SWAC Basketball: Tidjiane Dioumassi's journey from Paris, France to the Bluff of Southern University.

CW: Can you talk about your time playing JUCO basketball? How long were you at Lee College?

TD: My time playing juco ball was pretty interesting. At first I just went there because I didn’t have anywhere else to go…like every kid in the country I had that “D1 or nothing mentality” which is totally ignorant and immature. I didn’t know anything about juco. I had a talk with my trainer and he told me that I should really consider this opportunity because juco is a good level. And I will have a chance to develop as a basketball player. It was an adjustment, but I wouldn’t trade my 2 years of juco basketball for anything. It helped shape the man I am today, on and off the court. 

CW: I've heard it's tough playing JUCO ball, was that true for you?

TD: Yeah….100%. It might not be the highest level but the players give their all every night. In juco, at least 85% of the players think they should be D1 athletes so they play with a chip on their shoulder. They are trying to prove themselves every night. Even your own teammates are coming at your neck every practice.

CW: Your journey then led you to Southern. What played into your decision to choose the Jaguars?

TD: To be brutally honest, Coach Johnson was the only reason why I chose Southern. I didn’t know anything about the city, the people, the school, the history, nothing…One day KJ and I sat down, and after our talk deep down inside I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Who wouldn’t want to play for someone that LOVES the game, UNDERSTANDS the process, and KNOWS what winning means.

CW: Can you describe playing for coach Johnson?

TD: I love it! However it’s not easy (laughs) you have to be passionate about the game. He is pushing me to be better every single day, I'm not allowed to have a bad day. I can barely have a good day, I have to be at my best everyday. Because he is coming at me, he’s going to test me. He will try to make me crack when he sees that I’m struggling. That's all I can ask for, he wants you to reach a level that you can’t even see for yourself.

CW: The team is 9-3 in conference, how has it been playing in the SWAC?

TD: So far playing in the SWAC has been super fun. The SWAC doesn’t get the credit they deserve, it might not be the most talented conference. But I guarantee you that they play harder than a lot of bigger schools. Every game is a dog fight. Moreover, I go to Southern, everyone wants to beat us. You can feel that every team in the conference knows if they beat us their season is a success. We’ve got that type of target on our back already, add that to the fact that as of right now we are first in conference play. You can imagine how everyone is gunning for us and that we have to be locked in and ready to go to war every game.