Men's Basketball

Recap and Takeaways from 2023 Blue-White Game

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2023

Reed Sheppard goes up for a layup at Kentucky basketball's Blue-White game.

UK Athletics | Chet White

Following the Big Blue Madness festivities, it was once again time to see the Kentucky Wildcats in a game-like setting for the first time in the Blue-White game. In 2022, the team traveled to Pikeville, KY to raise money for eastern Kentucky flood relief. This year, John Calipari and his guys made way to Truist Arena at NKU to raise funding for the same cause, as well as western Kentucky tornado relief. On top of that, it was an overall positive night of basketball with much to take away, so let’s get to it.

No Big Z

One of the few negatives from the event was that the BBN did not get to see the debut of Zvonimir Ivisic. Many wondered what the reason may be. Some speculated eligibility issues while some thought Ivisic may be suffering from an injury.

Coach Cal clarified why Big Z didn’t play in Saturday’s scrimmage, however. “(Ivisic) goes three hard practices. Hard. After the ramp-up, after a 30-hour flight, after all the tests and needles and everything he had to have.”

Calipari added, “He was cramping. His calves, his hamstring, his groin, his knee. I mean, he had everything going, ‘my ankle’. I just said ‘Stop’. We can have him for here and then I’d be a man of my word. Or we can worry about the season, and I’m worried about the season. So I want to give him some time to see what this body can take.” It seems like Ivisic is still adjusting to the rigor of college basketball, and this doesn’t seem like a long-term issue.

DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards Prove Their Value

In the first half of the scrimmage, DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards were both in double digits in the scoring column, but they were struggling with efficiency and finding good shots. Both players were shooting well below 50% from the field. It’s easy to see that the lack of depth for each team had a role, considering there were practically no substitutions made throughout the scrimmage.

After the halftime break, however, Wagner and Edwards found their stride. Suddenly, it became very clear as to why both players were top-five recruits coming out of high school. Wagner finished with 25 points on 9-20 shooting, and Edwards had 26 on 11-18 shooting.

They also had significant impacts on other aspects of the game. Wagner had seven rebounds, six assists, and even two blocks to go along with his 25 points. Edwards had ten rebounds and a block of his own to add to the stat sheet.

Rob Dillingham Cooks, Scoring 40 Points

Even after scoring 20+ points and filling up the stat sheet across the board, Wagner nor Edwards were the best player on the floor. That honor would belong to Rob Dillingham. It goes without saying, Dillingham had himself a special night.

Dillingham had FORTY POINTS on the night on 14-23 shooting, as well as making 42.9% of his shots from three-point range (3-7). He also had five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals on the night.

The Hickory, North Carolina native has the potential to be one of the best players on this team. If he can improve his shot selection and overall decision-making on offense, then it will be very hard to maintain Dillingham when he’s on the floor.

Role Players Shine Under Spotlight

The production on offense didn’t end with Wagner, Edwards, and Dillingham. Antonio Reeves, who is heavily favored to be the team’s leading scorer, had 17 points. Reeves struggled with knocking shots down, but it’s still nice to see him in double digits.

Someone whose effort will go overlooked is Tre Mitchell, but he had an excellent all-around game too. Mitchell recorded 14 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds to give himself a double-double. His contributions will be vital as all three big men are currently out due to injury.

Then, Adou Thiero (26) and Jordan Burks (20) also joined the 20+ point club with their efforts. Thiero also had nine rebounds and two assists to add, and Burks had five rebounds as well. Burks also finished with NINE personal fouls, but that’s basically a non-factor given that it was 40 minutes of 5-on-5 with almost no subs.

If you had doubts about how good this team can be, hopefully, some of your questions were answered Saturday night. DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards are going to be the studs we thought they would be. Rob Dillingham is a DAWG, and Adou Thiero and Jordan Burks were lights out.

The only real negatives to take away are Antonio Reeves’ poor shooting and no sight of Big Z. However, Reeves still managed 17 points, and as Cal said, Big Z was held out for “precautionary reasons”. He should be just fine. There is a lot to be excited about this team as we get closer and closer to the season.

You can view the box score from the Blue-White game here.

Related Topics:Blue-White Game DJ Wagner John Calipari Justin Edwards Kentucky Basketball Rob Dillingham Zvonimir Ivisic

Men's Basketball

Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance Drafted First Round by the San Antonio Spurs

Published

4 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Kai McClelland

Brett Davis | IMAGN Images

It’s every kids dream to play professionally one day, let alone be able to play for the University of Kentucky on the way to the next level.

Although Jayden Quaintance’s time with the Wildcats ended anticlimactically, his NBA dreams have officially come true at just 18 years old.

The Cleveland, Ohio native began his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils, starting in all 24 games he played in.

Before his unfortunate knee injury, Quaintance was good for nearly a nightly double-double, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with 2.6 blocks a night.

He would transfer to Kentucky ahead of his sophomore season, making his first appearance on Dec. 20 against St. John’s.

Finishing the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, many members of the Big Blue Nation were confident that their superstar had finally debuted.

Only appearing in three more games for the 2025-26 season, it was quite clear that his eyes were set on playing at the next level, not taking any chances of another injury.

Selecting Quaintance with the No. 20 overall pick, the Spurs have now added on to their elite front court and will likely utilize him as a two-way player.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Players and Staff Speak About the Importance of Zoom Diallo to This Team, “It’s a recipe for success”

Published

4 days ago

June 19, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Zoom Diallo is turning heads in Kentucky basketball practices. See why Mikhail McLean and Malachi Moreno are already raving about the new PG1.

UK Athletics

Mark Pope likes to start his roster-building process with a point guard. In year one, that was Lamont Butler. This past season, it was Jaland Lowe, who was the second commitment after an eager Kam Williams signed with the Wildcats without a visit.

This season, that point guard is Zoom Diallo.

According to early practice reports, Diallo has not only been one of the best players, but one of the most important in terms of helping this team build its foundation. According to one source, “Zoom has been one of the purest forms of a floor general early on. These guys rally around him. He’s the voice of the team in the early stages and backs it up by going the extra mile.”

Assistant coach Mikhail McLean confirmed that in interviews this week.

“Zoom’s been my favorite so far,” he said on Tuesday, before going into more depth with BBN Tonight on Thursday, comparing him to a quarterback.

“He’s just a connector,” McLean said. “If you know what a quarterback is like, where they just kind of connect everybody. He has a bubbly energy and personality. He’s humble enough to accept who he is as a person. He gasses and encourages everybody to be the best version of themselves, and that’s how he gets the best version of himself.”

McLean mentioned another “connector” on the team, Malachi Moreno, who actually played a part in recruiting Diallo to Kentucky, “his favorite point guard.”

“I had already known Zoom for a while,” he told KY Insider on Thursday. “We had been in Adidas Euro camp together, and being on the Adidas circuit, we’ve been good friends for a while. We always wanted to play together. He ended up at Washington, and I ended up here, but the stars aligned and now he’s here with me. I got my favorite point guard.”

As far as the impact Diallo has on the court, Moreno mentioned his ability to make plays for his teammates, but also highlighted his ability as a bully guard, drawing a comparison to Otega Oweh.

“He’s a high-assist-rate guy,” Moreno said. “He makes plays, and he earns shots for his teammates, and he’s also a bully guard.”

“I think that also helps in the SEC as well, being one of those bigger bully guards. You saw how Otega was last year. He was able to be so good because he was such a bully and able to muscle his way through the paint and really earn shots for everybody, earn shots for himself. I think having a guy like Zoom like that as well, it’s just a recipe for success.”

High praise for Kentucky’s PG1 this season.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Team Visits Patients at UK Children’s Hospital, “We can brighten somebody’s day”

Published

5 days ago

June 19, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball players spent time at UK Children's Hospital, playing Fortnite and making crafts with young patients.

Chet White/UK Athletics

This year’s Kentucky Basketball roster arrived on campus earlier this month. While summer practice has started as the Cats are getting acclimated to the program, they are also getting acclimated to the community.

As a basketball player at Kentucky, you are more than just an athlete; you are someone many young people around the state look up to.

On Wednesday, the team visited the UK Children’s Hospital to see some of the strongest young people in the state.

Such a fun day spent with the wonderful kids at @KCHKids 💙 pic.twitter.com/U3n2Q1mTvH— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 18, 2026

Photos showed players interacting with the children by playing games, creating crafts, and even putting together some toys.

Malachi Moreno revealed during an interview on Thursday that he invited one of the children, a young boy named Jackson, whom he met at DanceBlue, to play the popular video game Fortnite with himself, Kam Williams, and Trent Noah.

“The guys really took in what it means to be a part of this brand,” Moreno said of the experience. “When we walk into a room, we can brighten somebody’s day.”

This is what it’s all about.

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.