UCI’s Ndiaye on Lou Henson Award watch list

UC Irvine junior men’s basketball center Mamadou Ndiaye has been named to preseason watch list for the Lou Henson Award, given annually by CollegeInsider.com to the NCAA Division I Mid-Major Player of the Year.

The 7-foot-6 Ndiaye, who was also named to the list last season, is one of 30 players recognized.

Ndiaye, earlier named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list, has been tabbed the Big West Conference preseason Player of the Year by several publications.

He averaged 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, when he helped lead UCI to its first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament. Ndiaye had 12 points and five rebounds in the Anteaters’ 57-55 loss to Louisville in the second round.

Ndiaye has 131 blocked shots in two seasons at UCI with a field-goal percentage of .678.

The Anteaters open the regular season Friday at home against UC San Diego at 7 p.m.

— From staff reports