Diarra played almost 20 mpg last season playing behind a first team AA PG, Spencer and a top-5 lottery pick in Castle. And they weren't all garbage minutes. He was playing key minutes in UConn's tightest games and had a regular rotation as first guard off the bench for the first half and the second half.
Diarra is 6'2" and isn't lighting up the NBA draft boards. The kid will play professionally throughout his 20's overseas and make some nice cash if that is what he wants to do.
He's been here two years and has two rings. He was a legit rotation player on this year's team.
With all that UConn lost from the roster, I find it tough to believe his minutes won't go up and be somewhere in the 22-25 mpg range. There are too many unknowns between Ball increasing his minutes, Nowell coming in as a frosh and any transfers. Diarra is the known quantity, the solid bed rock. The way he improved his 3-point shooting, finishing at the rim, and foul shooting means he will get plenty of minutes next season. And that's going to happen whether he starts or comes off the bench.
He has a chance to a 3-time national champion and not too many college kids can say that.
If he wants to be a guaranteed 15 ppg scorer, have the rock in his hands and play 30 mpg for his final season, I don't begrudge him one bit. A chance to be BMOC in your final year of college? Sure. And there are probably 50-75 good basketball schools he can do it. UConn isn't one of them. And no one on UConn's roster is guaranteed those type numbers.
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