If the March Madness fascinates the crowds in the United States every year, its popularity is only waiting to grow here in France. For this, nothing better than having representatives of the blue-white-red flag participating in the great celebration of college basketball. That’s good, for this year, we have a few. Presentation.
Moussa Diabate (Michigan)
The profile : winger, 2m11 and 95 kilos, 20 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 9.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 blocks at 54.9% shooting, 29 games played including 23 as a starter, 24.8 minutes on average
The program : game on Thursday March 17, 5:15 p.m. French time, against Colorado State (#6)
His team : Michigan, 17-13 regular season record, second-round loss in Big Ten Conference tournament, ranked #11 in South Region
A five-star prospect on leaving the IMG Academy (Florida), Moussa Diabaté went to join Juwan Howard at the University of Michigan. Assessment of his first university season? Clearly positive, he who quickly established himself as an important element of the Wolverines then rewarded with a nomination in the best five of the freshmen within his conference. One of the turning points in his rise was this performance last November against UNLV, a performance in which the native of Paname displayed his talent while making an impression through a monumental poster. His “coming-out party” in a way, which was then confirmed by other very promising outings (28 points against Iowa for example, mid-February). Something to impress more and more NBA scouts, seduced in particular by his activity, his versatility in defense, his mobility and his athletic qualities. Small black dot on the board, the involvement of Moussa in the February 20 fight at the end of the match between Michigan and Wisconsin, which earned him a suspension match.
Congratulations to @M0ussaDiabate for being selected to the ALL-B1G freshman team! ????????
〽️???? | #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/Cco6azj6se
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) March 8, 2022
Alexis Yetna (Seton Hall)
The profile : winger / strong winger of 2m03 and 102 kilos, 23 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 8.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists at 40.7% shooting, 30 games played including 17 as a starter, 24.2 minutes on average
The program : match on the night of Friday March 18 to Saturday March 19, 2:57 a.m. French time, against TCU (#8)
His team : Seton Hall, 20-8 regular season record, Big East Conference quarterfinal tournament loss, ranked #8 in South Region
Alexis Yetna is 23 years old, in other words he is a veteran of the world of university basketball. And he has known things in the NCAA. For three years, the other Frenchie from Saint-Quentin – a former footballer who became a basketball fan watching Blake Griffin’s dunks – evolved at the University of South Florida, where he had made a remarkable entrance before experiencing a major injury. Knee. Alex then decided to transfer to Seton Hall University in 2021 to experience a new adventure in his career. “Alexis is one of the best kids you can meet. Every day he arrives with a smile and asks each coach how they are. And then he starts playing, and he shoves everyone around to get every rebound. » That’s how an assistant coach described Yetna shortly after joining the Pirates. Something tells us that given the impact of the latter this season, this speech is still relevant.
Alexis Yetna with the putback ????
We lead 57-25 with 11:49 to go. pic.twitter.com/iXKxsV3oWj
— Seton Hall Men’s Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 11, 2021
Clarence Nadolny (Texas Tech)
The profile : leader of 1m92 and 90 kilos, 21 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals at 41.6% shooting, 31 games played including 3 as a starter, 15.1 minutes on average
The program : match on Friday March 18, 6:45 p.m. French time, against Montana State (#14)
His team : Texas Tech, 23-8 regular season record, Big 12 Conference Finals loss, ranked #3 in West Region
For his junior season, Clarence Nadolny saw his role grow with the Red Raiders. His stats are not obvious but his defensive contribution allowed him to double his minutes off the bench compared to last season. So of course, the native of Montreuil took advantage of the injuries and absences linked to COVID to gain in playing time but still had to take his chance. And that’s what he did. We think particularly of his performance last January against Kansas, one of the best teams in the country, where he established his new career high (17 points) while contributing on the other side of the field (3 steals). Know that Clarence is the kind of guy to step-up well in attack against the big guys since his three best offensive performances have all been achieved against ranked teams (Kansas therefore, but also Texas and Baylor). All this while he had gone through surgery last offseason to repair a hip injury.
???????? Here it is: the Clarence Nadolny breakout game. The junior was greatly impactful on both ends (17 PTS, 3 STL) in a huge win by Texas Tech over Kansas. Hard-nosed, locked in from start to finish. Has had good flashes since last year: now he’s ready for bigger things. @C_nad11 pic.twitter.com/35FpJHriUD
— CBB Europe (@CBB_Europe) January 9, 2022
Daniel Batcho (Texas Tech)
The profile : winger of 2m06 and 105 kilos, 20 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 2.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks at 63.2% shooting, 30 games played and none as a starter, 10.2 minutes on average
The program : match on Friday March 18, 6:45 p.m. French time, against Montana State (#14)
His team : Texas Tech, 23-8 regular season record, Big 12 Conference Finals loss, ranked #3 in West Region
Clarence Nadolny is not the only player to represent the blue-white-red flag on the side of Texas Tech, there is also Daniel Batcho. The interior trained at the federal basketball center and named MVP of the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament two years ago had first taken the direction of the University of Arizona, but without playing the slightest minute there due in particular to worries. in the knee (for information he had already suffered a ligament rupture during Euro U16 in 2018). This is how he landed with the Red Raiders for the 2021-22 season, where he returned to the field to take on a limited role off the bench.
Daniel Batcho content. pic.twitter.com/KO3iXaQVRH
— Carlos Silva Jr. (@cmsilvajr) January 19, 2022
Quentin Diboundje (Tennessee)
The profile : rear of 1m95 and 98 kilos, 19 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists 44.4% shooting, 6 games played and none as a starter, 5.3 minutes average
The program : match on Thursday March 17, 7:45 p.m. French time, against Longwood (#14)
His team : Tennessee, 23-7 regular season record, Southeastern Conference tournament winner, ranked #3 in the South Region
Montverde Academy, does that mean anything to you? You’ve probably already heard of it because Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes went through it before arriving in the NCAA. This is also the case of Frenchie Quentin Diboundje. Born in Montpellier and trained at Élan Chalonnais, Quentin actually made a quick trip to Florida and then took the road to Tennessee, thus following in the footsteps of Yves Pons. A great opportunity for him even if so far, he has distinguished himself more by his tomars in the warm-up and his celebrations on the bench than by his contribution on the ground. Let’s not forget, however, that Diboundje is only a freshman who is mainly here today to discover the NCAA universe. So be patient, maybe his time will come. Coach Rick Barnes said: “He has a bright future ahead of him. »
I’m telling y’all… Quentin Diboundje can throw down! pic.twitter.com/0pzdya8XFO
— Karthik Venkataraman (@KarthikV_) January 11, 2022
Adama Bal (Arizona)
The profile : rear of 1m98 and 86 kilos, 18 years old
Stats 2021-22 : 1.4 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists at 47.8% shooting, 22 games played and none as a starter, 4.3 minutes on average
The program : match on the night of Friday 18 to Saturday 19 March, 0:27 French time, opponent to be defined
His team : Arizona, 28-3 regular season record, winner of the Pac-12 Conference tournament, ranked #1 in the South Region
Adama Bal is the Frenchie who has the best chance of going far in this March Madness, with the University of Arizona being one of the big favorites in the university tournament. Given his freshman status and the lack of playing time he has had this year, we shouldn’t see much of the Le Mans product on the biggest stage in NCAA basketball, but his small contribution in the Pac-12 final against UCLA (6 points 2/2 from the parking lot in 9 minutes) could offer him other occasional opportunities. This may be even more the case in the early rounds of March Madness if Arizona smashes the design and minutes free up in garbage time. Must take advantage of it!
ADAMA BAL CAME TO PLAY pic.twitter.com/Y555ei4bVL
— PHNX Wildcats (@PHNX_Wildcats) March 13, 2022
And also…
Theoretically, two other French people are also in the running in this March Madness 2022, but it is hard to see them treading the floors over the next three weeks. The interior from Paris Alex Tchikou has not played a single second since November, he who – we recall – had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in October 2020. Only three games played in all with Alabama this year for five small minutes, which is to say that it would be a big surprise if he were to be thrown into the deep end during the next deadlines. However, it is not the potential that is lacking.
Damn I ain’t play in a real basketball game in more than 2 years ???? I’ll keep being patient for what GOD got for me ????????
— Alex “FrenTchi” Tchikou (@tcalex0) March 7, 2022
Tanguy Touzé, who plays for the small university of Jacksonville State, has only participated in one game in 2022. It was on February 26 against the North Alabama Lions, with one minute of play on the clock. Opposed to the Auburn team which is guided by the phenomenon Jabari Smith, Jax State should not last long in this March Madness but we hope that Tanguy will still be able to taste the always very special atmosphere of the event.
????????????????????❤️ https://t.co/6K5HSVfPCH
— Tanguy Touze (@tanguy_touze) March 9, 2022
Last year, Joël Ayayi had represented the tricolor very well by helping Gonzaga to go to the final of the March Madness. Which Frenchie will shine this season? Who will get the furthest? Can one of them turn up when no one expected it? Response from Thursday. Remember, it’s March Madness, absolutely anything is possible.