Georgia Tech Basketball: Mamadou N'Diaye Selected As New Assistant Coach

Hello to From The Rumble Seat community. My name is Wesley Morton and I'm a fourth year Electrical Engineering major at Georgia Tech. I'm also a big Atlanta Falcons, Braves, and Hawks fan, so I know disappointment. I'm really excited for the opportunity to write for this site.

Georgia Tech has announced Mamadou N’Diaye as a new assistant basketball coach. He will join head coach Brian Gregory’s staff for the 2014-15 season in the spot formerly held by Josh Posterino.

N’Diaye has extensive playing experience at the collegiate and professional levels. A 7 foot player out of Dakar, Senegal, he was the first from his country to be drafted in the first round of NBA draft. After playing under Cliff Ellis at Auburn from 1996-2000, he played in the NBA, Euroleague, Israel Basketball Superleague and Chinese Basketball League in a decade-long career.

N’Diaye helped guide Coastal Carolina to the Big South title and an NCAA Tournament berth this past season as an assistant under head coach Cliff Ellis. The Chanticleers finished 21-13 (11-5 in the Big South) in the third leg of a three year span that included two tournament appearances. He helped CCU finish first in the Big South in rebounding margin, scoring defense, and field goal difference last season.

Georgia Tech was 5th in the ACC in rebounding and 7th in blocks per game in 2013-14 but may struggle in those areas this upcoming season. The Yellow Jackets are losing two key post players, Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey, to graduation. As a result, the responsibility will be on junior Robert Carter Jr. among others to carry the load down low. Carter averaged 11.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season, good for the first and third mark on the team respectively. The offense will run through Carter next season with last season's leading scorer Trae Golden also graduating.

N'Diaye will be counted on to work with him and the young forwards and centers on the team like he did at Coastal Carolina. Robert Sampson, a 6'8" forward, will be eligible to play after transferring from East Carolina, and he'll be depended on for his rebounding and rim protection in his last year of eligibility. In addition, the transition to the D-I basketball for two incoming freshman centers, Ben Lammers and A.D. Gueye, will partially depend on N’Diaye’s assistance. Even returning forward sophomore Quinton Stephens could learn under his tutelage. Although his game is perimeter-oriented, he may be relied upon heavily in the post if Lammers and Gueye aren't ready.