Alabama basketball’s trip to the Sweet 16 will be a trip back home for forward Mo Dioubate. The sophomore hails from New York City, specifically the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, less than an hour by car from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
In the locker room after helping the Crimson Tide to a 80-66 win over Saint Mary’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Dioubate spoke about New York cultural institution he’s looking forward to once he arrives in the area.
“Chopped cheese,” Dioubate said. “Everything, I’m gonna get it when I go back home man. I can’t wait for that. Mark (Sears is) gonna try one too. He’s been wanting to try one all year, so I’m gonna get him right.”
The chopped cheese is a popular sandwich in New York City bodegas. It’s something of a cross between a cheeseburger and Philly cheesesteak, featuring ground beef chopped up on a flat-top grill, with cheese and other toppings.
Sears Facetime called Dioubate during the offseason while the forward was enjoying one of the sandwiches.
“I was like, ‘Yo, what you eating?’” Sears said in the locker room. “He said, ‘I’m eating a chopped cheese.’ I’ve been making jokes about it every time, calling him chopped. So now I get the opportunity to try the chopped cheese.”
Dioubate finished Sunday’s game against Saint Mary’s with 10 points and five rebounds. He also blocked a shot for the Tide.
“Mo has been a key to our winning success all season,” UA guard Chris Youngblood said after the game. “You win championships with players like Mo because he’s hitting threes tonight, and he might get six offensive rebounds in seven minutes. We depend on Mo a lot for other than just scoring. You’ve got rebounding, steals, all the blue-collar plays. So Mo has been a key to our success all season.”
Alabama will play its first game Thursday in Newark, against BYU. The Cougars enter as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, after beating Wisconsin in the second round.
Sears said the chopped cheese consumption will happen quickly upon arrival in the northeast, well before the Crimson Tide has a game to play.
“As soon as I get there, I’m gonna have one,” Sears said.
