Wildcats Must Pivot After Breaking Sidi Gueye News
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Three days removed from the opening of the transfer portal, forward Sidi Gueye announced that he will be putting his name in to find a team that could use his skill set. The news comes almost a week after Arizona's Final Four loss to the Michigan Wolverines in Indianapolis. Despite the loss, the Wildcats had the most successful season in the program's history, finishing with a 36-3 record.
Sidi Gueye Hits Portal
The Wildcats also won both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles after losing just two games in the conference, to Kansas and Texas Tech. Gueye was one of eight newcomers who made up the No. 2 recruiting class in college hoops.
Gueye was recruited by Tommy Lloyd and his staff out of Senegal and was mostly utilized as a reserve for the season. Despite getting on the floor during garbage time, the 6-foot-10 big man was most likely going to play a bigger role in his sophomore season with the Wildcats. Just how much depended on Motiejus Krivas' decision on staying or declaring for the draft.
Koa Peat's decision to do the same also would have affected Gueye's role. The star freshman, however, is most likely going to declare for the draft after a season where he averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Gueye had a very pedestrian year, averaging 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds on 3.4 minutes played. When Peat was out with a leg injury, Gueye saw an uptick against BYU, where he scored four points and grabbed four rebounds in 10 minutes played. Gueye failed to record a point or a rebound against Houston in the following game, but played eight minutes and blocked a shot in the 73-66 win.
Where Does Arizona Go From Here?
It is not yet known if Krivas will declare for the draft, but if he doesn't, the Wildcats will have a big man who was on the Big 12's All-Defensive Team and a veteran who has experience in big games. Mabil Mawut will also see an uptick in minutes. The 6-foot-11 big man redshirted this season, granting him an extra year of eligibility.
Arizona could also hit the transfer portal to find a replacement for Gueye. Arizona State's Maasamba Diop recently put his name in the portal, and he could be a huge pickup for the Wildcats. At 7-foot-1, he could be a game-changer in the front court.
Diop's size is perfect for the Wildcats, who like to play big and wear teams down in the paint and on the glass. Not only is Diop a lofty big man, but he can also shoot from mid-range and has even shot from 3-point range from time to time. That is exactly what Arizona wants from their fours and fives.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Flory Bidunga could also be a good pickup, but Arizona will need to pursue him hard to get him to sign. Bidunga has already visited other teams and is slated to sign with a team outside the conference. Power forward Bryson Tiller makes much more sense and even lists Arizona as one of his top four schools.
Nathaniel Martinez and a set of shoulder pads at 7 years old. He later graduated from Pima Community College in 2023, where he began writing for the Pima Post. He is working to achieve a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Media Studies.