Ousmane?

Big Z · March 31, 2023

Did he quit?

Danish43 · March 31, 2023

8 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Did he quit?

Don't know but he will not come back. I am sorry to see him go.

Travis · March 31, 2023

I really want to hear the story on this one. It just doesn't make sense. While I know some things are none of our business... this one just seems really odd. I hope he is ok and I hope he returns.

I know they said family emergencies... and while those can very much be true... My time as hall director for one of the athletic dorms has taught me that sometimes what information is released to the public is a far cry from what really happens. In one way, it really is none of our business but in another the mean green family cares.

Travis · March 31, 2023

6 minutes ago, Danish43 said:

Don't know but he will not come back. I am sorry to see him go.

Where did you hear about him not coming back??

MeanGreenGlory · March 31, 2023

Assuming best intent and that it really is a family emergency, it must be serious given the duration of time he's been out.

Wishing nothing but the best for him and his family, and that he's able to return when the time is right.

2020 Sucks · March 31, 2023

I told y’all after the Sam game that he quit…and everyone frowned on me, called me crazy and said there was a special place in hell for me! But that’s what happened. “Family situation” was a smoke screen…they didn’t want the distraction of Grant and Abou to saturate the media and pull the kids minds away from the goal of winning the NIT. It worked!

Pavlovs Eagle · March 31, 2023

Hope he's okay and his family is well... if that is the real story. But my hot take is we might not have had the same outcome as last night if he had been there. He just didn't seem as in as he did earlier in the season.

Andrew · March 31, 2023

58 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Did he quit?

Yes…. Upset about his roll. Pretty sure a couple people said this after the Alcorn state game.

Andrew · March 31, 2023

44 minutes ago, Travis said:

Where did you hear about him not coming back??

Typically when you walk away from the team due to a disagreement/altercation you don’t come back. I think someone said he may end up at Kansas State. I don’t know how accurate that piece is though.

Travis · March 31, 2023

4 minutes ago, Andrew said:

Typically when you walk away from the team due to a disagreement/altercation you don’t come back. I think someone said he may end up at Kansas State. I don’t know how accurate that piece is though.

I always wondered if it was more than just a family emergency. Like I said, when I was hall director it taught me a lot about how little truth there sometimes were in press releases about certain incidents that I witnessed first hand.

Andrew · March 31, 2023

1 minute ago, Travis said:

I always wondered if it was more than just a family emergency. Like I said, when I was hall director it taught me a lot about how little truth there sometimes were in press releases about certain incidents that I witnessed first hand.

Yes. Mozart hall correct?

keith · March 31, 2023

57 minutes ago, Travis said:

....what information is released to the public is a far cry from what really happens.

That's true in almost every situation when there is a public statement released.

Travis · March 31, 2023

13 minutes ago, Andrew said:

Yes. Mozart hall correct?

Yep. The one and only.

UNTLifer · March 31, 2023

Too bad. I think the point "outburst" against UTSA was the beginning of the end. Lot of talent and potential that needs to keep the mindset of working hard and learning.

Andrew · March 31, 2023

38 minutes ago, keith said:

That's true in almost every situation when there is a public statement released.

True and then people who know the truth who try to subtly let it know as to not give away too much or how much of the know they are in are bashed…. It’s an odd world 🤣

Edited March 31, 2023 by Andrew

Danish43 · March 31, 2023

2 hours ago, Travis said:

Where did you hear about him not coming back??

I spoke to one of the player's mom last night and she was the one to inform me.

GMG_Dallas · March 31, 2023

It's a shame he couldn't be a part of last night with all the work he's put in. Wish him nothing but the best.

meaniegreenie · March 31, 2023

1 hour ago, Travis said:

I always wondered if it was more than just a family emergency. Like I said, when I was hall director it taught me a lot about how little truth there sometimes were in press releases about certain incidents that I witnessed first hand.

Yeah, initially I assumed it was a family illness but since he didn't quickly return and no details were mentioned (along with no "shout outs" from the coach/team after wins), I suspected it was something other than medical. It never occurred to me that he had quit. This is really bizarre.

Andrew · March 31, 2023

5 minutes ago, meaniegreenie said:

Yeah, initially I assumed it was a family illness but since he didn't quickly return and no details were mentioned (along with no "shout outs" from the coach/team after wins), I suspected it was something other than medical. It never occurred to me that he had quit. This is really bizarre.

I thought it was pretty evident by the 11 minutes he played against Alcorn state and started jawing with the other bigs and staff. When he didn’t show up against Sam Houston State I assumed he quit or was told to not come back.

greenminer · April 1, 2023

5 hours ago, 2020 Sucks said:

I told y’all after the Sam game that he quit…and everyone frowned on me, called me crazy and said there was a special place in hell for me! But that’s what happened. “Family situation” was a smoke screen…they didn’t want the distraction of Grant and Abou to saturate the media and pull the kids minds away from the goal of winning the NIT. It worked!

You're throwing out an "I Told You So" when we are still in the could-be-family-emergency stage. Has something new been announced that I am not aware of?

Is it not possible he needed to get back to family, and that family situation forced him to quit?

You could be right, but that's not my point. It's that the dialogue on this forum, without any details, is painting a picture that he is simply a fold. Quit his team. Why would we do that without any further detail? I generally think it's bad taste to smear someone when everything we know is only speculation.

Edited April 1, 2023 by greenminer

glick1980 · April 1, 2023

He’s been retweeting stuff from the team ever since he’s been gone. He was on the NIT champion poster. He is still listed on the roster on the website.

southsideguy · April 1, 2023

If he did walk away hopes it teaches him a valuable lesson in life. Everyone is replaceable. He lost a memory that would have lasted a lifetime for him.

greenjoe · April 1, 2023

Does he get a NIT Championship ring ?

Shark84 · April 1, 2023

So did anyone else hear the rumor that he is Muslim and observing Ramadan back in Brooklyn with his family?

ADLER · April 1, 2023

Either way I am grateful to him. He was a highly regarded center out of Queens, NY. He stayed committed to Rhode Island until they pulled his offer to make room for the 5* twin 7 footers transferring from Rutgers. North Texas had been recruiting him, and he then committed to UNT. He held his UNT commitment firm even when Rick Pitino of nearby Iona was in his family's house making his pitch to Abou and his family.

Abou held his commitment, signed with North Texas, worked his tail off to get in his best possible shape, studied Zach's game, and gave us three incredible years.

If he needs to go home for family issues, if he's transferring closer to home, or if he just needs a change of scenery, it doesn't matter. I wish he had stayed through the NIT, but I wish him nothing but the best wherever he winds up, because I know we never would have reached this level of success without him and his contributions.

To paraphrase the UMass coach last year, "Big men that can move like that are rare as hen's teeth. "