http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/463/riek-finally-eligible-but-will-he-play
Mississippi State finally gets one of its two highly touted big men eligible, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll play in his first game Wednesday night against Wright State (ESPN2, 7 ET).
John Riek, a 7-1 center from the Sudan -- by way of Ethiopia and ultimately IMG Academy, the NBA draft and the University of Cincinnati -- had to sit out the first nine games due to amateurism violations.
Riek, who also had stints at the Winchendon School (Mass.) and Our Savior New American in New York, was rehabbing from a knee injury while sitting out.
"He's always the same at practice, working hard and doing everything extra,'' Mississippi State assistant coach Robert Kirby said. "In our drills, the losers have to run. But even if his team wins, he still runs.''
The problem against Wright State is the 5-man for the Raiders moves out on the perimeter and doesn't hunker down in the post.
"This team doesn't have a center that goes block to block and John's not ready for that screening away from the basket,'' Kirby said prior to Wednesday's tipoff. "Unless we get a comfortable lead, we may not play him. It will be up to the circumstances of the game. We've talked to him about that and he understands what they do and how they do it.''
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs still await a resolution on the endless Renardo Sidney saga. Sidney is still not allowed to play because he hasn't been cleared to compete.
Kirby said Sidney gets depressed the day before a game and on game day as the attention shifts to that specific opponent and he is fazed out because he won't be a part of that game.
"It's a struggle and we're constantly talking to him to keep his head up,'' Kirby said. "But it's hard for him. He's 17 years old. We want to tell him what's going on one way or another.''
Mississippi State finally gets one of its two highly touted big men eligible, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll play in his first game Wednesday night against Wright State (ESPN2, 7 ET).
John Riek, a 7-1 center from the Sudan -- by way of Ethiopia and ultimately IMG Academy, the NBA draft and the University of Cincinnati -- had to sit out the first nine games due to amateurism violations.
Riek, who also had stints at the Winchendon School (Mass.) and Our Savior New American in New York, was rehabbing from a knee injury while sitting out.
"He's always the same at practice, working hard and doing everything extra,'' Mississippi State assistant coach Robert Kirby said. "In our drills, the losers have to run. But even if his team wins, he still runs.''
The problem against Wright State is the 5-man for the Raiders moves out on the perimeter and doesn't hunker down in the post.
"This team doesn't have a center that goes block to block and John's not ready for that screening away from the basket,'' Kirby said prior to Wednesday's tipoff. "Unless we get a comfortable lead, we may not play him. It will be up to the circumstances of the game. We've talked to him about that and he understands what they do and how they do it.''
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs still await a resolution on the endless Renardo Sidney saga. Sidney is still not allowed to play because he hasn't been cleared to compete.
Kirby said Sidney gets depressed the day before a game and on game day as the attention shifts to that specific opponent and he is fazed out because he won't be a part of that game.
"It's a struggle and we're constantly talking to him to keep his head up,'' Kirby said. "But it's hard for him. He's 17 years old. We want to tell him what's going on one way or another.''