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Ousmane N'Diaye or Donnie Freeman

MdWIldcat55

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,330
85,316
113
DId the Freeman drama end up working out better for Kentucky after all? Or was Freeman a better bet, and a tough miss?

N'Diaye is 22, two years older than Freeman, and has spent that time in Italy's top basketball league. N'Diaye is two inches taller and five pounds heavier.

Freeman averaged more points playing in the ACC for a bad team 16.5 to 10.5. .N'Diaye shot a bit better from 3. They averaged about the same number of rebounds, But it is hard to compare stats between a top Euro professional league and a US power conference.

Based on the eye test, after watching all the video of both I can find, I believe N'Diaye has a significantly higher ceilng. It is easy to be fooled by Euro league stats but the way he moves, handles the ball, the energy and athleticism, can't be faked.

Freeman might have been a safer bet to make a seamless transition into playing in the SEC against US college competition.

But he also has a serious history of eventually being injured. That was my biggest worry when he looked Lexington bound.

Bottom line for me: If the goal is a deep run in March, I'd rather roll the dice with a guy who looks like the kind of athlete who might up the tempo for the whole team, and elevate the other players.

I welcome any opposite opinions from the Anons, sincere Kentucky fans or trolls named after TV characters to convince me otherwise.
 
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JPFisher

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,747
12,934
113
Freeman has been injured twice and would've cost around a million more than Ndaiye for this season (according to rumors online. Take it for what it's worth). Os looks good in highlights, but a concerning number of his shots are slopped in off the backboard.

He has a high FT % IIRC. Like, 80+%. Issue with euro ball is that they seemingly track stats like hens grow teeth. Can't find decent stats any damn where. Could be user error on my end, but still. Frustrating that there are so few videos and so few stats.

Overall, though, I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't feel like Keegan Brown would've let Pope get him at around $2 mil if he wasn't worth it.
 
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BellyBall

Junior
Jul 18, 2020
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Pretty even for me. I would be happy with either. OND is unknown for the most part, some risk involved, but Freeman had some injury risk himself.
 
RedwoodHigh

RedwoodHigh

Senior
Nov 18, 2025
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MdWIldcat55 said:
DId the Freeman drama end up working out better for Kentucky after all? Or was Freeman a better bet, and a tough miss?

N'Diaye is 22, two years older than Freeman, and has spent that time in Italy's top basketball league. N'Diaye is two inches taller and five pounds heavier.

Freeman averaged more points playing in the ACC for a bad team 16.5 to 10.5. .N'Diaye shot a bit better from 3. They averaged about the same number of rebounds, But it is hard to compare stats between a top Euro professional league and a US power conference.

Based on the eye test, after watching all the video of both I can find, I believe N'Diaye has a significantly higher ceilng. It is easy to be fooled by Euro league stats but the way he moves, handles the ball, the energy and athleticism, can't be faked.

Freeman might have been a safer bet to make a seamless transition into playing in the SEC against US college competition.

But he also has a serious history of eventually being injured. That was my biggest worry when he looked Lexington bound.

Bottom line for me: If the goal is a deep run in March, I'd rather roll the dice with a guy who looks like the kind of athlete who might up the tempo for the whole team, and elevate the other players.

I welcome any opposite opinions from the Anons, sincere Kentucky fans or trolls named after TV characters to convince me otherwise.
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Great Info + totally agree.
 
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A

Anon1752779924

Redshirt
Jul 17, 2025
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TommyMansky said:
No idea. N'Diaye is more intriguing but seems to take a few too many fade away jump shots for a guy of his height.
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The upside is if he has that kind shot diet limited the efficiency should shoot up.

A dude that size creating his own jumpers sort of makes him especially interesting if it can be properly harnessed. Get him catching and shooting more and he may strike fear in opponents
 
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whack0001

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2009
1,833
2,774
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N'Diaye might end up being a good player. I really have no idea, but I can’t help but feel like he’s some random dude Pope brought in and people are trying hard to hype him up to make themselves feel better. Hopefully I’m wrong and he’s legit, but I’m not getting my hopes up.
 
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BBNSZN914

BBNSZN914

Heisman
Apr 9, 2024
4,514
11,608
102
Mindset- no brainer, N’diaye. Freeman’s dealings scream culture negative.

Combined w injury history vs. someone healthy and presumably enthusiastic to come (commitment without long negotiation) - gimme N’Diaye.

Freeman has SEC size and athleticism, and that’s what you’re giving up, but N’Diaye looks like he has many ways to be successful as a 4-5th best starter for us- high ceiling too.

I think it informs what type of backup PF and C we go after (bulk/muscle).
 
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peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,267
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Freeman would’ve broke a foot at Midnight Madness. That being said, I was initially discouraged when we missed on him, but I’m pretty sure we ended up better off. Ndiaye being off the radar a little helped us lock up a better alternative. Maybe Freeman, his agent, and the St. John’s people can sit and discuss whether he’ll be paid per game or per month.
 
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kyjeff1

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,881
71,519
113
I'd be happy with either one, but with the injuries we endured the last 2 seasons to key players, I feel better about the guy we have.
What good does getting Freeman do, if his chronic foot problems continue and he's in a boot half the year?
Didn't he miss significant time two years in a row with the same injury? Yeah, I'm good with N'diaye.
 
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Dr.LutherSan

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
4,223
8,401
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Buckwheat Otay Is Dead said:
Freeman didn’t shoot 3s. The African has 2-3 years left under the 5 year rule. African start later in basketball. Pope is very good at developing talent. He made scrubs all stars at BYU. You can’t teach long arms, 6’11”, and 40 “ inch verticals.
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Who did Pope develop into all-stars? That's a genuine question, as I'm not familiar with BYU basketball.
 
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