The Tribune

THE winningest programme in NCAA men’s basketball is set to return to the Bahamas once again for a series of preseason tests against both local and international teams.

The Atlantis resort will host the University of Kentucky Wildcats to a four-game, eight-day trip, August 6-13, when they will face several professional teams at the Imperial Arena, ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Headlining the list of opponents will be the Bahamian national team, primarily comprised of players from the island nation’s FIBA World Cup Qualification sides. This first game in the series takes place on August 8. They follow with games against San Lorenzo de Almagro (Argentina), Mega Bemax (Serbia) on August 11 and Team Toronto on August 12.

Team Toronto will feature a group of top select Canadian players put together by head coach Roy Rana, who led the 2019 U-19 Canadian team to the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships.

NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour by an intercollegiate team once every four academic years. Kentucky’s Big Blue Bahamas tour is a joint venture between Complete Sports Management and the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

“The Bahamas is thrilled to have Kentucky returning for their foreign tour,” said Lea Miller, the founder and CEO of Complete Sports Management, an all-encompassing sports marking agency.

“UK is a perennial powerhouse and the standard of college basketball. International travel is an educational experience that is priceless and we are excited to expose the Bahamian culture and beauty of the islands to their staff, players and fans.”

The Wildcats have travelled to the Bahamas twice under head coach John Calipari.

Prior to the 2014-15 season, Kentucky competed at the “Big Blue Bahamas Tour” with games against the Dominican Republic national team, Puerto Rican national team reserves and Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket (France) at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Kentucky went on to 38-1 that season which included an undefeated regular season, SEC regular-season and tournament titles, and a trip to the Final Four.

The ‘Cats returned in 2016 when they defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 115-69 at the Imperial Arena in the Atlantis Showcase.

“I still have some of our fans come up to me and tell me about how much fun they had in 2014 when we went to the Bahamas. This is a chance to see our team in an unbelievable setting, get up close with our kids and stay at the best vacation resort I’ve ever been to.

“The great thing about this time around is the games will be on site, making this even easier than the last trip. I can’t wait to get down there,” Calipari said. “It’s a perfect time – when we have nothing else going on – to get with our kids, practice and give our fans a chance to see our team before school starts. The current rules only allow us to do it every four years and this one comes at a great time.

“We’re going to have another young team and will have a tough schedule early. Getting these games in against professional competition and allowing us to practice will give our guys an early idea of how hard this is going to be.”

In conjunction with the tour, the programme will host the seventh annual “John Calipari Basketball Fantasy Experience.”

Kentucky finished last season 26-11 and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

The team lost three of its top four scorers Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo to the 2018 NBA Draft, while PJ Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt have declared but have not hired agents.

Calipari will welcome another top ranked recruiting class, giving the Bahamas a first look at several potential NBA hopefuls.

Headlining the class will be McDonald’s All-Americans Keldon Johnson and Immanuel Quickley.