Kentucky players have one clear New Year's Resolution: Win No. 9

Some people want to get fit, hit the gym to lose a few pounds. Others want to go to church more, maybe spend more time with family and loved ones. Or how about putting in the extra time to earn that next promotion? Working less could be one, too. Everyone has different New Year’s resolutions, but they all kinda-sorta fit the same mold of self-improvement, being better than you were the year before in some way.

The Kentucky basketball players have to feel the same way, right? Well, not exactly. For them, it’s about achieving team goals, not individual growth. And there’s a clear consensus with these Wildcats.

“To win a national championship,” freshman guard DJ Wagner said of his New Year’s resolution following Kentucky’s win over Illinois State on Friday.

“Of course, try to get a national championship,” fifth-year senior Antonio Reeves added. “I’m thankful for my friends, my family, for being here. I’m trying to have another good year.”

And then came freshman guard Rob Dillingham, who struggled to come up with his resolution on the fly — “Um, I don’t know,” he said.

When told his teammates had put No. 9 at the top of their priority list going into 2024, Dillingham was slightly confused. Not that he disagreed with the goal or this team’s ability to compete for the title, but simply the difference between now and what Kentucky’s mindset was entering the season.

For him, December 31 transitioning to January 1 won’t change anything.

“Oh, that’s a resolution?” Dillingham said.

“It’s a goal!” WKYT reporter Lyndsey Gough responded.

“Oh yeah,” the freshman standout agreed. “That’s like every day for me, that’s not a new nothing [laughs]. You know?”

Fair enough.

He’s got the team goal down pat. What about anything he’d like to improve about himself, an individual New Year’s resolution?

“I guess, yeah. I want to get better at everything [laughs].”

Simple as that. The Cats are keeping the same energy as 2023 flips to 2024.