BBT Take · Opinion · Original
Mark Pope's Confidence in Zoom Diallo Is Backed by Real Numbers
BBN, take a breath. Three exhibition games are not the final word on Kentucky's starting point guard.
Our Take: Zoom Diallo hasn't matched the hype yet, but Mark Pope's confidence is backed by real numbers, and a point guard who stays even-keeled is exactly what this team needs when the games count.
According to Jack Pilgrim of KSR/On3, Diallo averaged 6.0 points with 4.7 assists and a team-high 2.7 turnovers across exhibitions against Little Rock, Texas Tech and UCF, while freshman Mason Williams averaged 14.0 points on 69.6 percent shooting. Pilgrim also reports the Washington transfer deactivated his Instagram account after the exhibition finale, sparking debate among fans about fair criticism versus personal attacks.
Pope didn't flinch. "He's so good," Pope said, per On3. "Every single day, every single play, he comes with the same juice and the same intensity." He pointed to Diallo's six assists and two turnovers against UCF as a 3-to-1 ratio against one of the Big 12's leading steals guards.
Pope also said the team's rule since day one is that "the only opinion that matters is the one in this locker room."
What to watch: Diallo's assist-to-turnover ratio when the real season tips off against Manhattan. If he keeps the offense organized while Williams keeps scoring, Kentucky's backcourt has two ways to beat you. And BBN, cheer for both of them.