Niang will have to play defense. As much as people say "no defense in NBA" - there is defense. You won't play if you have an overall losing impact on your team. It's all about advanced stats and plus minus.
It's should be a good game. I also think that teams like Baylor and W.Va play with a higher intensity in the regular season and we have trouble matching that. I don't see a lack of motivation for our guys in this game.