Diarra, a junior college All-American before he came to Mizzou last summer, averaged 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in limited minutes this past season. Tigers coach Dennis Gates left him on the bench for most of the season's first two months while he added close to 25 pounds to his 6-foot-10 frame. By conference play, Gates plugged Diarra into his rotation, starting him in six straight games late in the year.
"I just want to say Thank You to MOHAMED DIARRA for his contributions to our program & institution under my leadership!" Gates tweeted Tuesday.