Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham showcased his scoring prowess once again on Tuesday night, hitting four consecutive three-pointers to bring the Wildcats back from a deficit against top-ranked Kansas. Although Kentucky ultimately fell short in a close 89-84 loss, Dillingham’s performance caught the attention of fans nationwide.
This Friday, Dillingham and the Wildcats will face off against Stonehill at Rupp Arena. Stonehill, with a 1-3 record, is coming off a tough 100-56 loss against Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday.
The Kentucky coaching staff appreciates Dillingham’s explosiveness on the court, but they are also working with him and the other talented freshmen to develop their understanding of when to push and when to hold back. Assistant coach Chin Coleman discussed this aspect of Dillingham’s game, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness and balancing aggression with strategic play.
“There’s a thin line between being aggressive and understanding situational awareness and trying to score,” Coleman explained. “We want our guys to be aggressive but we want them to be aggressive understanding how aggressive I need to be depending on the situation. We’ve got to help them with that.”
Coleman acknowledged that Dillingham had the option to choose another school where he would have been the star and had the freedom to shoot as much as he wanted. However, Dillingham’s decision to come to Kentucky speaks to his desire to be a player who understands the value of winning.
“There’s a premium on winning here,” Coleman emphasized. “He came here because he wanted to be a player who understands winning. Otherwise, he would have gone somewhere else where he could shoot 30 balls per game. Rob is not that kind of person, he’s not that kind of player deep down inside, and that’s why he’s here. He’s learning to be that kind of player, the kind who succeeds in an environment like that every day.”
Despite his scoring prowess, Dillingham also possesses strong playmaking abilities. Coleman highlighted the freshman’s unselfish nature and willingness to make sacrifice passes. This team-oriented mindset is crucial, as Coleman stressed the importance of all players in the squad exhibiting such qualities due to the abundance of talent on the team.
“He’s a very unselfish player,” Coleman said. “We’ve seen him make those sacrifice passes. All of our guys have to be like that because we have a lot of talent.”
As Kentucky prepares to take on Stonehill, fans will once again have the opportunity to witness Dillingham’s scoring prowess, situational awareness, and unselfish play. The Wildcats continue to strive for success in an environment that values winning above all else.
