Wildcats ready for Bahamas tour

Wildcats ready for Bahamas tour

In just over a week, the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball team will be in New Providence for the second edition of its Big Blue Tour.

From August 8-12, the team will play four games at the Atlantis Resort.

Three will be against pro teams with another one coming against The Bahamas national team. On August 8, the Wildcats take on The Bahamas, followed by games against San Lorenzo de Almargo, Mega Bemax and Team Toronto.

Kentucky coach John Calipari said he’s excited for the trip because his team gets to take on high level competition before the school year starts.

“Just trying some new stuff. Cannot wait to get down to the Bahamas,” Calipari said. “Let me explain to you. The teams we’re playing there should beat us. I’m hoping we can go 1-3. But I’m more concerned about what I see, what I learn, what we figure out about this team, how we’re playing going forward.”

This will be the second time that Kentucky begins its season in The Bahamas. Back in 2014, the team traveled to The Bahamas and played games against national teams of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, 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.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (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 (BBF).

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.