Honestly, if you’ve watched a single Alabama basketball game over the last two years, you know exactly who Mouhamed "Mo" Dioubate is. He isn’t always the guy lighting up the scoreboard for 30 points, but he’s the one diving into the front row for a loose ball or ripping a rebound away from a center three inches taller than him.
He's the heart.
Now, that heart is looking for a new home. The news hit the wire that Mo Dioubate is entering the transfer portal, and frankly, it feels like a gut punch to a Crimson Tide fanbase that had grown to love his "hard hat" mentality. This isn't just another roster spot opening up; it’s a massive shift in the identity of Nate Oats’ program heading into the 2025-2026 season.
What Mo Dioubate Leaving Actually Means for Alabama
Losing a guy who averaged 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds might not look like a catastrophe on a spreadsheet. But basketball isn't played on a spreadsheet. Dioubate was the ultimate "connector."
He won Alabama’s Hard Hat Award 13 times last season.
That’s a record.
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Basically, Nate Oats tracks "blue-collar points"—deflections, floor dives, contested shots—and Mo was almost always the leader. He was the guy who stayed in the game when things got physical. Remember the Elite Eight run? Or the way he practically willed Bama past Grand Canyon in the 2024 tournament? You can't just go out and buy that kind of grit in the NIL era.
The Stats That Don't Lie
While his toughness is his calling card, Mo actually evolved a lot as a sophomore.
- Shooting: He went from a shaky 9% from deep as a freshman to 46.2% last year. Granted, it was on low volume (12-of-26), but it showed he wasn't just a "garbage man" scorer anymore.
- Rebounding: He led the team in offensive boards with 70.
- Efficiency: He shot over 61% from the floor.
If you’re a coach at a high-major program looking for a winning piece, you’re salivating. Dioubate is a 6-foot-7 "Swiss Army Knife" who can guard three positions. He's entering the portal with two years of eligibility remaining, making him one of the most valuable commodities on the market right now.
Why Is Mo Dioubate Entering the Transfer Portal?
It really comes down to one thing: Mo wants to start.
Despite being a fan favorite and a coach’s dream, Dioubate didn’t start a single game in two years at Alabama. Not one. He was the ultimate spark plug off the bench, but players with his talent level eventually want to see their name in the starting lineup.
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"That's always the goal, for me to play more minutes," Mo told reporters after Alabama’s Elite Eight loss to Duke. He basically hinted then that he knew he was capable of more. He's right. In games where he played more than 20 minutes, his production skyrocketed. He had a career-high 22 points against Vanderbilt in January, proving he can be a focal point if given the chance.
The "Toughness" Vacuum in Tuscaloosa
Nate Oats hasn't been shy about this. He recently noted that you can't really "coach" a guy to be tough—they either have it or they don't.
"Recruit a guy like Mo Dioubate. You didn't really have to coach him to be tough. He was tough. That's who he is." — Nate Oats
Without him, Alabama has a massive hole in their "enforcer" department. While the Tide will likely reload with high-scoring guards and flashy wings, finding someone willing to do the dirty work for 40 minutes is a lot harder than finding a guy who can hit a step-back three.
Where Could Mo Land?
The rumors are already flying, and they aren't small names. Since he's a Queens, New York native, a move back toward the East Coast wouldn't be shocking.
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St. John’s and Seton Hall are the obvious local choices. Rick Pitino loves "dogs," and Mo is exactly the type of defensive menace Pitino builds his systems around.
However, don’t rule out the heavy hitters. Kentucky has been linked to him almost immediately. Mark Pope needs guys who understand the SEC grind, and Mo has already proven he can shut down All-Conference guards in this league. Michigan and Villanova have also reportedly shown interest.
Wherever he goes, he’s going to make that team significantly harder to play against.
The Actionable Reality for Bama Fans
If you’re an Alabama fan, don’t panic, but do expect a different "feel" next year. The portal is a two-way street. While Mo Dioubate is entering the transfer portal, Oats is already hunting for replacements.
What to watch for next:
- The "Blue-Collar" Replacement: Look for Bama to target a physical forward from the mid-major ranks—someone like a Danny Wolf type—who can replicate that rebounding intensity.
- Roster Balancing: With Mo gone, Alabama has more NIL flexibility to go after a high-level rim protector, something they lacked at times last season.
- The Homecoming: Mark your calendars for when Mo's new team plays Bama. If he stays in the SEC (which is highly likely), that matchup in Coleman Coliseum is going to be emotional.
Mo Dioubate represented the "blue-collar" era of Alabama basketball. His departure is a sign of the times in college sports—even the most loved players will seek out the best individual opportunity. He’s going to be a starter somewhere next year, and he’s probably going to be an All-Conference defender.
Next steps for Mo involve narrowing down his visit list, which is expected to happen by the end of the week. For Alabama, the focus shifts to the remaining scholarship spots and ensuring the "hard-hat" culture doesn't leave the building with number 10.