North of the border

Who says there’s no sports excitement this time of year? The Wimbledon final argued otherwise. Special shoutout to Carlos Alcaraz; the kid is special.

Anyway, let's get to the news regarding a different type of court.

1. Certified GLOBL boys

Over the past few months, we’ve covered every step and misstep of Kentucky’s turbulent offseason. Though, during the early part of the spring, the concerns outweighed the comforts.

However, those delighting in some Big Blue Schadenfraude may want to adjust their expectations.

Days after questioning if his team would go winless at GLOBL JAM, John Calipari led the Cats to an impressive 4-0 showing, accentuated by an 89-72 win over Canada in the championship game. While it’s unwise to draw too many conclusions from foreign tours, Kentucky displayed some encouraging signs. In particular, it flexed its offensive muscles throughout the week, moving the ball with purpose and knocking down 3s by the bounty.

Perhaps the most impressive Wildcat was the one whose future seemed uncertain just a month ago. Fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves showed out from the opening tip-off, averaging 23 points and shooting 56.3% from long distance.

Turns out there was a reason his potential transfer elicited so much excitement from opposing fanbases (and it wasn’t just because late entrants tend to generate buzz). Reeves appeared ready to build off of his first campaign in Lexington — one that saw him eclipse 20 points in 10 contests. He’ll provide a veteran presence and postseason experience to a squad in need of both.

Beyond Reeves, the latest newcomer, West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell, played an instrumental role in Kentucky’s new-look offense. He gave the Cats shooting at the 5 — something they haven’t seen much under Calipari — and kept the ball moving. Sophomore Adou Thiero also looked poised for a leap in Year 2. With his length, strength, defense and above-the-rim athleticism, he provides a valuable skillset that the roster would otherwise lack.

And lastly, if GLOBL JAM was any indication, DJ Wagner has a great chance to live up to the hype. The 6-3 guard flashed his burst and stop-start quickness all week.

But as good as the team looked, Cal’s countenance was just as telling. Just look at this video.

Posting selfie videos at Drake’s house? In the OVO owl polo? With some knee-slappers mixed in? Those are the actions of a man who’s confident in his team. I’d be feeling pretty, pretty good if I was a Kentucky fan.

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2. Late departure from Lawrence

Kansas’ offseason has stood as a contrast to Kentucky’s — namely, it has essentially received nonstop praise since adding Hunter Dickinson in May. A popular pick for preseason No. 1, the Jayhawks boast an intriguing blend of proven vets, exciting youngsters and star power.

But the latest news may give their fans a slight pause regarding the lofty expectations.

Yesterday afternoon, freshman wing Marcus Adams Jr. de-committed from Kansas, becoming the second player in its 2023 class to do so.

The 6-8 wing re-classed in March and had already moved to Lawrence. Considering Kansas’ myriad departures, the high-flying scorer figured to play meaningful minutes, despite his youth.

Nevertheless, the loss of his on-court production isn’t the biggest storyline here. In the transfer portal era, most big-name programs don’t sweat after missing out on freshmen.

However, this late in the offseason — when the Jayhawks already had two open scholarships — the de-commitment leaves them scrambling to add depth. Of their 10 filled scholarships, one is occupied by Zach Clemence, who elected to redshirt the upcoming season. Of course, Bill Self could always change those plans. But the coach will be closely monitoring the portal to see if any perimeter players hit after the second wave of summer graduations.

3. For all he’s (Ash)worth

It’s not often that a team loses its floor general and still forecasts as an elite offense. But that’s exactly what happened in Omaha, Nebraska. The Creighton Bluejays, whom Bart Torvik projects as the country’s fourth-best offense this upcoming season, shouldn’t miss a beat, even after the transfer of Ryan Nembhard.

Part of that stems from coach Greg McDermott’s track record. But an equally as important piece is Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth. The senior guard boasts an impressive ability to run an offense; his proficiency in ball screens should keep the Blue Jays soaring. However, it’s his shooting that should most excite Creighton fans.

The Omaha Herald ran an excellent piece breaking down Ashworth’s film at Utah State, highlighting what makes him so dynamic. One of the most noteworthy tidbits:

Ashworth shared some of his training regimen with the Field of 68.

“I really try to put game pressure on myself every day when getting up extra shots outside of team workouts,” he said. “For example, I will do drills where I have to make 22-of-25 3s from five spots. But I also can’t miss two in a row or else I have to start over.”

Clearly, that work has paid dividends.

Transfers like Hunter Dickinson, Max Abmas and LJ Cryer have commanded a bulk of the headlines due to their accomplishments in the postseason and/or careers at high-profile programs. But don’t be surprised to see Ashworth among the most impactful newcomers by March.

12 months of magic

Tobin Anderson arrived at Fairleigh Dickinson barely a year ago, and built a roster that became just the second 16 seed to ever beat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now? He’s building out a roster at his newest coaching destination, MAAC powerhouse Iona. Does he feel pressure when it comes to following in Rick Pitino’s role? He discusses that and more.

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Links as you reminisce on the glory days of Xbox Live.

• UConn landed 2024 forward Isaiah Abraham, a top-30 recruit in his class.

• Mark Adams joined ECU’s staff as an assistant. Adams most recently coached at Texas Tech, where he resigned following a suspension for making racially insensitive comments toward a player.

• Division I’s newest addition Le Moyne will play its first game against Ed Cooley and Georgetown.

• An illuminating piece from USA Today examines the “pitfalls and loopholes” of the NCAA’s policies regarding past sexual misconduct and violent acts.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].