Big Al Story
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:47 pm
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Al Beye knows push will come to shove. When
you stand 6-11 and weigh only 195 lbs, it always does.
So he knows that, as the Big Sky season hits the home stretch,
physical play will only increase. "I need to play smart" against bigger,
more physical players, Beye said, as he stares a showdown with Weber
State's Lance Allred in the eye. "I need to do a good job keeping guys
from getting inside position."
Beye's performance through his first 12 games as a Bobcat -- he
missed the first nine games of the season with a knee injury -- is
testimony to the fact that he has found a way to accomplish those goals.
"Al gives us a presence in there," says Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "He is
the type of player that we don't have very often, big but athletic, a
good shot-blocker, fast enough to run the floor and get baskets in
transition."
Beye had perhaps his best game as a Bobcat on Thursday. He
scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked four shots. He also
had an assist and a steal. He was a crucial component of the game at a
point when the team was struggling, catching a pair of alley-oop dunks
for MSU's only baskets between 14:12 and 10:46 of the first half, when
Idaho State threatened to separate from the Bobcats.
"Al is a weapon over the zone because he can go over the top,"
Durham said.
Beye transferred to Montana State from a junior college in
Oklahoma last summer. With returning starter Matt Towsley, MSU's only
other true center, shelved with a back injury, Beye's presence has been
crucial. "Big Al has done a great job inside," said forward Marvin Moss.
"He's a shot blocker that other teams have to worry about."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat center Al Beye...
WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Right now I'm listening to some old school R&B. Sometimes I listen to
Mbalax, which we listen to where I'm from. It's real rhythmic. Sometimes
I listen to meringue.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE LANGUAGE TO SPEAK?
I speak three modern languages and my native language, Wolof. There are
six dialects of Wolof, but I only speak one.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF ADJUSTING TO AMERICA?
There is so much more stuff to do, time is always short. I'm so much
busier than I am back home.
WERE YOU BETTER AT SOCCER OR BASKETBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Actually, I was really good at tennis. I liked soccer, too. I didn't
start playing basketball until I was in high school. My parents wanted
me to keep playing tennis. When I told them I wanted to concentrate on
basketball they were disappointed.
YOUR FAVORITE -- A DUNK, OR A BLOCKED SHOT?
Oh, both. It depends, sometimes, I guess, on the moment. How about
getting a blocked shot then running the floor and getting a dunk?
YOUR FAVORITE NON-BASKETBALL SPORTS MOMENT?
The 2002 (soccer) World Cup, when Senegal beat the defending World
Champion, France, in the first match.
FAVORITE PRO SPORTS TEAM?
The Miami Heat. I like the Eagles in football, and I hope they win the
Super Bowl.
FAVORITE MICK DURHAM MOMENT OR SAYING?
When we huddled in the locker room before we played the Grizzlies.
WHAT PART OF THE U.S. IS MOST LIKE SENEGAL?
When my parents were here my mom and dad and brother and I went to the
East Coast, to Philadelphia, and I saw a lot of African people. We ate
at a Senegalese restaurant, that was great.
YOUR FAVORITE SENEGALESE DISH?
A chicken and rice dish with onion sauce.
YOUR FAVORITE AMERICAN DISH?
I like Chinese food.
you stand 6-11 and weigh only 195 lbs, it always does.
So he knows that, as the Big Sky season hits the home stretch,
physical play will only increase. "I need to play smart" against bigger,
more physical players, Beye said, as he stares a showdown with Weber
State's Lance Allred in the eye. "I need to do a good job keeping guys
from getting inside position."
Beye's performance through his first 12 games as a Bobcat -- he
missed the first nine games of the season with a knee injury -- is
testimony to the fact that he has found a way to accomplish those goals.
"Al gives us a presence in there," says Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "He is
the type of player that we don't have very often, big but athletic, a
good shot-blocker, fast enough to run the floor and get baskets in
transition."
Beye had perhaps his best game as a Bobcat on Thursday. He
scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked four shots. He also
had an assist and a steal. He was a crucial component of the game at a
point when the team was struggling, catching a pair of alley-oop dunks
for MSU's only baskets between 14:12 and 10:46 of the first half, when
Idaho State threatened to separate from the Bobcats.
"Al is a weapon over the zone because he can go over the top,"
Durham said.
Beye transferred to Montana State from a junior college in
Oklahoma last summer. With returning starter Matt Towsley, MSU's only
other true center, shelved with a back injury, Beye's presence has been
crucial. "Big Al has done a great job inside," said forward Marvin Moss.
"He's a shot blocker that other teams have to worry about."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat center Al Beye...
WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Right now I'm listening to some old school R&B. Sometimes I listen to
Mbalax, which we listen to where I'm from. It's real rhythmic. Sometimes
I listen to meringue.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE LANGUAGE TO SPEAK?
I speak three modern languages and my native language, Wolof. There are
six dialects of Wolof, but I only speak one.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF ADJUSTING TO AMERICA?
There is so much more stuff to do, time is always short. I'm so much
busier than I am back home.
WERE YOU BETTER AT SOCCER OR BASKETBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Actually, I was really good at tennis. I liked soccer, too. I didn't
start playing basketball until I was in high school. My parents wanted
me to keep playing tennis. When I told them I wanted to concentrate on
basketball they were disappointed.
YOUR FAVORITE -- A DUNK, OR A BLOCKED SHOT?
Oh, both. It depends, sometimes, I guess, on the moment. How about
getting a blocked shot then running the floor and getting a dunk?
YOUR FAVORITE NON-BASKETBALL SPORTS MOMENT?
The 2002 (soccer) World Cup, when Senegal beat the defending World
Champion, France, in the first match.
FAVORITE PRO SPORTS TEAM?
The Miami Heat. I like the Eagles in football, and I hope they win the
Super Bowl.
FAVORITE MICK DURHAM MOMENT OR SAYING?
When we huddled in the locker room before we played the Grizzlies.
WHAT PART OF THE U.S. IS MOST LIKE SENEGAL?
When my parents were here my mom and dad and brother and I went to the
East Coast, to Philadelphia, and I saw a lot of African people. We ate
at a Senegalese restaurant, that was great.
YOUR FAVORITE SENEGALESE DISH?
A chicken and rice dish with onion sauce.
YOUR FAVORITE AMERICAN DISH?
I like Chinese food.