When Mark Pope landed Mo Dioubate out of the transfer portal in the offseason, it was a significant addition for the Wildcats.
After two seasons and 70 games played with the Crimson Tide, which saw him appear in a Final Four in 2023 and an Elite Eight in 2024, Dioubate immediately brought some needed SEC experience to the 2025-26 Kentucky Wildcats before even playing a game. But it was more than just his two seasons at Alabama that enticed Pope — it was Dioubate’s relentless play style.
Kentucky lacked physicality at times in 2024-25.