How Cisse bounced back vs. ASU
The Memphis Tigers had just been embarrassed by VCU in a consolation game when Moussa Cisse broke down.
The freshman, according to Memphis coach Penny Hardaway, believed he had let down an entire city. His teammates. His coaches. Himself.
Cisse wasn’t much of a factor last week in the Tigers’ two losses at the Crossover Classic, scoring a combined 11 points to go along with just eight rebounds and only two blocks. He was no match for Western Kentucky’s Charles Bassey and VCU’S aggressive defense kept the Tigers from getting the ball inside to their 6-foot-10 center.
“He cried like a baby after the tournament,” Hardaway said.
“I got my --- kicked,” Cisse said. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m not gonna let that happen anymore.’ ”
So, before the Tigers took the floor at Fedexforum for the first time this season Wednesday, the former Lausanne star went to his coach with a simple request: Don’t run any offensive plays designed for him to get the ball.
“(He said) all he wanted to do is set screens, rebound and block shots,” Hardaway said. “(He said) that’s what he’s gonna focus on. How do you not love a kid like that?”
Especially when it works. Cisse parlayed his self-imposed simplified game plan into the best game of his young career, registering his first double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds), while chipping in a pair of blocks and a steal in just 19 minutes. His breakout performance helped push Memphis (2-2) past Arkansas State 83-54.
It all went so well that Cisse found himself in the midst of a good-natured argument with teammate Lester Quinones before an Arkansas State free throw attempt. Both players were one rebound shy of a double-double and with less than three minutes remaining both were eager to pick it up.
“It was funny, because we all want to compete and stuff,” Cisse said. “He was like, ‘Oh, I’m getting this rebound.’ I was like, ‘No, let me get it. I got it.’ He was like, ‘No, I’m getting it.’ I got it, then he snatched it from my hands. That was kind of funny a little bit. (But) the first three games were a lesson for me. I learned you have to be tough and every game counts. So, when we came back from South Dakota, I put in my mind, ‘Every game, I’m going to go hard. I’m going to try to get all the rebounds, contest every shot and do my best.’ ”
Cisse’s mindset comes as no surprise to those who know him best. Miami Heat rookie and former Memphis star Precious Achiuwa is close friends with Cisse.
“Moussa’s my little bro,” Achiuwa told The Commercial Appeal last month.
“Moussa’s someone who’s very adaptable. He asks questions. He will do whatever it takes to win. Intensity. Block shots. Alter shots. Rebounds. Putback dunks. Overwhelming energy player. He’s driven to get the job done.”
For Hardaway, Cisse’s reaction to a couple of lackluster performances last week was proof positive that his young big man is made of the right stuff.
“This is a kid that jumped his senior year (of high school) to come to college, so this is all new to him,” Hardaway said. “He’s out there in 19 minutes with 14 and 10. Obviously, his defense is way ahead of his offense. He’s only going to get better. All he does is work. But his heart is in the right place.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.