Antonio Reeves Fuels Kentucky to Final Win, Named Big Blue Bahamas Tour MVP

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Antonio Reeves averaged 17 points per game during the trip. (Photo by UK Athletics)

Sunday was the final game of Kentucky’s Big Blue Bahamas trip. The Wildcats had ran past their first three opponents, leading fans to think they’d see a similar outcome on Sunday afternoon. While Kentucky ended up sweeping this week’s competition with a 98-74 win over the Bahamas National Team, head coach John Calipari and his team quickly realized early on Sunday that a victory wouldn’t come so easy.

Kentucky shot just 37% from the floor (7% from three) in the first half and led by a single point thanks to Sahvir Wheeler’s fast break layup as the 20th minutes expired. The Wildcats came out in the second half rather flat, barely outscoring the Bahamas National Team 12-9 in the opening five minutes. However, a lift from transfer Antonio Reeves was exactly what Kentucky needed to pull away. He scored 16 of his 22 total points in the second half, with nine of those coming in less than a minute where he made three consecutive shots from downtown.

Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics

He wasn’t just great on Sunday, though. Reeves had momentum from the second he stepped on the court in the Bahamas and shot the basketball incredibly well all week long. He scored more than 20 points twice and reached double figures in all four games. He made 14 of his 27 three point attempts, shot 52% from the floor and averaged 17 points per contest. His excellence on offense earned him Big Blue Bahamas Tour MVP honors.

Before Kentucky left for The Bahamas, most of the talk was that CJ Fredrick would be Kentucky’s primary source of shooting from long distance. The second year Wildcat is coming off a hamstring injury that kept him out of action last season, but he did play in three of the team’s four games this week. While Fredrick had a few moments (nine points on Friday), it was Reeves who elevated as Kentucky’s knockdown shooter throughout the week.

The SEC Network cast made a comment on Sunday that if Oscar Tshiebwe remains the focal point of opposing defenses, open shots will continue to present themselves for other Wildcats. Reeves ability to take shots with confidence and knock them down will earn him a major role in Kentucky’s offense this season.

One Response

  1. UK is so fortunate to have the reigning national player of the year draw such heavy defensive efforts that it opens up our other players. I see big things coming for BBN this year.

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