Kentucky basketball notched an exhibition win at GLOBL JAM against Germany and we're looking at some key takeaways for the Wildcats.
As John Calipari has done in many summers since taking over the Kentucky basketball program, he's getting an early jump on the season as the Wildcats are playing in the GLOBL JAM as Team USA in the U-23 tournament for some of the best young hoops players in the world.
On Tuesday, the Wildcats took on Germany in the exhibition contest and, in a hard-fought matchup, came away with an 81-73 win.
It's obviously July with several months until the Kentucky basketball season begins. But with several newcomers and a few familiar faces on the court, let's dive into a few quick takeaways for the Wildcats from this win.
Kentucky basketball: 3 takeaways from GLOBL JAM win vs. Germany
3. Kentucky's 3-point shooting is going to be crucial
Wildcats fans certainly remember Antonio Reeves going cold in the NCAA Tournament at the worst time. But Reeves showed how vital he is to the Kentucky offense as a perimeter threat against Germany, going 3-of-7 from deep and finishing with 24 points. Beyond that, though, a newcomer really showed some value as a floor-stretcher.
Tre Mitchell, who joined the Wildcats late in the offseason after transferring from West Virginia in the wake of Bob Huggins' dismissal. The 6-foot-9 forward came up big, particularly with going 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Having that type of big who can provide space while also giving the Wildcats another scorer from deep — something they lacked at times a year ago — could be crucial.
2. Justin Edwards needs to be a more reliable force
In the top-ranked recruiting class incoming for Kentucky, Justin Edwards was the highest-rated of the group, the No. 3 overall player in the 2023 cycle and the top-ranked small forward. But against Germany, the 6-foot-7 forward struggled immensely in every facet aside from grabbing nine boards for the game.
Edwards struggled defensively and had just four points on 2-of-8 shooting against the German squad. Though it was a largely a positive day for Calipari's team, seeing Edwards come out and struggle to score and defend when he was touted for those traits as a recruit wasn't what Big Blue Nation was looking for. The hope is that he can turn it around in the team's next game against Canada on Thursday.
1. DJ Wagner is, as expected, an absolute force
While DJ Wagner was not the top-rated recruit in the highest-ranked class in the 2023 recruiting cycle, he was still the No. 6 overall player in the class — and he looked the part against Germany on Wednesday.
Wagner absolutely filled up the stat sheet in the win, notching 16 points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He did commit five turnovers, but his overall showing against top-tier competition — his first taste at this level — was extremely promising for what he can be. He's clearly a playmaker on both ends of the floor and could be the linchpin for Kentucky basketball reaching its ceiling in the 2023-24 season.