Virginia Basketball: Mamadi Diakite’s emergence comes at perfect time for Cavaliers

Mamadi Diakite had arguably his two biggest games of the season in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. It’s perfect timing for Virginia Basketball.

The NCAA Tournament is all about creating moments that last a lifetime. Unsung players become household names. Veteran players take on larger roles and rise to the moment. For 2018-19 Virginia Basketball, that very thing is happening with junior forward Mamadi Diakite.

Diakite is averaging just over seven points and four rebounds per game on the season. In Virginia’s first-round win over Gardner-Webb, Diakite was UVa’s top player, scoring 17 points and pulling down nine rebounds. While De’Andre Hunter may have led the Wahoos in scoring, Diakite was Virginia’s most consistent player and a steadying force on a day where the Cavaliers were down as many as 12 points in the first half against the 16th seed in the South Region.

The Bulldogs had no answer for Diakite inside, as he made eight of 10 field goals and helped the Hoos exorcise last year’s demons of being the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed.

In the second-round win over Oklahoma, UVa led for essentially the entire game. However, on a day where All-ACC sharpshooter Kyle Guy was an uncharacteristic 0-10 from three-point range and scored just four points, Diakite again led the Wahoos. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and blocked three shots.

During the regular season, Diakite scored in double figures just eight times. Only once did that occur in consecutive games and that was in back-to-back November wins over Coppin State and George Washington. To say Diakite’s emergence into a force is coming at the perfect time for head coach Tony Bennett is a massive understatement and that’s not lost on his head coach.

Point guard Ty Jerome struggled in the ACC Tournament and has slowly bounced back in each of UVa’s first two NCAA Tournament games. Guy has scored just 12 points and is one of 15 from beyond the arc in this tournament and Hunter struggled a bit in the Hoos’ win over Oklahoma. Their individual histories suggest all three players are due for a huge performance in this tournament, especially Guy, however, Diakite has proven Virginia is more than just its big three.

As the tournament continues and opposition stiffens, the Cavaliers need someone outside of Hunter, Jerome and Guy to be a consistent scorer. Diakite looks to be that guy. His athleticism is off-the-charts and he’s still learning the game. His inside presence should allow more open looks for Guy and Jerome.

In recent seasons, Bennett’s teams were criticized for its inability to score on offense. This team is different. And the emergence of the 6’9″ Diakite gives the Cavaliers something they haven’t had and that’s why this team can win it all.