- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 426,026
- Reaction score
- 43
ATLANTA — Malik Dia felt something he'd never felt before Friday night.
The junior forward had no space as he sat in the corner of the Ole Miss basketball locker room. A table stocked with bananas, oranges and granola bars was on his left. Teammates on his right crowded the narrow walkway of the locker room tucked back on the court level of State Farm Arena.
Dia kept his white and black towel March Madness towel around his neck. Minutes after Ole Miss' 73-70 loss to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, he chose not to hide his tears.
"I ain't never had this feeling after a season before," Dia said. "Not at Vandy. Not at Belmont. To be with the older guys. To think that I'll never play with these guys again. It hurts. That's why all the emotions come out. I want to stay strong, but to not play with Sean Pedulla. That's my point guard, man. It's going to sting."
Dia was the only non-senior starter for Ole Miss (24-12) on Friday. It has been like that most of the season. Now, after a back-and-forth second half ended with longtime coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans (30-6) moving to the Elite Eight on Sunday, the senior-laden roster that powered Ole Miss to its second Sweet 16 run in history is forced to disperse.
"I just wanted to build something special and be a part of it," Dia said. "I think that's what we're doing at Ole Miss. I think that's the start of something special. To be a part of his team. To be a part of history is unreal. I just want to thank all the seniors."
Pedulla, whom Dia shouted out by name through choked sobs, is out of eligibility. So are Jaemyn Brakefield, Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray, Dre Davis, Mikeal Brown-Jones and Davon Barnes. Aside from Eduardo Klafke, a freshman who played 5 minutes, 3 seconds, Dia was the only non-senior who played against the Spartans.
"We all love each other," Pedulla said. "We've been through so much stuff together. Forever will be brothers."
Murray hopes coach Chris Beard is able to rebuild a roster next season with a similar team chemistry. The transfer portal opened on March 24.
More: Ole Miss baseball to play doubleheader vs Florida on Friday due to weather forecast
"These guys, they taught me so much, man," Murray said. "Probably the best gift I got from these guys is how hard they pushed me. Being a better player. Being a better person. Taking accountability for a lot of things. It's a great group of guys."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss basketball's Malik Dia cried for seniors after NCAA tournament
Continue reading...
The junior forward had no space as he sat in the corner of the Ole Miss basketball locker room. A table stocked with bananas, oranges and granola bars was on his left. Teammates on his right crowded the narrow walkway of the locker room tucked back on the court level of State Farm Arena.
Dia kept his white and black towel March Madness towel around his neck. Minutes after Ole Miss' 73-70 loss to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, he chose not to hide his tears.
"I ain't never had this feeling after a season before," Dia said. "Not at Vandy. Not at Belmont. To be with the older guys. To think that I'll never play with these guys again. It hurts. That's why all the emotions come out. I want to stay strong, but to not play with Sean Pedulla. That's my point guard, man. It's going to sting."
Dia was the only non-senior starter for Ole Miss (24-12) on Friday. It has been like that most of the season. Now, after a back-and-forth second half ended with longtime coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans (30-6) moving to the Elite Eight on Sunday, the senior-laden roster that powered Ole Miss to its second Sweet 16 run in history is forced to disperse.
"I just wanted to build something special and be a part of it," Dia said. "I think that's what we're doing at Ole Miss. I think that's the start of something special. To be a part of his team. To be a part of history is unreal. I just want to thank all the seniors."
Pedulla, whom Dia shouted out by name through choked sobs, is out of eligibility. So are Jaemyn Brakefield, Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray, Dre Davis, Mikeal Brown-Jones and Davon Barnes. Aside from Eduardo Klafke, a freshman who played 5 minutes, 3 seconds, Dia was the only non-senior who played against the Spartans.
"We all love each other," Pedulla said. "We've been through so much stuff together. Forever will be brothers."
Murray hopes coach Chris Beard is able to rebuild a roster next season with a similar team chemistry. The transfer portal opened on March 24.
More: Ole Miss baseball to play doubleheader vs Florida on Friday due to weather forecast
"These guys, they taught me so much, man," Murray said. "Probably the best gift I got from these guys is how hard they pushed me. Being a better player. Being a better person. Taking accountability for a lot of things. It's a great group of guys."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss basketball's Malik Dia cried for seniors after NCAA tournament
Continue reading...
