Mo Dioubate didn't want any presents for his birthday, just a win: 'It feels good to be back, man'

When energy and effort are in question, it helps to have a player known for energy and effort back in the lineup.

Kentucky forward Mo Dioubate took the Rupp Arena floor on Saturday night for the first time since going down with a high ankle sprain against Michigan State all the way back on Nov. 18. It took nearly a month before he was good enough to suit back up. During that rehab time, he received treatment 2-3 times per day, sat his foot in ice buckets, and used any machine available in the workout room that would help get him back to full strength.

For someone who played 70 games his first two college seasons at Alabama, being sidelined for five straight didn’t sit well with him.

“It sucked. I’m not gonna lie. Every day sucked,” Dioubate said.

But Dioubate was finally able to flex his healthy ankle — on his 22nd birthday, no less. The 6-foot-7 forward was vital in Kentucky’s 72-60 home win over Indiana, the Wildcats’ first victory over a Power 4 opponent this season. Dioubate posted 14 points and 12 rebounds (his second double-double this season) to go along with five steals, the most by a UK player since Reed Sheppard in Feb. 2024. He shot 4-7 from the field and 6-10 from the free throw line.

The New York native grabbed seven offensive rebounds for the ‘Cats, even going over all five Indiana players on one possession to secure a loose ball that ended with a tough layup. His play was a necessary breath of fresh air for a group that needed some new life.

Best tweet of the night.

You want to fix “effort?”

GET MO DIOUBATE BACK!!! https://t.co/li1eDsnKnU

— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) December 14, 2025

“This was a game perfectly suited for Mo,” head coach Mark Pope said postgame. “He was elite on the defensive end. His physicality and doing it legal was elite. He was great on the glass. It was awesome to have him back. He’s such a great competitor; I think it’s been killing him to be out. It was great to have him back.”

Kentucky’s effort levels were clearly not up to par through the first 10 games this season. Pope knew it, the players knew it, the fans knew it — everyone did. The team as a whole was much improved in that department against Indiana, and that still might have been the case even if Dioubate was out once again, but it sure didn’t hurt that he was out there leading by example.

“I noticed our effort wasn’t there as it should be,” Dioubate said. “That was really bothering me, just watching it from the sidelines. It gets to a point where you just can’t take it. Something got to change and we talked about it tonight. We was like, we have to win this game. We can’t lose this game.”

Dioubate felt like he could have helped Kentucky in previous losses to North Carolina and Gonzaga. It frustrated him to watch helplessly from the bench. “Losing sucks, bro,” he said. But once he returned to practice earlier this week, he knew his opportunity to shift the tides was coming soon. The fact that the game against Indiana ended up being a physical one (42 combined fouls were called between the two teams) only helped his ability to impact the outcome.

“It feels good to be back, man. It’s nothing like playing with my brothers every night,” Dioubate said. “It feels good to have some joy after a game.”

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.