Mo Dioubate feels the Blue: Versatile forward embraces Kentucky, coach Pope’s vision
The first thing Mo Dioubate noticed on his visit to Kentucky wasn’t the banners, the facilities, or even the roar of Big Blue Nation. It was the color.
“Blue’s my favorite color,” he said with a grin. He went on to talk about how everyone told him that it looked good on him, but he already knew that.
Now, BBN is hoping it feels like home.
Dioubate, a 6-foot-7 transfer forward known for his motor and defensive edge, isn’t the flashiest name in the portal. But don’t confuse that with a lack of impact. In fact, that under-the-radar identity is exactly why Mark Pope made him a priority.
When he spoke with Mark Pope about coming to Kentucky, he said he could sense he had a "plan for me". He called him a point forward, someone who can initiate the offense as a wing player, something last year's team loved doing with Amari Williams.
That trust goes both ways too. Dioubate is built for Pope’s brand of basketball—positionless, unselfish, and aggressive. It didn't hurt that Dioubate fell in love with Kentucky by watching fellow New Yorker Hamidou Diallo thrive in the blue and white. In fact, Kentucky became his "dream school".
He went on to talk about how Mark Pope played for Coach Pitino and he loves that hard stuff. The stuff Kentucky struggled against last year. Dioubate know will be doing all those things for Kentucky instead of Alabama.
Year 2 of Kentucky's new regime has placed a premium on physicality and effort, which makes Dioubate’s game a perfect fit. He’s a glue guy who doesn’t need touches to affect the game. Instead, he thrives on the hustle plays that don’t always show up in a box score.
“I think the best part of my game is rebounding, playing defense, and bringing energy to the team,” he said. And if that is what he does, then he will be a great addition to a team where everyone can have a role.
But Dioubate brings more than just effort—he brings belief. His visit to Lexington gave him a firsthand taste of Kentucky’s basketball culture, and he came away in awe of the passion surrounding the program.
“You hear about it on the internet or from people, but when you actually feel it and meet these people and see how they react when they see you, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” he said. “It’s different.”
Different—in the best way.
Dioubate isn’t coming to Lexington looking to be the star. He’s coming to be the engine, the voice, the enforcer. The guy who dives on the floor, boxes out three inches taller, and brings the juice every time he checks in.
And for a team looking to build something new, there’s real value in that.
Blue’s his favorite color. Turns out, Kentucky blue might just suit him best. Sorry Crimson fans.