“Thank God He’s With Us Now”: Otega Oweh Grateful to Have Mouhamed Dioubate in Kentucky Blue
For Otega Oweh, suiting up against Mouhamed Dioubate wasn’t just another game it was a grind.
The Kentucky senior guard still vividly remembers how the former Alabama forward made life miserable for the Wildcats last season. Dioubate, known for his physicality, relentless motor, and no-nonsense defense, brought the kind of intensity that left a lasting impression and not a pleasant one if you were on the receiving end.
Now, in a welcome twist of fate for Big Blue Nation, Oweh doesn’t have to worry about playing against Dioubate anymore. The 6-foot-7 bruiser is trading in crimson for Kentucky blue, and no one seems more relieved than the guy who used to line up opposite him.
“I didn’t like playing against him,” Oweh admitted with a grin. “That grit, that toughness it’s what made him hard to go against. Every possession, you had to earn everything. He doesn’t give anything easy.”
Dioubate’s gritty play wasn’t just talk he backed it up on the court last season, helping Alabama notch three wins over Kentucky, including a dominant performance in the SEC Tournament that sent the ‘Cats packing. In those matchups, he consistently outmuscled, outran, and outworked his opponents, earning respect the hard way.
Oweh, who was limited in those games including a rare single-digit scoring night in the tournament loss still uses that feeling as fuel. But this time around, that fire will be directed at Kentucky’s opponents, not coming from them.
“Thank God he’s with us now,” Oweh laughed. “He’s one of those guys that you love if he’s on your side and hate if he’s not. And now that he’s one of us? It’s gonna be a problem for everybody else.”
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope echoed the sentiment earlier this offseason, calling Dioubate “a punisher” who caused matchup nightmares all year long.
Together, Dioubate and Oweh form a defensive duo that brings edge, energy, and emotion to the court the type of identity Pope wants Kentucky to have in year two of his rebuild. With both players known for their physicality and leadership, it’s easy to see why the locker room is buzzing.
“Mo brings that attitude, that fight. That’s who he is,” Oweh said. “And the best part? He’s already bought into what we’re building here. It’s not just about being physical. It’s about winning. And we both know what it takes now.”
Oweh, returning for his final season after testing the NBA Draft waters, is on a mission: to leave Lexington with a championship. And with teammates like Dioubate by his side, he believes the Wildcats finally have the pieces to make that vision a reality.
“Having a guy like Mo makes us better period,” Oweh said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a battle every day in practice. But more than anything, it’s going to be war when we step out there together.”
The message is clear: Dioubate may have been a nightmare as an opponent but now that he’s wearing Kentucky blue, he just might be BBN’s dream come true.
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