Men's Basketball

Rob Dillingham Responds After Summer Struggles

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) handles the ball during Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

The GLOBL JAM event that took place in Toronto this past July served as a time for a lot of Kentucky Wildcats to show off what they can do on the court. A lot of players saw great success that gave them momentum heading into the rest of the summer. Rob Dillingham was not one of those players, however. After averaging just 5.5 points per contest while shooting 31% from the field, Dillingham decided to get to work in the gym and the weight room, and his work has clearly paid off.

Gaining Over Twenty Pounds of Muscle

One of the issues with Dillingham when he came in was that he lacked much of a frame physically. Being 6’1, he already lacked the stature that some of his competition will have. Then, at 155 lbs, Dillingham was set up to be bullied around, especially by those tough SEC guards.

Around the beginning of September, the BBN got an update from Strength and Condition Coach Brady Welsh on Dillingham’s physical transformation. He had added 17 lbs of muscle, putting him at 172 lbs.

However, after the Blue-White game, John Calipari said, “He’s gained 22 pounds because he got beat up in Toronto. Was he making layups in Toronto? No, because he got bumped and now all the sudden he’s the one creating the bump and playing through.” If that number is accurate, that would mean Dillingham is up to 177 lbs.

Impressive Showing at UK Pro Day

When all eyes were on Dillingham at GLOBL JAM, he struggled, but that wasn’t the case when he took that the floor at UK Pro Day. Dillingham saw improvement in basically every aspect of his game. With 52 scouts from all 30 NBA teams in attendance, Dillingham shined bright.

Throughout summer practice, Dillingham’s name was the one that received the most praise, and we saw why at UK Pro Day. Dillingham was stronger, faster, and even more shiftier than he was even as recent as GLOBL JAM.

His on-ball defense has also taken a huge leap. He caused a good amount of disruption, no matter who he was matched up against. Dillingham proved that he has a ton of versatility on defense, which will be invaluable for this team.

Scoring Forty Points in the Blue-White Game

The Blue-White game was yet another chance for Rob Dillingham to show why he was brought to Kentucky. Five players managed to score twenty points of more, and Dillingham took it to another level by doubling that. He had forty points on 14-23 shooting.

Buckets weren’t the only way that Dillingham made in impact on the floor either. He filled up the stat sheet across the board. Along with his forty points, he also had five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals on the night.

If there was a Blue-White game MVP award, it would have gone to Dillingham without any doubt. All game long, he was a difference maker. It didn’t matter if it was offense or defense, he was always doing something positive on the floor.

Rob Dillingham is a completely different person and player from July, when the Cats went to Toronto and won GLOBL JAM gold. He has not only revamped his game on the floor, but he has remade himself physically and mentally. The Rob Dillingham of old was one of the best guards in high school ball, but the new Rob Dillingham has the potential to be one of the best guards in college basketball.

Men's Basketball

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

Published

10 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

5 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.