Boston College Athletics
Q&A With Idy Diallo
November 02, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Why did you choose to come to BC after Mike Montgomery retired at Cal?
"I had never been to Boston before so the first time I came here was on June 8 when I came on a visit. The first thing that stood out was the way the coaches communicated. When we went out to dinner, it was like a family. As a player, that's all you want, to see the coaches hand-in-hand and working together. I told myself that if the coaching staff was this united then the team would be a great place for me."
What has been the biggest difference about the college game?
"The game is way harder. There is a lot of stuff to take in at the same time. The guys are bigger and stronger, and they are more experienced than you."
What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses?
"My strengths are my athleticism and quickness. My weaknesses right now are finding my spot on the floor, reading the play quickly and ball handling."
What has the coaching staff been teaching you the most?
"Believing in myself and to keep working. Trusting myself, trusting the system and staying positive."
Have you ever gone up against a 7-footer before?
"Yes. I played prep my junior year. In practice, I was playing a guy that was 7-2 from Greece. It was fun playing against him. It totally boosted my confidence."
Why do you wear #12?
"I always wanted to wear #12 because Dwight Howard used to be my favorite player and I wanted to be like him. In high school I wore #4. When I came here, #4 wasn't available so I thought it was time to try #12."
What are you looking forward to the most in the next 12 days?
"Mostly improving my game and getting more confident on the floor; knowing the coaches believe in me and that I'm ready to play. I'm excited to actually get on the court. What I've been watching on tv is now going to be real."
