Mo Diobate

Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
6,947
10,266
96
First off, he thinks he is way better than he actually is. And he doesn’t live in his skill lane. He could really damn good if he lived in the lane like he did against Indiana.
But he wants to shoot 3’s and make moves off the dribble. Every time he does it’s an airball or a turnover.
Can’t wait for him to leave.
I am not sure he can pick his nose with his right hand.
Very left hand dominant. I would make him go right every time he had the ball if I was defending him.
 

Reggie Noble

Freshman
Jul 5, 2025
34
55
18
I’m not sure there’s much basis for that.

Aberdeen
Last year:
7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 turnover in 19.8 minutes with 42/35/71 shooting splits

This year:
11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 26.1 minutes with 45/35/78 shooting splits

Dioubate
Last year:
7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 turnovers in 16 minutes. Shot 65% from 2 and 61% from the line

This year:
11.2 point, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 22.3 minutes. Shooting 70% from 2 and 67% from the line

Aberdeen is actually better across the board. Mo has seen a bit of a dip in his rebound rate and hasn’t repeated his fluky low volume 3 point% from last year, but is pretty much the same guy fundamentally. We just made a huge miscalculation that being strong role players on good teams meant that they could step up to cornerstone roles for us this year. Neither of them has that type of game.

Yeah, that quote pretty much nails it - "We made a huge miscalculation thinking solid role players on good teams could step up to cornerstone roles for us."

But here's what I don't get... why are we taking guys who've been doing one thing for 2-3 years at another school and expecting them to suddenly become stars? The portal should actually make this easier for programs like us - you already KNOW what these guys are. No guessing.

Need a star? Go get a guy who's already putting up star numbers. Need role players? Cool, grab proven role players and plug them into the same roles they've been crushing. Don't try to turn a 3rd option into your go-to guy and act surprised when it doesn't work out.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
27,786
65,684
113
From everything I'm hearing and seeing the last 2 games, Mo D is a problem. We saw the cameras catch a bit of Mo D and coach Fueger going at it last night. We saw him jump on Moreno after Mo D screwed up an entry pass and we saw arguing during the Alabama game. Then, he called out the coaches and teammates in the presser the other day.

Now, KSR is talking about it. Apparently those sitting close to the bench witnessed a lot of his antics last night.

Oweh has been getting the blame for being a team cancer, but from all the things being put out there, it might be Mo D.

I know, I know, we have bigger problems, but this doesn't help.
He should be kicked off the team. He's a scrub anyway/
 
  • Like
Reactions: kyjeff1

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
48,844
67,716
113
Maybe we should stop courting non-starters from our conference rivals.

Just a thought on team building.

We used to be top of the food chain, now we’re sifting through throwaways at a food pantry and it shows.
I'm honestly surprised he got the kids he did get. I hate to pile on him, because he is a great guy, he's probably a great dad and husband, but if I was even a decent player, theres no way I could play for him. He just doesn't have a coaches personality. comes off as a guy that is overly excited to be there and has nit toughness to him at all. It's a turn off.
I want him to succeed as a coach somewhere, but I know it wont be here.
I really thought for a minute he had something most other coaches don’t have, but nope, he doesn't.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,261
25,384
113
I’m not sure there’s much basis for that.

Aberdeen
Last year:
7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 turnover in 19.8 minutes with 42/35/71 shooting splits

This year:
11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 26.1 minutes with 45/35/78 shooting splits

Dioubate
Last year:
7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 turnovers in 16 minutes. Shot 65% from 2 and 61% from the line

This year:
11.2 point, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 22.3 minutes. Shooting 70% from 2 and 67% from the line

Aberdeen is actually better across the board. Mo has seen a bit of a dip in his rebound rate and hasn’t repeated his fluky low volume 3 point% from last year, but is pretty much the same guy fundamentally. We just made a huge miscalculation that being strong role players on good teams meant that they could step up to cornerstone roles for us this year. Neither of them has that type of game.
Great post....

Basically we got guys who got their production off the bench...and usually had to have a guy be the focal point of the offense while they played a role. At Ky....we have no "focal point" guy....I guess Lowe is it....but he's a very inefficient player.

Pope made some awful calculations of his coaching ability on offense to squeeze more from these guys.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CrimsonCats_rivals

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
594
1,023
93
He may well be the problem or other players. But ultimately it’s the coaches responsibility to remove any cancers from the team. The coach determines the players on the floor, so it’s easy to sit someone.
Folks, this isn’t a hard problem to solve. Put the players on the floor that care and hustle. I’ll take getting beat by 20 compared to what I saw last night. I think you’d be surprised at what benching can do for a player regardless if they’re getting paid.Unfortunately, more reasons to know that pope is not a coach at this level.


Give me Moreno over a s.hitty attitude any time, or Jelavic, I'm not sure he's getting a fare shot, if Mo D is a problem. He hasn't played good enough to call out anyone, or be replaced.
 

KentuckyMildCats

All-Conference
Jun 6, 2018
1,077
2,077
113
Just don't play Mo or Aberdeen we already suck butt so no need to play them. Play Jasper Johnson and Jelavic they both have the shortest leash and they got more potential than majority of our crap roster plus if they don't pan out, oh well we already stink. Garrison and Chandler should get maybe a minute next game after posting dumbass Instagram stories. I'd rather see Tow or Horn in before Chandler anyways. Just my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AJG-15

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
594
1,023
93
Probably why he left Alabama, Oats wouldn't take his mouthy Bull S.hit.
 
May 7, 2009
1,895
886
113
last night he looked like the soul of NIL.
trying to get stupid arse shots off that made zero sence, force feeding passes, dumb turnovers, etc.
at some point he had to realize he didnt have a shooters touch..... why continue to force it.

then again... every single dude in the game chat said the same.....
why didnt Pope make the change?
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyKevin
Oct 9, 2015
13,391
34,995
78
Maybe we should stop courting non-starters from our conference rivals.

Just a thought on team building.

We used to be top of the food chain, now we’re sifting through throwaways at a food pantry and it shows.
I asked why we were so excited to get these guys when they were all bench players at other teams (6th men at best, some worse). I don’t know if anyone heard me, or if ignorance was just easier before the season started.

Edit / I was getting excited myself until I just sat down and went through the roster.
 

C*A*T*S

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2009
1,489
1,386
113
I’m certainly no fan of Mo and Denzel. I’d rather roll with OO, JQ, Lowe, Cam, Chandler, Noah, Moreno, Johnson and Jelivic. Good or bad.
 

20MRoster

Senior
Nov 16, 2018
324
556
88
Interesting to me that the 2 major malcontents are from winning SEC programs. Could be they are frustrated with what they perceive as sub-par coaching after having been in Oats / Golden's programs? Like, they are disillusioned by the lack of direction / preparation from the staff? Doesn't give them an excuse to be unprofessional, but something that came to mind.

Last year's team was full of super seniors and real experience, but none were from winning high-D1 programs. And they were prone to sudden lack of effort, too.
 

FLBBNFAN

Senior
Mar 25, 2025
482
966
93
Interesting to me that the 2 major malcontents are from winning SEC programs. Could be they are frustrated with what they perceive as sub-par coaching after having been in Oats / Golden's programs? Like, they are disillusioned by the lack of direction / preparation from the staff? Doesn't give them an excuse to be unprofessional, but something that came to mind.

Last year's team was full of super seniors and real experience, but none were from winning high-D1 programs. And they were prone to sudden lack of effort, too.
You make a good point.
 

BBNinSCar

All-Conference
Apr 23, 2013
1,141
1,705
81
I really don't think OO is the issue. He definitely wasn’t the issue the last 2 games. He has been engaged and doing everything he can to win.

He was giving everything he had last night, if the other guys on the floor gave the effort OO did last night, we win going away.

From afar, it certainly looks to me like DA and Mo are causing problems, but that's a guess.
I’m probably reading too much into to it, but in the last game in the huddle during the Kam Williams foul review- Oweh was looking around completely disengaged.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
48,844
67,716
113
I asked why we were so excited to get these guys when they were all bench players at other teams (6th men at best, some worse). I don’t know if anyone heard me, or if ignorance was just easier before the season started.

Edit / I was getting excited myself until I just sat down and went through the roster.
We trusted Pope, we thought he knew what he was doing.

After last year, we knew we needed a front court guy that was tough, enter, Mo D. Box checked.

We all watched DA play decent minutes off the bench last year in the FF and he did the job. Against Houston, he more than held his own and it was quite understandable to know he would play behind the 3 guards Florida had last year.

Now, having said that, a good portion of us were concerned with shooting, we recognized it, but Pope said "I got this", turns out, he don't "got this".

Honestly, if this team had a couple guys that could shoot, we probably only have 2 losses. Everyone knows we can't shoot and are just clogging the paint now.

I feel bad for Pope, his dream is blowing up in his face and is turning into a nightmare. He's not failing because he's lazy, or he's focusing his efforts on the NBA draft, so I don't hate him, but he has to inow he can’t do this
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
48,844
67,716
113
I’m probably reading too much into to it, but in the last game in the huddle during the Kam Williams foul review- Oweh was looking around completely disengaged.
I watched him closely all game long, looking for anything that could be deemed cancerous. I saw what you are referring to, but I didn't take it that way.
Oweh looked desperate to win to me and he looked like he was at least trying to communicate with the other guys. I just don't think he's the problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBNinSCar

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
998
1,586
93
I’m not sure there’s much basis for that.

Aberdeen
Last year:
7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 turnover in 19.8 minutes with 42/35/71 shooting splits

This year:
11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 26.1 minutes with 45/35/78 shooting splits

Dioubate
Last year:
7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 turnovers in 16 minutes. Shot 65% from 2 and 61% from the line

This year:
11.2 point, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.3 turnovers in 22.3 minutes. Shooting 70% from 2 and 67% from the line

Aberdeen is actually better across the board. Mo has seen a bit of a dip in his rebound rate and hasn’t repeated his fluky low volume 3 point% from last year, but is pretty much the same guy fundamentally. We just made a huge miscalculation that being strong role players on good teams meant that they could step up to cornerstone roles for us this year. Neither of them has that type of game.
They are both playing 6-7 minutes more per game.

And both are on a worse team.

Neither has improved.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,756
75,908
113
He maybe could have survived barely missing the tournament with catastrophic injuries BUT missing the tournament, getting blown out regularly, having unprofessional behavior towards the media, having no recruits signed, and the team and coach openly blaming each other? I’m starting to come around to the idea that he might get canned this year.
We can only hope so. This is a clown show that is unbecoming of a program like ours. Total amateurs running this show.
 

BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,188
3,757
113
Maybe we should stop courting non-starters from our conference rivals.

Just a thought on team building.

We used to be top of the food chain, now we’re sifting through throwaways at a food pantry and it shows.
I said this in April we had nothing but role players players. You had people bashing me with well if they play this many minutes they will average all these high numbers. Well where are these people at to defend their comments now.
 

BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,188
3,757
113
True. Tell me again why he’s here?
He’s here because he torched us last year and people thought that’s what we were getting. When I said we were getting all ROLE players and showed the analytical stats these players were not the right choice. I got called everything but a man.
 
  • Like
Reactions: *Fox2Monk*

BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,188
3,757
113
I asked why we were so excited to get these guys when they were all bench players at other teams (6th men at best, some worse). I don’t know if anyone heard me, or if ignorance was just easier before the season started.

Edit / I was getting excited myself until I just sat down and went through the roster.
Said the same thing and showed the analytical stats
 

Hunting9

Redshirt
Oct 30, 2025
13
19
3
Mark Pope was a captain of the ‘96 NC team that was unbelievably good. He was coached by Rick Pitino who, like him or not, didn’t take crap off of ANY player. He’d make his players work till they literally puked in a bucket and he had the respect of every single one of them. He was in his prime. Now add the fact that Mark Pope was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. That pedigree does NOT add up to the way he coaches. He’s weak, looks scared to death, and lets the players (most should be role players at best) push him around and humiliate him. I think he’s a terrible coach at this point but it makes zero sense that he’s a complete failure with his intelligence and the things he learned every day from Coach Pitino and staff. I’ll never understand how he can suck so bad.
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,389
7,807
113
Mark Pope was a captain of the ‘96 NC team that was unbelievably good. He was coached by Rick Pitino who, like him or not, didn’t take crap off of ANY player. He’d make his players work till they literally puked in a bucket and he had the respect of every single one of them. He was in his prime. Now add the fact that Mark Pope was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. That pedigree does NOT add up to the way he coaches. He’s weak, looks scared to death, and lets the players (most should be role players at best) push him around and humiliate him. I think he’s a terrible coach at this point but it makes zero sense that he’s a complete failure with his intelligence and the things he learned every day from Coach Pitino and staff. I’ll never understand how he can suck so bad.
Look up “analysis paralysis.” That’s my theory for Pope.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hunting9

Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
353
1,027
93
Look up “analysis paralysis.” That’s my theory for Pope.
Agree. I am definitely a number/data guy, but you can't coach by looking through pages and pages of statistics. Analytics can guide your thought process to some extent, but you still have to rely on your natural instinct. If you have too much info in your head, then you tend to react too slowly and lose your feel for how the game is being played in real time.
 

Ukwazoo3

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
210
488
63
I think Mo should only play if we are needing help on the glass. He can't play in a 5-out offense because he can't shoot. He can't run sets because he clogs the paint trying to get into rebounding position.

And he can't play the offense that Pope usually runs with a passing big up top because the other big has to be able to shoot. And he is not a good passer.

I think he plays hard, but until he can learn how to help with spacing, he needs less run.
 

BlueBlood96Cat

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2022
2,679
4,708
113
Mark Pope was a captain of the ‘96 NC team that was unbelievably good. He was coached by Rick Pitino who, like him or not, didn’t take crap off of ANY player. He’d make his players work till they literally puked in a bucket and he had the respect of every single one of them. He was in his prime. Now add the fact that Mark Pope was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. That pedigree does NOT add up to the way he coaches. He’s weak, looks scared to death, and lets the players (most should be role players at best) push him around and humiliate him. I think he’s a terrible coach at this point but it makes zero sense that he’s a complete failure with his intelligence and the things he learned every day from Coach Pitino and staff. I’ll never understand how he can suck so bad.
The way the players treat him is concerning. He needs to coach like he thinks he deserves the job instead of coaching like he’s scared and knows he didn’t earn the job. Needs some confidence bad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hunting9