As UK prepares for Tuesday’s game against Georgia at Rupp Arena (9 p.m. ET, ESPN), there are a couple of points of emphasis for the Cats. According to junior forward Mo Dioubate, rebounding is at the top of the list.
“That’s been a big emphasis,” Dioubate said. “(Georgia) is a good rebounding team, one of the top (in the conference). We’ve got to be more aggressive with that.”
The other point of emphasis leading up to Tuesday’s game against the Bulldogs is transition defense. Georgia is third in the league in scoring, averaging 90.3 points per game. The Bulldogs have scored at least 100 points seven times this season and have scored at least 120 twice. Dioubate knows the Cats will need to get back on defense.
“Transition defense, that’s a big emphasis as well,” he said.
Dioubate has embraced his role on this team, coming off the bench and energizing his team.
“I’m just trying to do what my team expects from me,” Dioubate said. “Just bringing the energy, be the energy guy. I’ve been in this position before, so I know what it feels like to come off the bench and try to change the game. So that’s just what I try to do when I get in the game. Just try to help my teammates out as much as I can.”
With the regular season winding down, Dioubate knows that the Cats must continue to get better and continue to show the desire that it takes to win in March.
“You’ve got to stay hungry,” he said. “We lost our first two SEC games, and that feeling we had that we’ve got to turn it around, we’ve just got to stay with that mentality.”
Kentucky will have a chance to show that passion and to make some adjustments against Georgia on Tuesday night.