Mo Dioubate got to celebrate a win over Indiana on his birthday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
After Kentucky got somewhat of a signature win over Indiana Saturday, coach Mark Pope acknowledged it was a “game perfectly suited” for Mo Dioubate.
The Alabama transfer was expected to add toughness and physicality, traits UK was missing much of last season. It had also been missing this season either because Dioubate had been out almost a month with an ankle injury or before that at times he was content to be a perimeter player and not the brute was at Alabama.
That changed during the 72-60 win over Indiana when Dioubate had 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field and 6-for-10 at the foul line — he drew six fouls from the Hoosiers. He also had 12 rebounds and steals in his 22 minutes of play. Kentucky was a plus 18 when he was in the game.
“He was a lead on the defensive end. His physicality and doing it legally was elite. He was great on the glass,” Pope said. “It was awesome to have him back. He’s such a great competitor and it’s been killing him to be out. It was great to have him back. I thought he was incredible.”
Dioubate was happy to be back on the court. He had been out since spraining his ankle and tearing a ligament in mid-November against Michigan State.
“It’s feels great. There is nothing like playing with my brothers. It feels good to have joy after a big game and we want to keep doing that,” Dioubate said after the win.
He didn’t downplay what having to miss games had been like for him, especially when he watched UK lose to North Carolina and Gonzaga.
“It sucks; I’m not going to lie. Just doing rehab trying to get better. There were games that we lost that I feel like I could have helped change the results, but I couldn’t do anything about it,” he said. “I just hope to keep this same energy going forward.”
Kentucky certainly will need that energy from him Saturday when it plays St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino in Atlanta.
“I always had that to my game, just bringing energy. No matter where I played, I have always had that spark. Once I committed, I knew I would be bringing that to the team,” Dioubate said after the Indiana win. “I just try to make it contagious. Today, it was very contagious. Everyone was playing to that standard. We just need to keep doing that moving forward.”
It was a special performance for Dioubate because it was his birthday.
“That would be the worst thing to lose on my birthday. I told the guys before the game, ‘Don’t get me a gift, let’s just win the game for my birthday,’” Dioubate said. “We got it done. Every game day is going to be my birthday.”
19 Responses
NO, the WORST things were losing to Louisville and North Carolina. At least we did beat Indiana, sorta. I guess we will have to be ok with 1 out of 3 this year.
Losing to Louisville and Indiana during the same season
is very depressing.
We did not lose to INDIANA
Dont forget about Michigan st and the Gonzaga decimated. I know they aren't chief rivals just had to add a couple more its the giving season
Decimation
We been successful beating Louisville the last few years, we all know it was matter of time it was there turn. It's part of it.
I just read an article where Pope called Cam Williams the team's best defensive player. I guess that means that Jelavic will not see the floor again except for mopup duty now that Dioubate is back. That is the second biggest mistake that Pope has made. The biggest one was signing JQ when he knew JQ would not be ready to play until late December.
Cant say it any differently. Right now its a flop.
I hate all of the negative comments, but everybody got their opinion. There is some report that JQ may play Saturday.
Well… they've played like crap. What should we say? These are pro's .. it comes with the territory.
79, There has been NOTHING positive to say about this team since they beat Purdue. In fact, this level of stink goes all the way back to Billy Clyde! You are on a site that calls it as they see it, not a cheerleader site.
Mr Barry I agree with every comment you make! I am tired of hearing all the cheerleader and BS statements from Pope! To be The University of Kentucky and to have Our Recruitment an Embarrassment like it is?!!! Players used to dream about playing at Kentucky! Having two players back that should have been leaders especially one that supposedly was going to be the SEC POY !! They both have shown to be lazy and not leaders! And I also agree with Cousins that this team has No Heart! I’m 70 years old and don’t believe I’ll live to see #9 with the way the Athletic Department Leadership Decisions and Coaching is headed.
Remember when senior day was so so special? A very sentimental day . Those days are gone as we'll be lucky to ever have a 3 or 4 year player now. Norms have changed and not for the better. I think asterisks should be placed next to the teams of the n.i.l. era. Because its clearly not amateur and to me its weird to have University instead of a pro league name. University implies its college.
Those were the good ole days Grant
You got your negative thoughts and i got my positive thoughts and so be it..
Nothing wrong with that 79.
This could very well be a season defining moment for us. A win will give us the confidence to push forward in confidence building way. A loss will probably put us into mediocrity in SEC for this year. Look how our competitors are playing. Vandy is undefeated at 11-0 and will cede our BB advantage to them like we did in FB. UGA has scored a Hundy five different times this year. A loss would also prove that the Pitino's and Calipari's keep Pope from only dreaming he will replace either anytime soon as they both continue to out-coach and out-recruit him. Remember it was only a week ago that Pope pronounced that our recruiting continues to be superb while he is O fer.
I just read an article where Pope talked about winning ugly. He talked about it being fun. He just doesn't seem to get it. A bloody rock fight isn't fun for either team. One team wins, the other loses; but neither have fun even after the win. You are just glad you survived and hope you don't ever have to play that way again…the whole time knowing that a lot of games ahead will be like that. You don't have fun winning that way…you just get the satisfaction of not losing. Pope is too much of a nice guy.
Sounds like he knows string music isnt going to be played and grunge will be.