Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero sit atop Katz's Freshman Tiers
College basketball is in good hands with this year's talented freshman class. Andy Katz offers his tiers of the best freshmen.JANUARY 21, 2022
Scores nine in loss Diabate produced nine points (4-8 FG, 1-2 FT) and six rebounds across 19 minutes during Friday's 68-53 loss to Illinois.
Impact Diabate saw the least playing time of any starter for the Wolverines on Friday, but he shot 50 percent from the floor and tied for the team lead on the boards. Across his last five appearances, he's averaged 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game.
JANUARY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Season-best rebounding effort Diabate logged seven points (2-3 FG, 3-6 FT), 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 32 minutes during Saturday's 75-65 loss to Minnesota.
Impact Diabate sat out last Tuesday due to an unspecified illness, but he resumed his starting role and was effective on the glass despite the loss. His previous season-best rebounding total was eight, but that's an area of his game likely to keep growing as long as he continues to start over Brandon Johns.
DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Starting Saturday Diabate (illness) is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota.
Impact Diabate will return to the starting five after missing the team's last game due to an illness. The 6-11 freshman made his first career start against North Carolina on Dec. 1, scoring 13 points (5-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT) to go along with three rebounds in a season-high 31 minutes. The five-star recruit will have a big opportunity to help Michigan get off to a positive start in conference play with a win over the Gophers.
DECEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Warming up early Diabate (illness) is participating in warmups ahead of Saturday's game against Minnesota, Clayton Sayfie of On3 Sports reports.
Impact Diabate missed last game and was limited to just seven minutes last weekend due to a non-COVID illness. He was able to practice Thursday and appears to be in line to make a return to action. An official word on his status should be provided within the next hour before tip-off.
DECEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Practices Thursday Diabete (illness) practiced with the Wolverines on Thursday, Mlive.com reports.
Impact The five-star freshman missed the Wolverines' last contest due to an illness but appears to be trending in the right direction after practicing on Thursday. Diabete's next chance to return to the court comes Saturday against Minnesota. If the forward can't suit up, expect Brandon Johns to see more opportunities in his place.
DECEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Officially out Tuesdsay Diabate (illness) did not travel with the team and will miss Tuesday's game against Nebraska, James Hawkins of The Detroit News reports.
Impact Coach Juwan Howard indicated that Diabate won't be rushed back and has no definitive timetable for return, so it's not a surprise that he will be held out of Tuesday's game. His next chance to lace up the sneakers surfaces Saturday against Minnesota.
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No timetable for return Diabate (illness) has not timetable for return according to coach Juwan Howard, Michigan beat writer Dylan Burkhardt reports.
Impact Coach Howard added that he just hopes Diabate can find a way to get healthy and he isn't concerned with how long that takes. Diabate was taken to the locker room due to an illness during last Saturday's game against San Diego State.
DECEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Doesn't return Saturday Diabate (illness) didn't return to Saturday's win over San Diego State.
Impact Diabate was removed from Saturday's game in the first half due to an illness, and he was unavailable for the second half. He totaled two points and a block in seven minutes against the Aztecs, and his next chance to play will be Tuesday against Nebraska.
DECEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Dealing with illness Diabate is dealing with an illness and will be reevaluated at halftime, Michigan beat writer Dylan Burkhardt reports.
Impact Diabate started again Saturday but exited early due to the illness, compiling two points (1-3 FG) and a block prior to his departure. More information on his status should surface following the midway break.
DECEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Moussa Diabate's burst a bright spot despite Michigan basketball's consistent struggles Michigan basketball can take better advantage of Moussa Diabate's skills if the freshman gets a little help.
DECEMBER 2, 2021 • FREEP.COM
Starting vs. UNC Diabate will start in Wednesday's game against North Carolina.
Impact Diabate will make his first career start as a Wolverine as Brandon Johns shifts to the bench for Wednesday's matchup with the Tar Heels. The freshman is averaging 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game this season.
DECEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Basketball Insider: The 'Mooousa' effect; Should Michigan's freshman phenom enter the starting lineup? Every week during the college basketball season, and every other week during the offseason former Michigan Basketball standout Tim McCormick...
NOVEMBER 21, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
Big time efforts from Brooks and Diabate key Michigan's 74-61 victory over UNLV In what has become an early non-conference theme for the Michigan basketball team, a gritty, athletic opponent gave the Wolverines its best...
NOVEMBER 20, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
Productive off bench Diabate finished Saturday's 74-61 victory over UNLV with 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-6 FT), seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 21 minutes.
Impact Diabate was held to just one point in Tuesday's loss to Seton Hall, but he bounced back against UNLV while playing a season-high 21 minutes. Across his first four collegiate games, the freshman has averaged 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest.
NOVEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Basketball Insider: Michigan's frontcourt makes big first impression Every week during the college basketball season, and every other week during the offseason former Michigan Basketball standout Tim McCormick...
NOVEMBER 12, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
At Michigan, Moussa Diabate is home, for now "Moussa is the only person I know who'd come into practice looking for Hunter (Dickinson), looking for that competition."
NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Earns praise behind the scenes Diabate appears to be an under-the-radar player to watch out for in 2021-22, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.
Impact It's not often a five-star prospect out of IMG Academy is described as "under-the-radar," but with several returning stars in Ann Arbor and a top-10 overall recruit in Caleb Houstan, that seems to be the case with Diabate. Returning impact players Hunter Dickinson and Brandon Johns are still expected to start at center and power forward, respectively, but that doesn't mean Diabate won't get his minutes. Even for a player listed at 6-11, scouting reports suggest he's too athletic to keep off the court and will make valuable contributions, especially on the defensive end. Whether this translates to the counting stats needed in fantasy circles remains to be seen, but his impact will be noticed for a team projected by many to finish atop the Big Ten conference.
OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
