Vicky Graff Photo
John Calipari could not contain his enthusiasm after Kentucky’s 90-77 win over Mississippi State when it came to Antonio Reeves.
The fifth-year guard had 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and 9-for-9 at the foul line along with four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. But Calipari was smiling over the point total. Instead, it was one particular play.
“My favorite play for him, he started his dance and usually what does he shoot? A step-back, bank misser, it doesn’t go in, he is two for — I think is he one-for-11 with that shot. I’m like, ‘Do your dance, you will get happy, and then go by a guy.’ And he went by him and got fouled and made the free throw,” Calipari said.
“He is way better defensively. He is way mentally stronger. His confidence is off the chains. He lives in the gym. He is taking 1,000 shots a week. He lives there so he is confident. We have some other guys who live there but if they miss, it affects them too much. Not him.”
Reeves has been sensational for the Cats. He leads the team in scoring at 19.4 points per game and has scored in double figures in 15 of 16 games. He’s had 20 or more points in eight games, including four of the last six.
Reeves shoots 42.6 percent from 3-point range and leads the team with 43 3-pointers. However, he’s making 60 percent of his 2-point shots compared to 43.3 percent last season, and at the foul line he’s shooting a team-best 86.9 percent. He got to the foul line 92 times last season but has already attempted 61 free throws this year.
He said after Wednesday’s win that he was “playing freely” and that should worry UK opponents. ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes certainly appreciates what Reeves has been doing.
“Reeves is just explosive,” Dykes said. “We talk about the freshmen but he is the leading scorer. He has grown as a 2-point scorer. He’s a physical 6-6 guard and is a thirsty scorer. He’s very difficult to draw a charge against because of his floater game and footwork.
“He is also so clever and long and gets away from the defense better than any guard in this league.”
Reeves is now able to score in a variety of ways and why no one is even mentioning him as a potential SEC Player of the Year or All-American is puzzling. Kentucky freshman guards Reed Sheppard, D.J. Wagner, and Rob Dillingham have created the buzz but Reeves just keeps scoring and helping the team win.
Dillingham understands what Reeves means to UK and how he helps the young guards thrive.
“He means a lot, everything. He gets buckets,” Dillingham said. “When he doesn’t score, we struggle a little bit with offense.
“He helps with defense. He has played here before. He helps our younger guards. He means a lot for sure.”
5 Responses
I think Reeves ought to be mention in the player of the year group.
I wonder if because we have five (or more) scorers in double digit scoring averages for the season that it is hurting the buzz for Reeves as player of the year.
Could be Karen
What makes Reeves so good is that he does it within the framework of the team. He’s not jacking up 20 shots a game, trying to hog the ball, or even demanding the ball. He’s just playing ball and others find him because he seems to always be open. The best thing about him is that he doesn’t let all the accolades about the freshman get to him. No jealousy, no fuss, just play.
Reeves and Mitchell have taken a lot of pressure off the freshman.
The SEC network announcers/ analysts are the only media in the country that realize just how good Reeves is. He is on track to having one of the best years in UK basketball history, and yet the national media barely knows of his existence. If he keeps this up they will have no choice but to acknowledge him on Monday night, April 8.