Kentucky Basketball's Secret Weapon: Mo Dioubate and the Art of the Handshake
As Kentucky basketball gears up for its NCAA Tournament clash against Santa Clara, Mo Dioubate is set to play a pivotal role-not just on the court, but in the moments leading up to tip-off. Known for his energy and physicality as a key reserve, Dioubate has embraced an additional, unique responsibility: he's the team’s "handshake guy."
Standing at 6-foot-7, the junior from New York City has become the go-to for personalized pregame handshakes with each of Kentucky’s starters. This ritual, which sees each player rise from the bench to engage in a custom handshake with Dioubate, has become a staple for the Wildcats.
Initially, this role belonged to freshman Malachi Moreno, who started the season on the bench. Moreno's love for creating signature handshakes is deeply rooted in his basketball upbringing, inspired by his brother, Michael. “I have a handshake with pretty much everybody in the organization,” Moreno shared, highlighting how these routines have become a source of pride for him.
However, when head coach Mark Pope promoted Moreno to the starting lineup in November-a move that’s paid off with Moreno earning SEC all-freshman honors-the handshake baton was passed to Dioubate. Despite battling a high ankle sprain and torn ligament earlier in the season, Dioubate stepped up to the role with enthusiasm.
“I guess I’m just the cool guy,” Dioubate joked. “I’ve got handshakes with a lot of my teammates. It’s cool, just having different handshakes with all of them.”
Even with the consistency in Kentucky’s starting lineup over the last 15 games, Dioubate admits the handshake routines aren’t always flawless. “I messed one up with Jelavic,” he laughed, recalling a pregame fumble that was quickly corrected.
Each player has their favorite handshake. Moreno enjoys a simple, gentleman’s shake with Nick Robinson, Kentucky’s director of operations.
Meanwhile, Dioubate’s favorite is his routine with senior guard Otega Oweh. “I just think of them off the top of my head, and we just make it up right there,” he explained.
Coach Pope often emphasizes the significance of positive body language, with associate head coach Alvin Brooks III grading players in this area each game. While it might seem like a small detail, these handshakes are more than just fun-they’re a part of Kentucky’s strategy to foster team unity and focus.
As the Wildcats take on Santa Clara, they’ll be hoping these pregame rituals set the tone for a successful outing. Kentucky’s handshake tradition may just be the secret ingredient to their winning formula.