Mark Pope must prioritize keeping Mo Dioubate out of the NCAA Transfer Portal
· Yahoo Sports
While Big Blue Nation is still rightfully celebrating Otega Oweh’s miraculous shot and Brandon Garrison’s sterling defensive effort, the reality of modern college basketball is that recruiting never sleeps. The NCAA Transfer Portal window is knocking on the door. After refshuffling, the window matches football’s singular window.
It opens on April 7, 2026, the day after the national championship game, and snaps shut just as rapidly on April 21st. Players do not have to commit during that 2-week window, but they do have to be in the portal before it closes.
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You can guarantee that Mark Pope and his coaching staff already have a concrete plan detailing exactly what they want to do, who they are targeting, and who they desperately want to bring back.
We know that seniors Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen are out of eligibility, but nearly every other major contributor on this roster has the option to return. However, after a highly turbulent season featuring unconfirmed rumors of off-court issues, some players may simply decide that running it back in Lexington is not in the cards. And some players, people would be happy if they left.
One potential returner who is currently splitting the fanbase right down the middle is Mo Dioubate.
The Mo Dioubate debate
A vocal segment of the fanbase wants Dioubate back in the blue and white next season, while others are not entirely convinced his skill set fits into what Mark Pope’s offensive system does best.
Let’s settle the debate right now: There is absolutely no reason Mo Dioubate shouldn’t be back in Lexington next year, unless he hits the portal demanding a Brinks truck of NIL money that the program simply can’t justify.
No, he may not be a locked-in starter. But he is exactly the kind of player every championship-contending team needs coming off the bench. He gives you a dose of everything you lack when the game gets gritty. He rebounds ferociously, he fights through screens, and he brings a raw energy you just can’t teach.
Elite defense and mid-post value
I firmly believe Dioubate is a special player when he is utilized in the correct role, and we saw exactly what that looks like in the survival against Santa Clara.
Offensively, he is not a floor spacer, which admittedly limits the lineup combinations you can run with him. But if you give him the ball in the mid-post, he can easily generate high-percentage baskets by bullying more slender players.
More importantly, Mark Pope needs him back in Lexington for his elite defensive versatility. Dioubate can seamlessly switch 1-through-5, he moves his feet incredibly well on the perimeter, and he is strong enough to bang down low with traditional centers.
That specific defensive profile is going to be massive on Sunday when the Wildcats take on 2-seed Iowa State, especially if Cyclones star Josh Jefferson is able to return to the floor following his ankle injury.
Kentucky needs to survive and advance this weekend, but when the dust finally settles on this season, keeping Mo Dioubate out of the portal should be near the top of Mark Pope’s offseason checklist.
Agree or disagree?