Mo Dioubate continues to stack up hard hats and embodies what Alabama basketball is all about

I don’t think I’ve ever heard Nate Oats talk about a player with more affection than when he talks about Herb Jones. He starts talking about sophomore Mo Dioubate in the same manner.

Dioubate has had great success in Alabama basketball’s two previous wins at the Players Era Festival. In Tuesday night’s game against Houston, Dioubate completed his first double-double of his career, a massive 10 points and 16 rebounds. He also blocked three shots. Oats said the match against Houston was a “Mo Dioubate game,” and he delivered.

On Wednesday night, Dioubate was another huge success for the Crimson Tide in their win over Rutgers. He played great defensively and came within two rebounds of his second straight double-double. He finished the game with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Thanks to questionable fouls, a few more blocks were taken off his stat line.

“He’s what we embody,” Oats said of Dioubate after the Rutgers game. “It would be stupid not to find more minutes for him the way he plays.”

Dioubate started the season with an uncertain role in a strong team. The sophomore didn’t play much of a role as a freshman, but you could see the potential he had. He was a big hit down the stretch in Alabama’s second-round NCAA Tournament win over Grand Canyon, a game they probably won’t be able to complete without him on their way to the Final Four.

Dioubate deserves his role this season and makes it impossible to keep him off the pitch. He played 28 minutes against Houston and another 25 minutes against Rutgers.

He is probably Alabama’s best defender. He is not in a disproportion regardless of a change. He is able to defend guards and opposing centers who have the ball. He is an excellent offensive rebounder thanks to his explosive second jump. He keeps making winning plays.

And it’s clear that Dioubate spent a lot of time in the gym during the offseason to improve his shot. Three-point shooting probably won’t be a big part of his game, but him being a passable shooter is hugely important to his progress. He was 1/11 from three last season and is 3/8 as a sophomore. He shot just 47% from the free throw line as a freshman but is 11/12 heading into this season.

Dioubate looks more and more like a Herb Jones clone. It’s fitting that Oats talks about him the same way Jones does.

Dioubate has gone from being a special player to a player that you hate when he leaves the court because when he’s out there, good things happen.