For all of Jon’s other Season Preview Interviews – CLICK HERE
2015 was a very good year for Georges Niang: All-American, All-Big 12 1st-Team, Big 12 tourney MOP, and he also made the Academic All-Big 12 2nd-Team. However, his season ended in brutal fashion for the 3rd straight March: a 3-PT loss to Ohio State in the 2013 NCAA tourney, a broken foot against NC Central in the 2014 NCAA tourney, and a 1-PT loss to UAB in the 2015 NCAA tourney. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Georges about how close he came to going pro last spring and how he likes his new coach.
In February 2014 you scored 17 PTS in a 1-PT 3-OT win at Oklahoma State: where does that rank among the most exciting games of your career? That definitely ranks up there because we had not beaten them in in Stillwater in more than 20 years.
In the 2014 NCAA tourney you scored 24 PTS in 26 minutes before breaking your right foot during a win over NC-Central: do you think your team could have beaten UConn if you were healthy? I try not to live in the past but I am a competitor and I think that I could have helped our chances by giving our team a boost. You never know, so I just focus on the future.
In the 2015 Big 12 tourney you were named MVP after beating Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas on 3 straight nights: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? The biggest thing that people underestimate about us is that we are not a 1-man team: I have some of the best teammates in the country who can take the attention off of me and make things much easier for me.
In the 2013 NCAA tourney you had a 3-PT loss to Ohio State, and in the 2015 NCAA tourney you had a 1-PT loss to UAB: what will it take to get over the hump if you have another postseason game that goes down to the wire? It just takes a lot of focus. If you hold yourself accountable in everything you do today, then you will find a way to close out games and get the win.
Last year you were named All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was awesome but a lot of that credit goes to my teammates. If I did not have them to push me in practice every day, I would not be able to achieve such awards. Coach Hoiberg also pushed me to be the best man and player I could be.
You considered entering the NBA draft last spring: how close did you come to turning pro, and what made you decide to return? It was something that crossed my mind, but having 1 more shot at a championship with my best friends is an opportunity that I could not turn down.
You have ranked in the top-10 in the Big 12 in both PPG and APG in each of the past 2 seasons: how do you balance your scoring with your passing? I have great teammates who can make shots and make me look good. It is easy to throw it up to the rim or down on the block to a guy like Jameel McKay who can score against anyone. We have a ton of guys who can score points.
You have a new coach this year in Steve Prohm: how has the transition been, and what is he like so far? It has been an easy transition. Coach Prohm is all about his players and is passionate in supporting our well-being, so we try to give him our best. It is a real beneficial relationship and I am ready to get the year rolling with him.
Your non-conference schedule includes games against Colorado/Virginia Tech/Iowa/Cincinnati: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Iowa is always a tough rivalry game for us. Colorado will be difficult because it is our very 1st game of the season, and Cincinnati is a good defensive team. Virginia Tech has Coach Buzz Williams, who always gets the best out of his guys.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? As a team I want us to win as many championships as we can. My goal is just to be 1-0, which starts with winning today and then winning the next day.