Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd praised Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso for their roles in “helping us continue to build our culture and raise the standards of the program.” In roster news, former Arizona forward Sidi Gueye has chosen to play at Santa Clara next season, .
The 6-foot-11 forward from Senegal arrived in Tucson last fall with obvious long-term upside but saw limited court time this season. Gueye appeared in 26 games, often coming off the bench, and became the first player to depart the Arizona program after the season. Known for his energy and 6-11 frame, he averaged about 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds while logging roughly 3.4 minutes per game.
Gueye’s most extended run came during a thin stretch for Arizona’s frontcourt in February. With Koa Peat sidelined by injury and Dwayne Aristode out with an illness, Gueye totaled 23 minutes across four games. His biggest single-game stat line came against BYU on Feb. 18, when he contributed four points and four rebounds in 10 minutes. He also played eight minutes at Houston on Feb. 21 and recorded a key blocked shot in that victory.
https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/2046430734311645409
His freshman season was hampered before it began. Gueye missed nearly all offseason preparation because of visa complications that kept him in Spain, where he had been with Real Madrid’s junior program, and then dealt with a preseason knee issue. Considered a redshirt candidate entering the year, he still saw action in 10 nonconference games. Lloyd had told him in December to be ready to step up in a month; that opportunity didn’t fully materialize until mid-February.
Gueye’s playing time remained spotty through postseason play — brief stints in the Big 12 Tournament included a two-minute appearance against UCF and a one-minute outing against Houston that resulted in a goaltending call, followed by a seven-minute performance in the NCAA Tournament opener against LIU in which he made his opportunities count. By moving to Santa Clara, Gueye follows a path similar to former Arizona wing Adama Bal, who left for the Broncos in 2023 and later reached the NBA; Gueye will be looking for increased minutes and a chance to develop his game in a new setting.
