Pope showed just how committed he is to getting stronger, tougher, more athletic and better defensively when he landed the commitment of Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate.
Dioubate (6-7, 215), who is ranked as the No. 61 overall transfer and No. 11 small forward by 247Sports, averaged 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in just 16.0 minutes per game while shooting 61.7% from the floor and 46.2% from 3-point range on limited attempts (12 of 26) as a sophomore at Alabama last season.
He averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in three wins against Kentucky this season, including 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting and 1 of 1 3-pointers, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 22 minutes vs. UK in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Dioubate also had 10 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks in an overtime win over Houston; 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Vanderbilt; 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a loss at Missouri; 10 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists in a win over Mississippi State;12 points and 12 rebounds in a loss at Florida; and 18 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Over the past two seasons, Dioubate helped Alabama to 53 wins overall, including a 26-10 mark in the SEC, and its first-ever Final Four appearance last season.
Kentucky leading scorer Otega Oweh reached double figures in scoring in all but three games this season and two of those came against the Crimson Tide. In Alabama’s 96-83 win over the Wildcats in Tuscaloosa, Dioubate helped limit Oweh to a season-low two points on 1 of 9 shooting.
Dioubate is ranked by statistical guru Evan Miyakawa as the No. 5 transfer in terms of projected defensive impact.
“Mouhamed is a special young man who is a perfect fit for the way we play,” Pope said. “He is a ballhandling, decision-making, physical, competitor. Mo can play and guard all five positions and has a presence as a point forward which makes him uniquely suited to play for us.”
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