Kentucky guard Zoom Diallo thanked Big Blue Nation for its support Tuesday night after the Wildcats opened their season with an 85-57 victory over Manhattan at Rupp Arena.

The junior point guard scored 12 points in his first official game for No. 23 Kentucky, receiving chants of his name from the home crowd during the second half.

His response followed a preseason marked by criticism of his play and public support from head coach Mark Pope. Diallo said those cheers lifted his spirits.

KY Insider's Tristan Pharis shared Diallo’s postgame comments Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, posting footage from the UK Sports Network’s “Wildcat Wrap Up” show.

“I appreciate BBN, you know, most definitely for showing the love, man. I, I see, I see everything, and it just makes, it makes it better. I'm happy that I'm here, and I appreciate you guys, man. Thank you so much.”

Zoom Diallo on the "Zoom" cheers tonight:

"It brought that joy out that I needed. I appreciate BBN for showing the love… I am happy that I am here."

🎥:UK Sports Video https://t.co/xLIMCBfies pic.twitter.com/oKvi0Y3VSi

— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) November 4, 2026

Diallo shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and made three of four of his free throw attempts. He added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 27 minutes while committing four turnovers.

The Washington transfer made Kentucky’s first three-pointer of the season. Milan Momcilovic led the Wildcats with 24 points and six threes, while Alex Wilkins scored 11 points and recorded a school-record seven steals in his Kentucky debut.

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Diallo arrives after averaging 15.7 points and 4.5 assists last season. His exhibition outings against Little Rock, Texas Tech, and UCF prompted scrutiny over his efficiency and turnovers, with some fans advocating for freshman Mason Williams.

He deactivated his Instagram amid the criticism before returning with a reassuring message. Pope defended Diallo’s leadership and ability to connect teammates, emphasizing contributions beyond his statistics.

The opener gave the Wildcats’ guard a performance to build on and vocal support from fans, which he acknowledged during his postgame interview.