PAPA DIA: Dawning of a new Dia

[PonyPride]

When the SMU men's basketball team waded through a 9-21 2008-09 season, there were several disappointments, not the least of which was the performance of then-sophomore forward Papa Dia. After a promising freshman season, Dia's numbers dipped last season, raising questions about how he earned scholarship offers from such high-profile programs as Louisville and Oklahoma, and what the future held for him.

This year, as the Mustangs have enjoyed a recent surge in which they have won five of their last six games, Dia is again showing why he was the most heralded member of SMU's seven-man recruiting class in 2007. Playing more at center this year after spending most of his minutes last year at power forward, he already has set a new career high in blocked shots and is averaging career highs in points and rebounds.

Dia visited recently with PonyFans.com to discuss what went wrong last year, and what steps he and the Mustang coaching staff took to get him back on track as he becomes one of the elite interior players in Conference USA.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=143

Enjoy!

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[RGV Pony]

good writeup. Dia has been looking better this year, and with another year of similar improvement and maybe another ten pounds of muscle, he could be in line for a stand apart senior season. When he's at his best, kind of reminds me of a thinner version of New Mexico's Kenny Thomas from a few years ago.

[The PonyGrad]

Thanks for all the work you put into this story.

[George S. Patton]

Good work, Pride. Timing of the story was perfect. Nice to see my whipping boy starting to whip it up on opponents.

It appears the relationship he's formed with Geary has been the key to turning him around. Maybe Doherty learned to let go of that and has let his assistants pick up more of the other elements.

At 12 and 8, this is exactly what I thought he should be -- I've said 13 and 8 for the last two years -- and if he keeps this up, he could land somewhere in the second-team All CUSA selections.

[Wuba]

Nice article, thanks.

[Lefty]

What a great story. I think sometimes we forget that these guys — all college athletes — are young kids who have very real challenges that many of us faced at their age. The difference was that we were homesick or struggled in a class or whatever without having our performances judged by people who don't know us. Papa sounds like a great guy who really is growing up. Hope everything continues to come together for him and he continues to enjoy more and more success.

OK, about your headline: did you choose that because it's just a play off of his last name, or because Dia (actually Día - with an accent over the I) means "day" in Spanish?

[MustangFan]

Awesome story — thanks for everything you guys do.

[ponyscott]

Very good story and confirmed what we know....that Geary has been a great add to this program as well. You can see the inside moves that Geary has tought Papa come into play. If Papa works on his game this hard over the next off season, he will be an absolute beast in CUSA play next year.

[Pony_Fan]

Way to go Pop. I'm so glad to see him come out of his funk from last year. What a difference. I had pretty much written him off after last year.

Props to Geary and company! Much better article than DMN - it's almost like they copied you

[SMUFan]

Very good story and confirmed what we know....that Geary has been a great add to this program as well. You can see the inside moves that Geary has tought Papa come into play. If Papa works on his game this hard over the next off season, he will be an absolute beast in CUSA play next year.

Couldn't agree more. At this rate, he'll tear some folks apart next year.

Much better article than DMN - it's almost like they copied you

Exactly what I was thinking, but then again, it always seems that way.

[PonyPride]

OK, about your headline: did you choose that because it's just a play off of his last name, or because Dia (actually Día - with an accent over the I) means "day" in Spanish?

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!