Im thinking its a repeat. But he kept waking up and was incoherent, at one point talking to a room lamp. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Even more. Before his senior season, star teammate Oscar Tshiebwe, now at West Virginia, transferred and the program appeared to be in flux. But, I mean, when I saw them for the first time in the stands, it was kind of weird, Thamba said. Most players in that situation transfer. FORT WORTH, Texas It was business as usual for defending national champion Baylor Mens Basketball Thursday as the top-seeded Bears dispatched 16-seed Norfolk State in the NCAA Tournament, 85-49, to advance to the Round of 32. "Baylor bigs: Flo, 'Everyday Jon' help make Bear guards great", "NCAA Final Four: Baylor's Thamba honed his skills at Grundy's Mountain Mission", "Flo Thamba's Path to Waco / How Baylor Was Built", "Men's College Basketball: Baylor's Flo Thamba takes to the big stage", "No. Drews method is to search for whats possible, and then take the time to develop. The whole experience of filling out the brackets and the anticipation of the first game, all of that stuff, I never really knew it until I actually experienced it.. Emmanual Thamba works in customs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he sent his children all over the world to study. Senior with 7-foot-5 wingspan, originally from Kinshasa, Congo; splits time with Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua at 5-spot Holds the program record for most NCAA Tournament Games Played (10, eight starts) Started 64-consecutive games after entering 2020-21 national championship season with 0 career starts in 52 games played Scored in double-figures in 6 of last 10 games of 2021-22 after doing so in 4 of first 106 games Had 9 more steals in the 2021-22 season (22 in 694 minutes) than first 3 seasons combined (13 in 952 minutes) Born in Congo, lived in England, France and South Africa, emigrated to United States in 2014 Averaged 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as senior at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va. Late addition to 2018 signing class, ranked No. He is a beat reporter covering the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos in addition to covering other professional, college and high school athletics around the state. The 6-10 forward, originally from Kinshasa, Congo, is coming off of his best year to date, averaging 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. NEWS BIO SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS GAME LOG. Flo Thamba's parents are getting to watch him play in person for the first time in his college career. But, overall, this is fun. He is the coauthor of "Beyond the Streak," a behind-the-scenes look at Kansas basketball's record-setting Big 12 title run. The fifth-year senior with a 7-foot-5 wingspan is Baylor's heart-and-soul, and the program's all-time winningest player (115 in games played). Theres no perfect way to deal with what (Thamba) went through., His former high school coach, Al Wilson, would talk him through it. Before he injured his knee during Thambas freshman year, Clark had emerged as Baylors next star. All-American junior Jared Butler and his backcourt mates Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague pretty much get all of the attention for top-seeded Baylor (26-2), which plays former Southwest Conference rival Houston in the first national semifinal game Saturday. Jon in transition, I think Ive got like four 3s specifically this year because of Jon sprinting the floor, and the guard had to drop down in the paint for him, Teague said. Wilson found out years ago that Thamba wants the truth. It hurt, but when we got back in that locker room, as much as we were down it was more like, We came back from being down 25, thats never been done before. For me, that untapped new potential that we didnt even know we had. He was the one who believed in my basketball dreams, Flo says. He has worked at Bleacher Report as the sites national college basketball writer and also covered the sport for CBSSports.com and Basketball Prospectus. Between Thamba, Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Ojianwuna, the Bears have versatile firepower in the paint. He was like I feel like I know you from somewhere, said Thamba, who was already at Baylor when Tchamwa Tchatchoua (pronounced CHAWM-wuh CHAT-chew-wuh) transferred there following a freshman season at UNLV. The two, who met in 2016 in Africa at a Basketball without Borders camp, share a special bond. Eventually Baylor coaches figured out when hes quiet, then something is probably wrong, but it has taken years of observation to figure that out. ANALYSIS. Flo Thamba throws down big slam dunk vs. Mcneese St Cowboys. He wants to observe and understand your motives. After Im done playing I want to open up a nonprofit thats going to have a partnership to give clean water to Africa. The 6-foot-10 senior saw his playing time shrink with reserve big man . Gillespie said he knew how this season would play out when he talked to Thamba right before the games began, and the big man told him, Now when I get my opportunity, theres no looking back. Admittedly raw, he played at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va. for three seasons. Baylor does a pairs shooting competition, and since Tchamwa Tchatchoua transferred from UNLV to Baylor in 2019, theyve been paired together and call themselves the African Connection., If you sit down with both of them at same time, Jakus says, you see theyre really willing to serve each other and us. Getting real minutes as a freshman creates an expectation for any player that his sophomore season will result in increased playing time and production, but instead, Freddie Gillespie, a Division III transfer, had developed into one of the Big 12s best centers. I was, like, Hey, listen, just be yourself. Originally, Thambas parents and sister, Emma, had planned to fly in for the teams Senior Day home game on March 5. In the presence of others, he held his head high. At Mountain Mission, he picked the No. Then one day that spring Flo was sitting in eighth-grade biology class, scrolling through Facebook and his brothers picture was everywhere. Subscribe Now. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He said that older brother, Levy, later went to a community college in Wyoming to study engineering, but died in an accident after trying a legal marijuana edible during a spring break trip to Colorado in 2014. That was about five years ago and far from the NCAA Final Four. He thinks about him often, and then he thinks about his father and the example he setthat you have to keep moving onto the next thing. Because of his injury, Jon was able to spend a lot of time just working on his shot and his passing, Drew said. "He was the one who . So Ive got to make it to the league.. Flo Thamba nails the buzzer-beater. You just take with you a part of everything you see and everything you experience.. I was really emotional in that moment, he said. As far as NCAA Tournament games are concerned, it wasnt the kind that immediately falls into March Madness lore, at least based on the scoreboard. His first basketball memory is that he could barely dribble. Its something Im proud of and I cherish.. I just had to swallow that tough pill and lockdown right now and focus on school.. 0:18; See All. Flo Thamba nails the buzzer-beater. Levi had a piece of a Sweet Grass Kitchen lemon poppy seed cookie, as instructed. 172 by New York Giants in NFL Draft, ESPNs Pete Thamel on Chris Klieman: He Knows How to Win Championships, Bill Self Admits He Still Talks to His Late Father in Key Moments, Bill Self: Never a Doubt Kansas Would Return to Biggest Stage Following FBI Investigation. Something had happened. But those guards know they wouldn't be where they are now without the often interchangeable 245-pound post players _ the 6-foot-10 Thamba and and 6-8 Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Entering his final postseason, Thamba and the Bears earned a top-three seed for the third-consecutive NCAA . Levi went back to sleep, but then woke up again crazy, his friends told police. For Baylor forward Flo Thamba, however, few games, if any, carry more weight than Thursdays NCAA opener. Find out more. He ran out of the room, tumbling over the railing in a hallway that overlooked the lobby, falling four floors to his death. He was bad. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. bear2be2. Baylor vs Iowa State Cyclones Ferrell Center - Sat 3/4 Tickets as low as $9. Flo Thamba throws down big slam dunk vs. Mcneese St Cowboys. I was, like, hey, listen, just be yourself. He talked to Flo about his testimony, talked to Flo about the loyalty that Baylor has to their players, talked to Flo about Coach Drews vision and how it was a program of faith, Wilson says. Florent Thamba (born 25 February 1999) is a Congolese college basketball player for the Baylor Bears of the Big 12 Conference. Thamba had another older brother who would wait for hours after school to ride the bus home with him. Wilson has countless examples of Thamba in this role. Do you have a sports website? The days that ensued felt chaotic, but through it all, he watched his father. Thamba has started all 29 of Baylor's games this season. Thamba is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and he grew up in South Africa, before he lived in England and France and emigrated to U.S. in 2014. It was the way Thamba cared that made Wilson love him so much. Thamba joined the Baylor program in 2018 after playing high school basketball in Virginia, but circumstances had prevented his parents from watching him take the court as a collegiate player until this week, as he revealed to Baylor Insider earlier in the week. It's just like 'man we get to celebrate this thing together.'". He would definitely be proud, especially the level Ive attained and the stage Im at., More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25, FILE - Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) shoots against Villanova in the second half of a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Saturday, March 27, 2021, file photo. Baylor senior big man Flo Thamba announced Monday morning that he will return for his fifth year with the Bears in 2022-23. They open up the tap and nothing comes out. We cheer for each other every time. After last season, the process started to play out as it should. For me its a confidence booster, Thamba says. You can learn more about Pete by visiting his personal website: PeteMundo.com. [2] He committed to playing college basketball for Baylor . His father left him with one message: I want you to reach your goals. A person watching the game might say these guards are really good, but actually our bigs make us really good.. Even in the midst of that, that midst of him working hard, he was always happy. Flo Thamba, 6-10, 245, PF, Jr. (Kinshasa, Congo) Committed: Jan. 15, 2018 Thamba came to the United States in 2015 after spending his freshman year in high school in Johannesburg, South Africa. Baylor Bears forward Flo Thamba (0) shoots over North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of a second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at. It all depended on the availability of Tristan Clark, who was dealing with his own battles while returning from a knee injury. What we do takes one, two, three years sometimes for these guys, Jakus says. It would have been easy to resent his teammate, who two years ago was behind him in the pecking order. The 6-10 forward, originally from Kinshasa, Congo, is coming off of his best year to date, averaging 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. Emmanual focused on what was next. In January 2014, Levi moved to the United States to attend college. Rounding out Baylors trio of African big men is freshman Josh Ojianwuna, a 6-foot-10 forward from Nigeria. The 24-year-old spent parts of his childhood in Congo, England, France and South Africa, moving around before emigrating to the United States at age 16. 1Y; 0:16. As Thamba stood on the sideline, assistant coach Jerome Tang noticed something that told him where Thamba is now. MORE: March Madness bracket 2023: Updated viewing details for Sweet 16, Elite Eight games You can be down 20 or in a tie game, and Thambas expression isnt going to change. Why wouldnt I take advantage of that?. Private Message. The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and it was a good showing for the Big 12 Conference. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Thats what separates having a good season and having a great season. But those guards know they wouldnt be where they are without the interchangeable 245-pound post players: the 6-foot-10 junior Thamba and and 6-8 sophomore Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who earned the nickname Everyday Jon for his work ethic and nonstop energy since his arrival. Hometown: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2022-23 Baylor But its not the same when you actually get to experience it, Thamba said. Thamba had six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and two blocks over 18 minutes during Sunday's 85-76 loss to Creighton. A person watching the game might say these guards are really good, but actually our bigs make us really good.. Complementing Thamba is another talented forward, redshirt senior Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. CJ Moore 8 . But, I mean, when I saw them for the first time in the stands, it was kind of weird. Flo Thamba (0) Forward - Senior with 7-foot-5 wingspan, originally from Kinshasa, Congo; splits time with Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua at 5-spot Holds the program The Los Angeles Chargers love themselves some TCU football. 17 West Virginia, drops series finale, 18-4, No. Lets not forget about the five-star All-American coming in, so theres an opportunity to do something great.. The coaching staff as a whole, but for me the most important thing was my teammates. Man, it actually worked for Freddie. Thamba doesnt try to look too far ahead, but he does have one big hoop dream that would allow him to honor his brother. And, yeah, just went out there and just played. In different circumstances, last season might have played out differently. Then Thamba was willing to work on himself. With the support of my coaches, Im excited to return for a fifth season and continue working on my masters degree. FORT WORTH, Texas Baylor forward Flo Thamba's parents saw him play for the Bears for the first time on Thursday at the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Flo Thamba drops in and-1 for Baylor. Baylor does a pairs shooting competition, and since Tchamwa Tchatchoua transferred from UNLV to Baylor in 2019, theyve been paired together and call themselves the African Connection., Thamba starts, but the minutes are split almost evenly . Thats all we had, Michelle Weiss-Samaras, a spokesperson for the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, told Westword, a Denver-based publication, in 2015. He could never do that with Thamba, because his freshman year was sort of a transition season for the Bears, who needed depth. The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 6-7 season in 2023, the first under new head coach Brent About us: HCS is owned and operated by Pete Mundo.

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