SEN - An injection of quality may come with Dieng

MINNESOTA (2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Senegal will have a very exciting team at next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Looking back at this summer's AfroBasket in Cote d'Ivoire, the Senegalese had high-fliers who like to play the game above the rim.

When it was all said and done in Abidjan, and Senegal's players had bronze medals hanging from their necks, Maleye Ndoye led the squad in scoring with an average of 10 points per game and Hamady Ndiaye had a team-best 15 blocked shots.

Imagine how formidable Senegal's frontline would be if Gorgui Dieng, a member of the NCAA Championship-winning Louisville Cardinals earlier this year, joined their squad for the World Cup.

The 2.10m shot-swatting machine wasn't available this summer as he concentrated on getting ready for his rookie campaign in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

So far, Dieng's raised plenty of eyebrows in Minneapolis.

In just his second pre-season outing, a 98-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Dieng had game-highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (four) to go with his six points.

T-Wolves boss Rick Adelman, who has coached a lot of players from overseas during his long career, said: "It's been a transition, but he's been playing well.

"He's got good size.

"He moves very well and he's a pretty smart player. He's done fine."

Dieng has also looked good in practices.

One of the players that he has gone up against is Montenegrin center Nikola Pekovic.

To have any success at all against a player of Pekovic's quality is a real confidence booster.

"Playing against him is so strong," Dieng said.

"It's going to help me in the long run.

"You know, I get used to playing against one of the best in the league.

"And when you go against other bigs in the league, I won’t have a lot of trouble.

"So hopefully guarding Pek will help me in the game."

It remains to be seen if Dieng is going to be a part of the Minnesota rotation, at least early on.

His shot-blocking skills are undeniably helping him contend for a place.

"I work every day in game, practice," Dieng said.

"It doesn't matter. I just want to play basketball. Whatever we do, I'm with it."

Dieng will be hoping to feature on Tuesday night when Minnesota square off against Philadelphia in another pre-season game.

The Timberwolves' first regular season contest will be at home on 30 October against Orlando.

FIBA