Bambale Osby has finally got his car running again. The 6-foot-8 and 250 pound forward on the Maryland men?s basketball team (14-2) had to contend with a broken carburetor, a leaky fuel pump and had to replace his alternator to get his 1962 Cadillac running.
After getting his wheels in motion on the road, the Terps? junior transfer from Paris (Texas) Junior College played one of his most active games all season.
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“To see Bambale active was encouraging,” head coach Gary Williams said after the Terps 88-57 win over Iona Thursday. “He looked like his old self out there.”
Williams thought that Osby had lost his way in recent games and much of that had to do with the transition of moving up a level in college basketball. Osby was playing well in practice leading into the game against Iona and that was a sign that he was finding his stride again.
“He is a fun guy to coach, he really is. You never know what he is thinking about but, it is OK,” Williams said.
Osby has been getting a lot of help form his teammates, especially junior forward James Gist, who took the forward under his wing this season.
“I played with Boom [Osby] in high school. We played together at the NBA camp,” Gist said. “I have been here for two years and I have something to show him. He is going to be here next year so we?ve got to play together and play well.”
In practice, Osby always asks questions so he is never caught in a game situation making the wrong decisions. It has become a regular occurrence for his teammates to wait for Bambale to ask his questions.
“Coach will say something and we know Boom has a question,” Gist said. “It always comes when you least expect it.”
After the Terps second loss this year to Boston College, Osby began to focus on playing time but it was not happening over night. In the five games since that first ACC loss, Osby thinks he has identified his role.
“I found my spot on the team,” Osby said. “Coming off the bench bringing the team that spark, I just come in for whatever the teams needs.
IN THE DRIVER?S SEAT
» On the season, Osby is averaging 6.4 points a game with 4.4 rebounds. He also has 10 blocks defending the bucket for Maryland.
» Along with senior Will Bowers, Osby?s role this year will be to give senior Ekene Ibekwe and Gist a break in minutes and keep the Terps rebounding game solid.
