The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN just over a week, the focus of the NCAA basketball preseason will shift to the Bahamas as the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball programme and ESPN are hosted at the Atlantis resort.

The Wildcats began practices last weekend for the Big Blue Bahamas Tour - a four-game, eight-day trip - where they will face several professional teams at the Imperial Arena August 6-13.

"Had our first of 10 days of practice yesterday before the Bahamas. I continue to be impressed with this group's toughness and work capacity," Wildcats head coach John Calipari said in a series of tweets. "Got a lot done in two hours, including defence for the first time this summer. If we are going to be special, defence and rebounding will be the key. Lots of experimenting and lots of fun."

Calipari will welcome the second ranked recruiting class in the country, giving the Bahamas a first look at several potential NBA hopefuls.

Headlining the class will be McDonald's All-Americans Keldon Johnson (No.9) and Immanuel Quickley (No.21) alongside EJ Montgomery (No.10) and Tyler Herro (No.39).

"It's been a real long weekend, but you know we are having fun getting after it competing. Point guards, big men going after it, having a lot of fun," Quickley said following the team's first practice session, "It's going to be great, we've been in here killing each other, going at it. I think we are as deep as any team in the country so to go against somebody else, can't wait to see it."

Sophomores PJ Washington and Quade Green have returned to the programme but the team lost three of its top four scorers (Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo and Jarred Vanderbilt) to the 2018 NBA Draft.

All games will be broadcasted live on ESPN's SEC Network. The ESPN college basketball crew of Tom Hart, Seth Greenberg and Dan Dakich will be on the call.

The Bahamian national select squad, primarily comprised of players from FIBA World Cup Qualification and CAC Games teams, will be the first test for Kentucky.

This first game in the series takes place at 7pm on August 8. The team follows with games against San Lorenzo de Almagro (Argentina) at 7pm on August 9, Mega Bemax (Serbia) at 7pm on August 11 and Team Toronto at 4pm 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.

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-Tooley, the founder and CEO of Complete Sports Management, an all-encompassing sports marketing 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 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.