Rob Dillingham's post-Toronto wake-up call led to 40-point outing at Blue-White Game

Rob Dillingham‘s “welcome to college basketball” moment didn’t take that long to hit. In fact, it didn’t even happen against another college team. Coming out of high school as a top 15 recruit and one of the country’s premier shot makers, he earned a reputation for being able to score in the most creative — and sometimes frustrating — ways.

But that was high school. This is Kentucky.

When the Wildcats traveled to Toronto, Canada back in July for a four-game run at the GLOBL JAM (which Kentucky swept through en route to a gold medal), Dillingham received a necessary wake-up call. Those same fancy dribble moves and stepback jumpers suddenly weren’t falling the same way they did less than a year before. His skinny 6-foot-3 frame was exposed against older, tougher, and stronger competition. Dillingham averaged just 5.5 points on 31 percent shooting during those four games up north. He attempted a mere three free throws during that time.

But instead of getting down on himself, the Charlotte, NC, native went to work behind the scenes and began to live in the gym. He hit the weights and locked in on improving his body. Kentucky head coach John Calipari said earlier this summer that Dillingham was adding muscle, but it wasn’t until the rest of the world saw it in person on Saturday night that the skeptics turned into believers.

Dillingham exploded for a game-high 40 points during Kentucky’s annual Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday at Northern Kentucky University’s Truist Arena. He shot an efficient 14-23 overall from the field (3-7 3PT) and went 9-12 from the free-throw line against his teammates. It wasn’t just his scoring that stood out though. Dillingham also contributed five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals while playing all 40 minutes as the lead guard.

Thanks to his stellar play from the opening tip to the final buzzer, he powered the Blue Team to a 100-89 win over the White Team.

“Here’s what I liked. He was really efficient,” Calipari said of Dillingham following the scrimmage. “I grabbed him a couple times, he had a wide-open shot but he’s gonna try something crazy. Just don’t play that way, you’re too good a player. How about the steals? Didn’t just do it on offense, he did it defensively. He’s gained 22 pounds because he got beat up in Toronto. Was he making layups in Toronto? No, because he got bumped and now all the sudden he’s the one creating the bump and playing through.”

Rob Dillingham's 40 piece in the Kentucky Blue vs White game pic.twitter.com/X0PBUc0zlk

— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) October 22, 2023

You can see the difference in Dillingham’s demeanor compared to what we saw in Canada. He was attacking the rim with force at NKU, accepting the bumps that came his way before ignoring them and continuing on his path to the basket.

Dillingham converted several shots at the rim through heavy contact, a few of them needing some spin on the ball to complete tough up-and-under finishes. If he got to his spot, the ball was likely going to find the bottom of the net. His four-point play after getting fouled on a corner three-pointer received one of the biggest roars from the crowd all night long.

“When I was in Canada, I would get bumped and since I wasn’t comfortable, I would stop and throw the ball,” Dillingham said after his 40-point performance. “But now it’s more like play through the bump. That’s what (Calipari) tells me every day. Just continue to play through the bump. Now I’ve gained way more weight it does feel way easier because I can play through the bump instead of getting knocked off my dribble.”

In just a few months, Dillingham now looks and plays like a completely different hooper. He’s more confident both on the court and in the gym. In high school, he was relied upon to do a massive chunk of the offensive heavy lifting. At Kentucky, surrounded by talented five-stars and a pair of seasoned veterans, he can take a backseat if necessary. It was the mental aspect of knowing he doesn’t have to play hero ball that truly changed his approach.

“Before I got here, I tried to make a play every time I get the ball,” Dillingham said. “Now, I just realize, playing with so many guys every day, I don’t got to make a play every play. I can look for other people. I can throw the ball just to give it up sometimes. Really, just learning how to play with everybody and learning how to gel together.”

“When he did force it I told him, ‘Why would you do that?’ You’re getting every shot you want, so don’t do that to your team, that’s disrespectful to the other guys,” Calipari added. “But he wants to be so good. He’s in the gym all the time.”

Mentally and physically, Rob Dillingham is growing up right before our eyes. Kentucky will only get better because of it.