5 Things we learned about the Kentucky basketball team
By Drew Koch
3. Hamidou Diallo is UK’s X-Factor
Hamidou Diallo has been a bit of an enigma this season for the Kentucky basketball team. Big Blue Nation was expecting big things from Diallo this season. I think even Coach Cal was expecting Diallo to be the leader of this team. After all, Hami came back to UK to prove to NBA scouts that he is deserving of a lottery pick.
Diallo started the season on fire. Before the Wildcats entered conference play, Diallo averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 36% from downtown. That was “Good Hami”. In SEC-play, Diallo averaged only 7 points per game and shot 27.8% from beyond the arc. That was “Bad Hami”. The Cats need “Good Hami” going forward.
Diallo is the best athlete on the floor. The only player on Kentucky’s roster who even rivals him athletically is Jarred Vanderbilt, and he’s saddled with an ankle injury. Diallo’s freakish athleticism allows him to not only make electrifying dunks, but also play great defense. When Diallo is engaged, he can be a lock-down defender.
Against Buffalo, Diallo scored 22 points, snagged 8 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. If Diallo can mimic that performance, or even a lesser version of it, the Kentucky basketball team will be very difficult for any team to stop.