TORONTO– Kentucky coach John Calipari couldn’t help but admire the watch fifth year senior guard Antonio Reeves received for being selected MVP of the Globl Jam international tournament following the Cats’ 89-69 victory over host Canada in the gold medal game here Sunday night.
“Wish I had one like that,” he said.”
“He’s not getting this one,” Reeves said.
Reeves locked up the award after scoring 18 points and making four more three-point field goals against the bigger older, more physical Canadians. He averaged 24.7 points in the four- game tournament, asserting himself offensively in every game as the young Cats played high level, entertaining basketball, scoring 83, 92, 104 and 89 points. Louisville’s women’s team added to the glory when Sidney Taylor made a three-point jumper in the last minute to give the Cardinals, who were also representing the USA, a 68-66 victory over Canada in their gold medal game.
“Shai Gilgeous Alexander came up to me and said he loves watching this team play,” Calipari, referring to his former guard, a first team All-NBA player who added celebrity power to the week.
If Calipari learned anything about his team during eight productive days, it’s that 6-8 senior Tre Mitchell, who had 18 points. 11 rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes despite coming off a bum ankle, could win up playing center for the Cats, bookended by 6-8 freshman Justin Edwards and 7-0 freshman Aaron Bradshaw, once he comes back from his shoulder injury. This team has more depth than versatility than last year when they locked into play though through 6-10 2022 national Player of the Year and low post center Oscar Tshiebwe. Calipari has given them more freedom to make decisions on the court and they have all bought into to his unselfish dribble drive philosophy, constantly making the extra pass in halfcourt sets. They shot 50 percent and had 26 assists on 37 made baskets.
The Cats have at least six players who could lead them in scoring on any given night and upwards to that many who could score in double figures Against Canada, it was Edwards’ chance to shine. He scored 23 points on 10 for 20 shooting and had seven rebounds. Freshman guard DJ Wagner contributed 13 points and 6 assists.
“As I said before these guys are all basketball players” Calipari said. “They pass shoot and dribble and play for each other. The average age of this team is only 19 and they’re coming up against older, stronger players in a U23 competition. But this isn’t a track meet or a weightlifting competition.
“Think about Tyler Ulis who with us in 2016. 5-9, 150 pounds. But the NBA saw him as a player drafted him and he might have still been in the league if he didn’t have a hip problem.”
Calipari brought in four McDonald’s All Americans– Edwards, Wagner, Sheppard and Bradshaw– and a five star point guard Robert Dillingham from Overtime Elite who all have a chance to play at the next level if they continue to progress.
They likely got more out of this experience than if they had played two games against college competition, something Calipari thought about proposing until he realized coaches want to keep their rosters together in the summer and not risk losing a player to the portal who didn’t get the playing time he felt he deserved.
Calipari found a way to keep all his players happy, getting eight of the nine players he brought up here meaningful playing time. He also managed to rebuild Dillingham’s confidence in the last time. Dillingham had been outplaying Wagner and Sheppard in the 10 days of pre-tournament practice back in Lexington. But he struggled with his shooting in the first three games and fell behind them on the depth chart. But Calipari got 19 minutes for him against Canada and Dillingham responded with eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
Kentucky had a strong week north of the border. It is exciting to see what they could be in the future with a complete roster.
