Vicky Graff Photo
For Antonio Reeves, it was just another workmanlike performance in Kentucky’s easy 99-53 exhibition win over Kentucky State Thursday night. He didn’t get his first field goal until late in the first half but still finished the game with a team-high 20 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range. However, he also got to the foul line six times and made all six.
What might have been more impressive is that Reeves, primarily a scorer last year, had four assists, three rebounds, and no turnovers in 29 minutes.
Kentucky coach John Calipari, though, says Reeves’ biggest improvement is his self-confidence compared to last year.
“It is not what we are doing, it is what he is. He is so much more at ease. He talks so much more. When you walk into this program, it is difficult. And there’s a ton of anxiety. Am I good enough? What is going on?” Calipari said after the game.
“Every team you play, like even Kentucky State made shots to start this game, like everybody does against us. And, so, that was hard. Finding his way within that team was hard. But by the end of the year, he was really an effective player.”
How is he different this season?
“Now he is more physical. Now he will mix it up. Now he talks more on defense.
And offensively, you know, he’s figured out how do I get to the rim some. He is way better than he was a year ago,” Calipari said.
“I mean, he was a good player last year but his confidence in himself right now, you know, he is self-assured. He doesn’t make — we did — maybe it was the first game. He missed shots and then came out in the second half and made shots. Last year that never happened. If he missed seven, he was missing 13.”
“Now he will miss shots and come back and have enough confidence that it’s not fazing me, I’m going to make this next one, I’m going to make the next one, and that is how he played.”
