disappointing season at Mis- souri in which he averaged 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 25 games, Diarra entered the transfer portal. He didn't know much about NC State until he watched the Wolfpack play in last year's NCAA Tournament. That's when he thought he'd be a good fit in Raleigh. In his short time with the Pack, Di- arra has impressed. Coach Kevin Keatts called him the team's "most complete player" coming out of summer work- outs. He backed up that assessment in his debut, totaling 14 rebounds against The Citadel on Nov. 6 and following up that performance by pulling down 11 against Abilene Christian four days later. "I don't think he needs a confidence boost," Wolfpack graduate forward DJ Burns said of Diarra after the season opener. "He knows he's good. That's one guy who's going to give it his all every time, and I think that's a great way to get going." Slowed by a sore ankle in NC State's next four games, Diarra got back to his rebounding ways at Boston College on Dec. 2. He logged 10 boards in the first half alone and finished with 18, the most for an NC State player against an ACC opponent since 2013. For Diarra, rebounding is second na- ture. He said it's "normal" for him to consistently come up with the ball. "I'm going to get as many rebounds as I can," he said. "If I can get 30 re- bounds a game, I'm going to try to get that, because I've got no limits. I'm just trying to give the team my best every time." He seems to be back in the groove he was in at Garden City, when 10 re- bounds were a given and 20 or more were a frequent occurrence. "He's the best rebounder I've ever seen," Morosco said. "It helps in a lot of ways. It makes up for any mistake you might have defensively. … It took a lot of pressure off the guys shooting threes knowing they had Mo in case they missed it." Diarra has had a chip on his shoul- der for practically his entire sporting life, and it's still there this season. He was unhappy with how his time at Mis- souri went, and he was motivated to prove what he could do on the basket- ball court. So far, it seems that he's well on his way to doing that with the Wolfpack. "Every time, I'm thinking about last year," Diarra said. "They disrespected me, and I'm going to show them. Somebody else is going to play me, and they're going to need me. Right now, I think I did good." ■ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 37 In an 84-78 overtime win at Boston College Dec. 2, Diarra finished with 18 rebounds, the most for any NC State player against an ACC opponent since 2013. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS