A heralded big man enters the portal again. Discover the controversial journey and high-stakes matchups that followed his abrupt departure from UCF.
Sophomore center Moustapha Thiam, who spent his freshman season with UCF, is back in the portal after one year at Cincinnati.
Thiam was the first five-star recruit to commit to the Knights in program history and had a nice season before a controversial exit.
The Senegalese big man averaged 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his freshman campaign with UCF, serving as a premier rim protector.
However, Thiam and UCF's pairing came to a messy end after the season, as Cincinnati snagged both he and former UCF assistant coach Mamadou N’Diaye for a reported $3.6 million.
Thiam and UCF faced off three times this season, with the Knights taking the series 2-1. The final meeting came in the Big 12 Tournament in a "win and your in" game for both teams with their March Madness hopes hanging in the balance.
The Knights secured their status as a tournament "lock" following the comeback 66-65 win, punching their ticket to The Big Dance for the first time in six seasons.
UCF shot just 34% from the field, while making only 3-24 (13%) 3-point attempts, a season low. But, the Knights dialed up a 1-3-1 pressure in the final two minutes, igniting an 8-0 run to force overtime.
Following the Knights' win, Third-Team All-Big 12 point guard Themus Fulks penned a simple message via X, writing "let’s dance."
Despite the loss, the former UCF big man scored 18 points, adding 16 rebounds and five blocks. Thiam also made 3-of-4 3-point attempts, showcasing his ability to stretch the floor.
This was a familiar outcome for Thiam when he matched up against his old squad, as he scored 15 or more points in all three matchups.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Thiam scored 24 points on the then-ranked No. 25 Knights, shooting a scorching 10-of-15 from the field, playing through the pressure of his return.
The big man was constantly met with boos and yelling from the stands, as the UCF crowd made sure their disapproval was heard.
Following the season, Cincinnati decided to move on from head coach Wes Miller, who was hired in the 2021 season. Thiam, unsurprisingly hit the portal where he will likely command an even higher price than last season.
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