Fresno State Athletics
Moose Tracks
1/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head coach Jerry Tarkanian has just called for a timeout in the second half of a home game against Pacific. While everyone is tuned in to hearing what Tarkanian has to say, one player towers over the huddle, his hands resting casually behind his back, as he shuffles back and forth to the sounds of the music blasting through the arena.
It's precisely that same carefree, easy-going demeanor that fans have fallen in love with when they watch Bulldog center Mustafa Al-Sayyad on the court.
"I don't know exactly," Al-Sayyad says with a laugh, when asked why he thinks he has become such a fan favorite at Selland Arena. "Sometimes when I'm playing well they start calling me 'moose', but I think they just like the way I play."
That much is true. The freshman has clearly been one of Fresno State's best-kept secrets so far this season, and fans and coaches have come to appreciate his work ethic and tireless hustle. The 6'9" reserve center from Khartoum, Sudan, is dwarfed only by 6'10" senior center Melvin Ely and continues to receive more playing time in what has become an interchangeable Bulldog lineup. Al-Sayyad was initially considered a project player, but he has made such great strides in the early part of the season that he will be a critical component in the Bulldog offense if Fresno State plans to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
"My job is basically to play as hard as I can and back up Melvin so he can get some time to rest and get back in the game," explained Al-Sayyad.
And that much he has done. Leading the team in field goal percentage at a .800 clip, Al-Sayyad is averaging just over four points and three rebounds per game in his 12 minutes per game coming off the bench. The Fresno State coaching staff raves about his tremendous shot blocking ability and defensive instincts, which are the two main skills Al-Sayyad brings to the lineup. He has shown so much improvement that when Ely suffered an ankle sprain in Fresno State's one-point, double-overtime loss at San Francisco on Dec. 2, the injury was not as damaging as most people had originally believed. While the thought of missing Ely's presence on the court is something Fresno State cannot afford and no one wants to think about, the Bulldogs didn't feel like they were in a state of panic. If anything, Al-Sayyad has learned a great deal backing up the team's leading rebounder so far this season.
"When he's on the court, I try to see how he moves around and try to read his mind," said Al-Sayyad. "This way I can pick up how to defend people so when I go in as a back-up, I'll be ready for that."
While Al-Sayyad has constantly had to make adjustments on the court, the biggest change of all has been adapting to a different country. The Sudan native played just one season of American high school basketball at Washington College Academy in Tennessee. Add in the fact that he is being coached by one of the most accomplished coaches in college basketball and is trying to adjust to completely different style of offense, and one can see why he would possibly experience some growing pains.
"It's been really tough," said Al-Sayyad, who is also a former soccer player and avid ping-pong player. "Ever since I got into high school, I found out that the practices are much tougher. So then when I moved to Fresno, I thought it was even worse but now I'm much more use to it. Everyone takes it more seriously here though. For example, if you play basketball in Sudan that means that's your job and you shouldn't be doing anything else. I just try and work hard and go about my business."
The one aspect of Al-Sayyad's game that needs improvement is definitely his offense. The Bulldog freshman is consistently getting better, but there is still much to learn. "Back home, the way the play offense is different from how they do over here," said Al-Sayyad. "Here, I have to be stronger under the basket because you get double-teamed once you get the ball and you have to think fast."
At any rate, his teammates have watched him continue to develop and are aware of the defensive prowess he possesses. He has also been impressed with the play of his teammates, citing good team chemistry as one of the reasons Fresno State is off to such a solid start. "Everybody can play," Al-Sayyad explained. "They're all team players and they can play." The same goes for the man they call "moose".
