While Antonio Reeves has not yet had several flashy 30-point games that Rob Dillingham and Reed Shepard have, he plays the most important role on the court for the Wildcats.
The leadership and experience of the fifth-year senior has provided some stability for Kentucky, with him being one of the most consistent players in college basketball.
Reeves averages 20 points-per-game and has only put-up single digits in a single game all season: an 87-83 win for Kentucky over North Carolina.
Reliable from the field and at the free throw line, Reeves is an impressive 50.8% shooter with a team-high 31.4 minutes per game.
His 13 points in the SEC Tournament ended a streak of scoring no fewer than 20 points per game that had been running since February 17 when the Auburn Tigers were defeated in Neville Arena. The streak lasted seven games.
Reeves has certainly improved his draft stock over the season and could be a top pick if the 2023-24 season hadn’t been his fifth in college basketball.
“Today was Antonio,” Calipari said after his 22-point performance in Auburn. “When one guy can go do what he did, in those games, it’s huge.”
His name was listed in multiple watch lists for awards, with him being named to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-American Third Team and the All-SEC First Team.
“He scored 20 again,” Calipari said after wins over No. 13 Alabama and Mississippi State. “Every time we need a basket, he goes and gets it. He’s rebounding. I mean, like, I’m talking like, All-American. Why is his name not mentioned? Is it because we have a team full of guys or is it because he’s at Kentucky? I don’t know.”
Reeves’ pure scoring talents and ability to control the game when Kentucky needs it most has led him to be one of the best point guards in the country and is why the ball often must be in his hands when the game is on the line.
His 1,128 points in his short two-year Kentucky career has shown just how reliable Reeves has been for the Cats, especially on a team as young as the 2023-24 Cats.
For the most part, Reeves has started every game, often with many freshmen, putting the heavy weight on his shoulders, especially during the stretch where Tre Mitchell missed time with injury.
The peaks and valleys of this freshmen class’s play, including several single-point games and bad passes in key moments, make Reeves’ steadiness even more important, especially with him being one of the few players on the roster to have ever taken the court in the NCAA Tournament.
If Kentucky is going to go far, and perhaps even if it’s going to beat Oakland, the Cats need to rely on his leadership and IQ to stand a chance at winning it all.
Kentucky and Oakland will tip off around 7:10 p.m. ET in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64. The game will air live on CBS.
