2 weeks Ago By The Tuscaloosa News
NEWARK, N.J. — Alabama basketball's Mouhamed Dioubate isn't done yet.
After the Crimson Tide's Elite Eight loss to Duke on Saturday, the sophomore didn't show much distress. Dioubate's face was determined with a tinge of disappointment, but the latter wasn't about the fact that his returning Final Four team didn't get to make the trip to San Antonio."When the rain comes, you gotta be ready.
You gotta have your umbrella for them times like that," Dioubate said.Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Dioubate was already thinking ahead about the areas where he needed to be better to get Alabama (28-9) back in the position to win a national championship next season. The fan-favorite forward from Queens, N.
Y. said that starts with doing the work to earn a starting spot.NBA BOUND? Alabama basketball's Labaron Philon talks decision to stay with Tide or declare for NBA DraftTHE MORE YOU KNOW! Did you know Alabama basketball won a national championship? That's OK: UA didn't eitherWhen asked if being a starter for the Crimson Tide was a goal, Dioubate gave a convincing campaign.
"Yeah. That's always the goal, for me to play more minutes," Dioubate said. "I know the work I put in.
"Is 'Mo D' in store for Alabama basketball? Dioubate eyeing starting spot"I know what I deserve on the court, and the other guys know that as well," Dioubate said.Dioubate acknowledges the room for growth, though, after improving from 2.9 points and 2.
4 rebounds per game over an average 7.7 minutes as a freshman to 7.3 points and six boards in an average 16 minutes per contest in 2025.
"Next step is just being consistent with my shot, being more aggressive with the ball, making the right reads out of the pocket, being a good connector," Dioubate said.In Dioubate's opinion, everything he did this year just needs to be done at a "higher level and on a higher volume."The season taught Dioubate that he wants to be more consistent.
He said the loss to Duke taught him to be "persistent.""Adversity gonna hit. It's just how you respond from it," Dioubate said.
"Every day is not gonna be a good day."Dioubate never made the starting five for Alabama in the 2024-25 season, but he proved to be the Crimson Tide's biggest X-factor on multiple occasions, from overtime against Houston at the Players Era Festival to the final minutes of a potential upset by North Dakota. Time and time again, Alabama coach Nate Oats suggested Dioubate could see even more minutes if he locked in to the scouting report more.
Dioubate, billed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, scored a career-high 22 points to deny Vanderbilt on Jan. 21 and had a record three blocks to get out of Texas A&M with a win. "I just learned to be patient and wait for your turn," Dioubate said.
Granted, his 3-point shot didn't start to develop until the latter half of the season, he finished as the team's most accurate player from deep, banking 46.2% of threes. "Hopefully, you know, good things can happen next year for me," Dioubate said.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 'I know what I deserve': Alabama basketball's Mo Dioubate eyes starting spot.
