Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Boise, Idaho – Buffalo talked trashed, Kentucky heard it, and the Bulls had to pay.
The Wildcats took the comments from Nate Oats and the Buffalo team personal, especially Hamidou Diallo, who posted his best game in nearly three months. The freshman guard scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting while adding eight rebounds.
Despite his struggles throughout the season, John Calipari never game up on Diallo, something the freshman is very thankful for.
“It just shows the type of person he is”, said Diallo. A bunch of coaches probably would have gave up on me. It just shows that he believed in me.”
Diallo’s freakish athleticism has never been questioned but his bad habits resulted in his minutes decreasing throughout the regular season. However, now we are in March and the latest version of Diallo takes Kentucky to another level.
Calipari was asked following the game if he saw this type of performance coming and he replied, “It’s my hope.”
Diallo definitely delivered plenty of highlight plays but every time Buffalo would make a run, he was there with a timely bucket. He was electric and locked in from the starts, skying for every rebound he could get his hands on and he also nearly tore the rim off on two occasions.
HELLO, HAMIDOU DIALLO! ?#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yKhY2rHur1
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 17, 2018
BBN closing out in style! ?#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Hyt5LvJSAG
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 17, 2018
Diallo knew people were talking and putting him down throughout the season but Calipari didn’t listen to them.
“The people that was talking, he didn’t listen to them,” Diallo said. “That’s the biggest thing, he didn’t listen to people outside his circle and he’s really showed that he cared about me.”
You can listen to John Calipari, Kenny Payne, and Hamidou Diallo’s interviews below.
John Calipari talks about Hamidou Diallo and his teams second round victory. pic.twitter.com/w4Kr0ih0iI
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) March 18, 2018
Kenny Payne says Hami took the trash talking the most personal. pic.twitter.com/cZlaZyrSQN
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) March 17, 2018
John Calipari never gave up on Hamidou Diallo. “He’s really showed that he cared about me.” pic.twitter.com/Q8wuuERxRR
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) March 18, 2018