Mo Dioubate raves about attention at Kentucky compared to Alabama: 'Kentucky is just basketball'

In April, Mouhamed Dioubate transferred from Alabama to Kentucky. It’s been a chance of pace for Dioubate, who was used to being overshadowed by the Crimson Tide’s football program. In a conversation with The Field of 68 on Tuesday, Dioubate opened up on the differences between being a basketball player at Alabama versus Kentucky.

“It’s a different lifestyle for sure. Even though I came from Alabama, we got a lot of love and appreciation from the people, but… Kentucky is just basketball,” Dioubate said. “They live and breathe basketball. So, it’s a different feeling. You feel like the main characters.”

Despite any back-and-forth between Mark Stoops and John Calipari in the 2010s, Kentucky is widely regarded as a basketball school. That belief was only reinforced during Mark Pope’s debut campaign at the helm of Kentucky basketball last season.

Wildcats fans went crazy over the hire, packing Rupp Arena for the Kentucky alum’s introductory press conference. While Nate Oats has transformed Alabama’s basketball team into consistent SEC contender, the program doesn’t boast the same history as Kentucky.

Kentucky is the all-time wins leader and has eight national championships. In contrast, Alabama is ranked 30th on the all-time win list and has only made one Final Four appearance. The Crimson Tide have never won the national championship.

Dioubate isn’t the only one who’s been blown away by the love he’s received since transferring to Kentucky. Pittsburgh transfer guard Jaland Lowe echoed Dioubate’s sentiment.

“It’s completely different for me and I never really expected it,” Lowe said. “I always see Kentucky growing up, just great basketball team, great basketball players, the people around. But, when you’re actually here, surrounded by the fans and the people, it’s second to none.

“… That’s another reason why Kentucky wins a lot. We pour our hearts onto that court because these fans pour into us. At the end of the day, it’s an amazing and cool feeling to have these fans with us.”

Both players are expected to play significant roles for Kentucky in the upcoming season. Dioubate played in all 37 of Alabama’s games last season, averaging 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-7 standout shot 61.7% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc but he only shot 26 total 3-pointers on the season. Meanwhile, Lowe averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season, while shooting 37.6% from the field and 26.6% from beyond the arc.