Thank God He’s With Us Now”: Otega Oweh Grateful to Have Mouhamed Dioubate in Kentucky Blue

From SEC rival to teammate, the bruising forward now has Big Blue Nation on his side

For Kentucky star Otega Oweh, last season’s matchups against Alabama weren’t just tough  they were downright brutal. And one name stood out more than any other: Mouhamed Dioubate.

Standing at 6-foot-7 with a frame built for contact and a motor that never quits, Dioubate tormented the Wildcats in all three meetings last season. Whether it was crashing the glass, switching onto guards, or bullying his way through defenders in the paint, he left his mark physically and mentally on every player who dared to challenge him. Especially Oweh.

“Man, I didn’t like playing against him,” Oweh admitted with a smirk, reflecting on last year’s battles. “He brought this level of grit and toughness that made every possession a grind. You had to work for everything. Nothing was easy. That stuff wears on you over the course of a game.”

It wasn’t just Oweh who felt the brunt of Dioubate’s impact. Kentucky as a team struggled to handle the New York native, who brought his blue-collar game to Lexington three times  and left each time with a win. Dioubate was a thorn in the Wildcats’ side all season, most notably in the SEC Tournament, where his 13 points and eight rebounds helped power Alabama to a statement win that ended UK’s run before it could really begin.

But now, in a twist that has Big Blue Nation smiling ear to ear, Dioubate is no longer the opposition. He’s a Wildcat.

“Thank God he’s with us now,” Oweh said with a laugh. “He’s one of those guys that if he’s not on your team, you kind of hate him  in a respectful way. But now that he’s one of us? Man, it’s going to be hell for everyone else.”

And that’s exactly the kind of presence head coach Mark Pope is hoping to lean on this season. After watching Dioubate punish Kentucky from the opposing bench last year, Pope wasted no time in recruiting the sophomore transfer the moment the opportunity arose.

“He punished us,” Pope said earlier in the offseason. “Three games, three times he made life difficult for us. He plays so hard, so fearlessly. I hated going up against him. I’m just glad we don’t have to do that anymore.”

The addition of Dioubate gives Kentucky something it sorely lacked last season: edge. He’s not flashy. He’s not finesse. He’s pure, unfiltered intensity  the kind of player who thrives in chaos and makes the game ugly for opponents. Paired with Oweh, who brings his own brand of physical defense and relentless energy, the two now form a ferocious tandem that’s expected to anchor Kentucky’s new identity.

“Mo’s a dog,” Oweh said simply. “He brings that junkyard mentality, but he’s smart with it. He can switch onto guards, defend the post, rebound like crazy  and now he’s stretching the floor a bit too. He’s not just muscle, he’s got a skill set. That’s dangerous.”

And more importantly, Dioubate fits culturally. According to Oweh, he’s already embraced everything that comes with wearing Kentucky blue  from the high expectations to the daily demands of Pope’s system.

“He’s all in,” Oweh said. “He’s been grinding with us, talking with the guys, playing hard every day. He’s already part of the family, and that’s what it’s about here. We’re not just putting on a jersey  we’re building something together.”

Oweh himself is returning to Lexington with a chip on his shoulder. After testing the NBA Draft waters and receiving solid feedback, he opted to come back for one final season. Why? Because the job isn’t done.

His goal is simple: win a national championship. And with Dioubate and a revamped, tougher roster by his side, he believes that dream is more alive than ever.

“This team has the tools,” Oweh said confidently. “We’ve got the toughness now. We’ve got guys who are built for March, guys who aren’t scared to get dirty. That’s the difference between a good team and a championship team.”

While Kentucky fans may still have nightmares about Dioubate in an Alabama uniform, those memories are quickly being replaced with visions of him diving for loose balls, setting bone-crushing screens, and locking up SEC stars  this time for the right team.

“He’s going to be a problem,” Oweh said, a grin spreading across his face. “Just not for us anymore.”

And for Big Blue Nation, that’s a welcome  and powerful  change.