Mark Pope is giving Mo Dioubate the Green Light

Big Blue Nation is familiar with Mo Dioubate. We watched him clean the glass and score tough buckets three different times last season while wearing an Alabama jersey. That’s not everything he’s bringing to Kentucky for the 2025-26 season.

The athletic Alabama forward was a contributor during the Crimson Tide’s run to the Final Four in 2024. Last season, he averaged 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. Lengthy, athletic, and physical are words used by spectators to describe his game from afar. His former Alabama teammates believe he’s so much more than that.

“He’s got skill that he didn’t really get to show much at Alabama. But as he starts to come out of his shell, I think he’ll continue to show his skill and how he is with his physicality getting downhill,” Grant Nelson told Ben Roberts at the NBA Combine.

Mark Sears agreed. “He’s really got more game than what he showed (at Alabama).”

So what exactly is it that we’ve been missing? It’s not just driving to the rim. Mark Pope wants to see his shooting range.

“Coach Pope wants to play fast. He wants to get a lot of threes up as well. He told me not to pass up any open threes. Any open threes that I have, do not pass it on,” Dioubate told BBN Tonight’s Maggie Davis.

Dioubate was a 46.2% three-point shooter last season at Alabama, but he only attempted 26 shots. Pope wants the athletic forward to let it fly in Lexington.

“I look forward to doing that here, just improving my game. I feel like that’s something that I always wanted to do is to get my shooting volume higher. Coach Pope is giving me an opportunity to do that,” said Dioubate. “I just gotta keep working and give him the trust for me to keep doing that every game. That’s going to bring my game to a different level that nobody’s seen so far.”

Dioubate is going to be Kentucky’s “Locker Room Guy”

Mark Pope described Dioubate as a guy “who can really stir the drink for us.” It’s not just the way he plays. When you see Dioubate on the court, he looks like a stone-cold killer. That’s not how he acts outside of the lines.

“I’m easy to get along with. A lot of the guys know, I’m goofy off the court. I make a lot of jokes. I bring the good camaraderie to the team and to the locker room,” Dioubate said.

“I feel like it starts with the chemistry off the court, and it brings it on the court. I feel like I bring the love and make people comfortable. But once you’re with me on the court, they know what time it is. Guys respect that. It makes us get along pretty well.”

Kentucky added a leader with Final Four experience. He will be a tone-setter for this team with his aggressive play. Don’t let that fool you, though. Dioubate is ready to give his all to Big Blue Nation in so many different ways.

“Some people think I’m very serious. I’m not a very serious guy. If you see me and want to take a picture, come holler at me. I’ll take a picture with you and stuff,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the season, and I can’t wait. Just as much as y’all can’t wait, we can’t wait. We’re going to have a good time. Let’s do it. No. 9, on the way.”