Noah, Chandler Glad to Have Dioubate on Their Side

Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate worked the Father-Son Camp at UK earlier this month. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Collin Chandler and Trent Noah got to see plenty of Mo Dioubate last season when Kentucky played Alabama three times — and lost to the Crimson Tide all three times.

The two Kentucky freshman guards are glad to have him at UK this season after he had eight points, eight rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes in a win at Rupp Arena, four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes in a win at Alabama, and 13 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes in a SEC Tournament win.

“I’m definitely glad he’s on our side now,” Noah said about Dioubate, a physical defender. “I would not want to run into him, that’s for sure.”

Dioubate helped snap UK leading scorer Otega Oweh’s streak of consecutive double-figure scoring games last season. The 6-7 forward averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field but Chandler anticipates those numbers all improving at UK.

“Mo is awesome. He is kind of a Jack of all trades, I would say, to describe him. He’s obviously very physical. He’s very physically gifted, and so that comes in handy on defense, but also he can force his will on offense,” Chandler said.

“He’s also a very good shooter. He shot a very good percentage. I don’t think he shot a big volume of shots last year, but he’s a very good shooter, actually, which makes him very dangerous, and is going to make him a big asset to our team.”

Pope has been giddy the last two months when he talks about the roster he has put together for next season. Dioubate is one of several players the UK coach believes can be special.

“His skill set fits us in a brilliant way. I just can’t wait to see what he can do for us,” Pope said in May.