Kentucky defeats host Canada to go 2-0 at GLOBL JAM.
Game 2 of the GLOBL JAM represents the Kentucky Wildcats in the books.
It was difficult to have any expectations for this Kentucky team going into the round robin games at Globl Jam because there were just so many unknowns.
I think I’m speaking on behalf of most Kentucky fans when I say I was pleasantly surprised at how the Cats handled Germany relatively easily on Wednesday afternoon.
Still, ahead of Thursday’s game with the Canadian hosts, there were questions about how this young side would react to back-to-back games in July.
Those questions were quickly answered as Kentucky got their way from the opening tip. Despite the change of starters, the Cats didn’t miss an attack shot.
Great Britain led 49-34 at the break, but the story of the first half was Reed Sheppard’s game. The Kentucky native was dominant on defense, making steals and converting dunks on the other side.
After the start, Sheppard led Kentucky with 12 points remaining and three first-half steals.
Still looking good after the break, Calipari and the Cats continued to extend the lead in the fourth quarter.
I would have liked to see some competition at the track, but for Kentucky it was essentially on cruise because they would win 93-69.
Here are five things you should know.
The Reed Sheppard Show
The new guard wasted no time in influencing the game after making his debut in the starting XI. Sheppard essentially dominated the first half, with his aggressive defense driving his offense.
Multiple steals and slams thrilled a Kentucky-dominated crowd, and it was easy to see Reed Sheppard draining their energy.
For those few people still wondering “if” Sheppard will play, it’s officially time to change their stance on “how much,” because from what we’ve seen tonight there’s no doubt about it that the boy will be on the ground.
He finished the game with 14 points on 5/8 shots, four assists, four steals, two boards and two assists.
guard game
The Kentucky back line opened the Globl Jam game with an impressive assist-to-turnover performance, picking up right where they left off Thursday night.
After 20 minutes of play, Kentucky had 14 assists and had just six turnovers.
This season, John Calipari will have the luxury of having nearly half a dozen players on his roster who can master the ball as their primary option.
Whether it’s DJ Wagner, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Antonio Reeves — or a combination of the four — it’s safe to say that Kentucky’s backyard seems primed for a special season.
The game would end for Great Britain with 27(!) Assists with only nine turnovers.
Furious.
Tre Mitchell – The great equalizer
It’s only July and the point of how important Tre Mitchell will be to this team has already been made, but it’s totally valid.
The West Virginia transfer appears to have already learned and embraced his role while working alongside his teammates.
During our post-game press conferences, it became clear that Mitchell’s off-the-ground maturity is above that of his teammates.
Remember — Tre Mitchell is a journeyman college basketball player, so he knows how to fit into a program without raising any fuss.
He dropped eight points, five blocks, three assists, two steals and six boards on Thursday night, but it’s his presence on the field that really stabilizes Kentucky, especially on offense.
Quiet Calipari?
Once again — it’s only July — but based on what we’ve seen in Toronto so far, it’s safe to assume Calipari could really be a backtrack this season. There has been so much discussion about Cal’s desire for this to be a player-run team.
Most years I’d say that’s coaching language, but given the abundance of indoor staff it could actually become a reality in 2023-2024.
Many mouths to feed
The only really moderate concern I could raise after two games in Toronto is that there will be a lot of players to keep happy. The cats are scattered all over the floor, so finding and maintaining balance will be a crucial task for Calipari and his staff.
But that’s obviously the kind of problem you want, especially considering where this team was a few weeks ago when Tre Mitchell wasn’t even in the portal and Reeves was probably going to be out of town.
My way of things have changed.
Kentucky now have Friday off before returning to action against Team Africa on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
What are your biggest takeaways from today’s game? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, don’t forget that this game’s time-delayed broadcast is in a few hours at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Here is the online stream.
Come on cats!!
Continue reading