Entering Tuesday night’s matchup against Manhattan, much of the attention surrounding Kentucky Basketball was on guard Zoom Diallo.
Before the Wildcats’ season opener, Diallo deactivated his Instagram account, leading many fans to believe he was stepping away from social media because of the criticism and negativity he received during the exhibition games.
Diallo had struggled at times during those games, and some fans went beyond constructive criticism by directing personal attacks toward him online.
His decision to deactivate Instagram sparked many Kentucky fans to support him, and Diallo eventually reactivated his account to say he was doing fine.
On Tuesday night, Diallo showed what he could bring to the Wildcats in his first official game. He finished with 12 points on 4/7 shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while posting a plus-four +/-.
While Diallo was on the floor, Kentucky fans could be heard chanting his name, showing their support for the guard. He certainly took notice of the moment.
“It brought that joy out that I needed,” Diallo said after the game. “I appreciate BBN, you know, most definitely for showing the love, man. I see everything, and it makes it better, and I am happy that I am here, and I appreciate you guys. Thank you so much.”
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope also made it clear how important Diallo is to the team, emphasizing that his contributions go beyond individual statistics.
“Zoom is an integral part of this team. When you sometimes you nitpick individual plays, or individual stats, or individual things, and we are all drawn to that because those are the stories to tell. Zoom is like the great connector of our team.”
Pope also compared Diallo’s role on the team to a powerful sermon.
The sermon told the story of two friends who ran 100 miles together. After completing 90 miles, one man stopped at a tree, but his friend encouraged him to continue through the final 10 miles together. Just before reaching the finish line, the friend encouraged the other to go ahead and enjoy the moment by himself because he had earned it.
Several months later, a picture of the moment revealed something the man had not realized: His friend had been carrying both of their packs throughout the final 10 miles.
Pope believes Diallo is doing something similar for this Kentucky team, quietly carrying a significant responsibility while helping those around him succeed.
“He is carrying the pack for every guy on this team, and his value will always be more than just the numbers. He is going to continue to grow and have success and be a crucial part of what we are as a team this entire season.”
For Diallo, Tuesday night’s performance and the support from Kentucky fans were encouraging signs as he continues to settle into his role in Lexington. Hopefully, he can build on that performance and continue receiving the support of Kentucky’s fanbase throughout the season.
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