Three takeaways as Kentucky basketball captures the GLOBL JAM 2023 gold medal

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s 89-72 victory over host Canada on Sunday in the GLOBL JAM 2023 gold medal game.

1. Kentucky was golden in Canada

OK, the stiffest competition this was not. Still, for a ridiculously young Kentucky basketball team, after just two weeks of practice, playing without its two 7-footers, ripping off four straight victories north of the border has to be a plus.

For a bunch of newcomers, these Cats played well together. They shared the basketball. Sunday added 26 more assists to their tournament total. They were opportunistic on defense. They forced 15 Canadian turnovers in the final game.

They shot the ball well. In their second go-round against the Canadians — UK blew out the hosts 93-69 on Thursday night — the Wildcats were 37-of-74 from the floor Sunday, including 10-of-25 for 40 percent from behind the three-point line.

Antonio Reeves was a deserving MVP. The fifth-year guard, starting his second year with the Cats, scored 18 points Sunday to give him 92 for the tournament.

Kentucky basketball individual game-by-game stats

2. Justin Edwards is an interesting player

Reeves was named the tourney MVP, but freshman Justin Edwards led the Cats in scoring with 23 points on Sunday. The Philadelphia native was 10-of-20 from the floor, including 2-of-6 beyond the arc. His stat line also showed seven rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists.

Edwards isn’t shy. He’s not afraid to shoot. He took 55 shots over the four games, making 22. As the Sportsnet announcers kept repeating, Edwards improved as the tournament progressed. After going 7-of-24 from the floor in the first two games, he was 15-of-31 in the final two.

He can launch from three-point land, too. Edwards ended up 7-of-23 from three-point territory for the tourney. The guess here is that will improve with experience, when Edwards figures out just where and when he needs to take the three.

But then there’s a reason the 6-7 Edwards was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the class of 2023 by the 247Sports Composite. He’s a playmaker who is not afraid to try and make a play.

3. Despite going 4-0, Kentucky did show some flaws

The Cats’ defensive effort in the second quarter left something to be desired. Up 25-14 at the end of the first period, UK saw the Canadians slice the lead down to six points (45-39) at the half. The hosts did so by hitting 10 of 20 shots.

And Kentucky definitely needs a healthy Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw on the floor. Onyenso is 6-11. Bradshaw is listed as a 7-footer. Neither was a GLOBL JAM participant. Onyenso injured his ankle during Tuesday’s scrimmage with Africa. Bradshaw remained back in Lexington to continue rehabbing after undergoing a medical procedure on his broken foot.

The Cats were without a rim protector in Canada. That didn’t matter much against the GLOBL competition, but it will matter back in the states. College teams, especially good college teams, will be able to take advantage of the Cats’ lack of size around the rim.

And, Oscar Tshiebwe is not around anymore. Without Onyenso and Bradshaw — and Oscar — the Cats to had to scrap to edge Canada 41-40 on the boards. And with Tshiebwe, rebounding is now a joint effort. Mitchell led the way Sunday with 11 boards.

Kentucky basketball cumulative stats from Canada

This story was originally published July 16, 2023 at 10:57 PM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-472-4218

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription