The next step for Sene

It was over the summer in the Big Apple when Sylven Landesberg began to see just how much potential teammate Assane Sene really had. The two played frequent pick-up games in New York City against a bevy of NBA players.

Going up against the likes of the New Jersey Nets’ Yi Jianlian and the Indiana Pacers’ Troy Murphy at the New York Athletic Club, Sene — the 7-footer from Senegal — fared well, according to Landesberg.

“Assane held his own,” Landesberg said. “I mean, at times he would struggle because those guys are just so talented — I’ve never seen big guys move so fast and swiftly.

“But he was holding his own. He was able to get some blocked shots and was scoring. I was surprised. The moves he was making were very good.”

Last season, as a freshman, Sene showed tremendous promise. But there is no doubt that he’ll need to do more than that this season if Virginia has any hopes of proving preseason prognosticators wrong and finishing better than 11th in the conference.

UVa needs Sene, entering his sophomore year, to start to mature as a player.

Clearly, that hasn’t happened quite yet — on or off the court. Last week, Virginia coach Tony Bennett suspended Sene for the first three games of the season for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Sene will sit out Friday night’s season opener versus Longwood, the team’s first road game at South Florida on Monday and a home game against Rider next Thursday.

During a teleconference on Wednesday, Bennett said he wants Sene to put his mistake behind him.

“The suspension is in place,” Bennett said. “It’s dealt with. We said, ‘You’re back. Now we move forward.’ And that’s what we’re trying to do with Assane. He’s always had a good attitude when he’s been on the court, as far as his effort level…”

His recent transgression excluded, Bennett has continually referred to Sene as a “buy-in guy,” a nod to Sene’s willingness to do whatever is best for the team.

There is little doubt of Sene’s abilities on the defensive end of the floor. In just 17.3 minutes of playing time per game last season, he averaged 1.6 blocks, which ranked fifth in the ACC.

“He’s active. He runs the floor. He alters shots. He plays hard. He’s an unselfish player,” Bennett said. “Those are all plusses, and he is such an enthusiastic type player.”

Where Sene needs to grow is on the offensive end — and he also has to become a more consistent rebounder. Last season, he averaged 2.5 points and 4.6 rebounds.

The tools are certainly there. Sene has a nice fluid stroke on his jumper. During practice, he seems to possess a nice touch from 15 feet and in. As a former soccer player, he has pretty good footwork.

Part of Sene’s problem last season was a left thumb injury (on his shooting hand), which caused him to shoot just 29 percent (6 of 21) from the free-throw line.

“I’m trying to improve my offense,” said Sene, prior to his suspension. “Coach Bennett is giving me a chance to shoot and see what I can do.

“I don’t want to be known as just a defensive player. I’m trying to improve my offense. That’s what I’m excited about — showing people what I can do because last year my thumb was bothering me really bad.”

One thing that should help Sene is improved strength and conditioning under new coach Mike Curtis. Sene weighs about the same as he did last year (234), but looks a bit more muscular.

A major point of emphasis for the new coaching staff has been working on Sene’s hands. They aren’t quite as malignant as former Virginia player Tunji Soroye’s, but they still need work.

“I’ve been telling him, before you do anything else, possess the ball first,” Bennett said. “Don’t worry about your move, your next pass, just possess it first and then we’ll go from there.

“A lot of [improvement] will be just from experience and playing, and he’s been working hard at those things.”

Landesberg said he’s seen a ton of improvement in his roommate since he first stepped foot on grounds.

“He has a little turn-around jump shot now,” Landesberg beamed.

The one thing Landesberg has been harping on with Sene has been the use of his right hand, or lack thereof, when he is around the basket.

During those summer pick-up games, Landesberg implored Sene to use it more often. “I think that’s his biggest weakness,” he said.

One of Sene’s better performances last season came against Florida State. Guarding countryman Solomon Alabi for a good portion of the game — Alabi is projected to be a lottery pick in this June’s NBA draft — Sene recorded three blocks.

“I think he’s a high-energy guy,” said Alabi, at ACC media day last month. “If he keeps working hard, like I know he will, I think he’s going to be really good.”

Landesberg thinks the sky’s the limit for Sene.

“If he continues to work as hard as he is, I don’t think he has a ceiling,” he said. “He can just keep growing and growing.”