About eight minutes before Connecticut’s encounter with Miami in the Final Four on Saturday, Huskies big man Adama Sanogo will down some coconut water and oranges.
It will be Sanogo’s first nourishment of the day.
Sanogo, a practicing Muslim, is one of three UConn players who observe Ramadan, a month of spiritual discipline that includes fasting. The others are non-starters Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson.
Ramadan started on March 22 and continues until April 20. It changed Sanogo’s diet for the West Regional games in Las Vegas last week and will continue to do so during the Final Four.
Fasting lasts from dawn until sunset.
“I feel it’s definitely hard,” Sanogo said. “But I feel like the more I’m thinking about it, the more it becomes harder. I’ll be fine.”
In Las Vegas, Connecticut tipped off against Arkansas in a Sweet 16 game at 4:16 p.m. local time, meaning Sanogo did not have anything to eat that day until after the game. The 6-9 junior from Mali finished with 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
The regional final against Gonzaga started around 6 p.m., and Sanogo ate some fruit at halftime because he didn’t want anything heavier on his stomach. He finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds and was named to the region’s all-tournament team.
Asked how the team navigates the situation, UConn coach Dan Hurley said he leaves it to his staff.
“For me as a coach, navigating it was more like panic,” Hurley said. “I don’t (know) much about diet and nutrition and human performance, but we have a great strength coach and athletic training that we’ve been able to get with him up and get some food in him.”
Sanogo said he’s been dealing with the intersection of Ramadan and basketball for eight years. Hydration is the key, from the time he rises at 5 a.m.
“I’m used to it,” Sanogo said. “And I’m not thinking about it.”
