Following his crew’s 96-56 drubbing by the hands of Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon, North Florida head coach Matthew Driscoll pinpointed what he sees as a key element to a profitable remainder of the season for these Wildcats.

Driscoll was an assistant coach at Baylor and Clemson for a mixed 11 seasons. He’s been within the occupation for 35 years and is in his 14th season as head coach of the Ospreys, who he mentioned had simply performed their 91st “assured cash” recreation — the place a lesser-regarded crew travels to play a extra extremely touted opponent, and will get a test in return for the anticipated beating — throughout his tenure on the college.

After this specific cash recreation, Driscoll wished to speak about “the Reeves child — quantity 12.”

That will be Antonio Reeves, who had simply dropped 20 factors on his Ospreys.

“I’ve seen lots of good gamers. He’s nearly as good a three-point shooter, and nearly as good of a three-point finder as there’s within the nation,” Driscoll mentioned. “If he doesn’t have a 3, he’s gonna discover a three with a stepback or a separation. Lots of guys, they get thrown off, after which they’ll’t get right into a rhythm. And I feel that’s what makes Reeves particular.”

Driscoll went on to foretell that Reeves’ potential to get open photographs after which make them goes to be a key to the remainder of the Wildcats’ season. He was definitely a difference-maker Wednesday.

Making his first begin as a Kentucky participant after transferring from Illinois State within the offseason and coming off the bench within the Cats’ first 5 video games, Reeves made his first three-pointer of the day lower than 90 seconds after the opening tip. He made three extra threes — all in a flurry of two minutes and seven seconds — to finish the half. By the break, he had 18 factors and had shot 4-for-5 from deep and 7-for-9 from the sector. He was lively on offense, not simply in searching for out these long-range photographs however in attacking the basket, as effectively. He didn’t rating a bucket after halftime, however that actually didn’t matter. The sport was over earlier than the 2 groups got here out of the locker room for the second half, the Cats’ leaping out to a 54-23 lead by that time. Reeves closed the primary half with a buzzer-beating three to set the margin for what was Kentucky’s largest halftime benefit in eight years.

“It felt nice, man,” he mentioned. “Simply on the market feeling comfy. Being me. And my teammates bought me concerned within the recreation.”

The best way he’s able to taking part in on the offensive finish makes it simpler for these round him.

Driscoll mentioned he had observed Reeves’ potential to get open when watching movie of the Wildcats main into Wednesday’s recreation. He was clearly impressed with the senior guard even earlier than his crew was terrorized by him in Rupp Area.

The efficiency couldn’t have come at a greater time for Reeves, who got here into Wednesday’s pre-Thanksgiving matinee having gone 8-for-29 from the sector over his earlier three video games. That included a 1-for-7 efficiency in Kentucky’s double-overtime loss to Michigan State eight days earlier and a 4-for-13 exhibiting in one other defeat to Gonzaga on Sunday evening.

Reeves mentioned he bought again within the health club to begin this week attempting to place these video games, particularly the Gonzaga journey, prior to now. His twenty second birthday was additionally Sunday, and — as he’s gotten older — his perspective has modified, permitting him to maneuver on from nights like that and transfer towards higher outcomes.

“I consider it simply comes with maturity,” he mentioned. “Me coming into school as a freshman, sophomore 12 months — it bothered me somewhat bit. However as you become old, you’re a basketball participant, and you’re going to have video games like that. So, simply maturity and getting within the health club each day, and specializing in getting higher for the crew and getting higher for your self.”

As for his spectacular potential as a three-point “finder,” that’s comparatively new, too.

Like a lot in Reeves’ offensive arsenal, he mentioned he didn’t actually have that knack his first two seasons of faculty. Going into his junior 12 months at Illinois State, he bought within the health club and began working increasingly on each side of his recreation. The outcomes have been instant. He upped his three-point taking pictures from 30.9 % over his first two seasons to 39.0 % as a junior, despite the fact that he was getting extra consideration from opposing defenses because the Redbirds’ clear prime scoring menace.

Reeves mentioned with the ability to sniff out these open photographs comes with getting right into a rhythm, sustaining good footwork, understanding his personal actions and with the ability to learn defenders.

It’s a mixture that ought to repay massive for the Cats as this season continues. After Wednesday’s recreation, Reeves is now 20-for-43 from three-point vary. That’s 46.5 %.

“The rim bought greater for me,” he mentioned of his newest outing. “And I simply saved taking pictures the ball. Shooters shoot. I undoubtedly have that mentality going into each recreation.”

Subsequent recreation

Bellarmine at No. 15 Kentucky

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Data: Bellarmine 2-4, Kentucky 4-2

Sequence: First assembly

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