Game 2 of the GLOBL JAM is on the books for the Kentucky Wildcats.

It was hard to have expectations for this Kentucky team going to a round robin game at Globl Jam because there were so many unknowns.

I think I speak for most Kentucky fans when I say I was pleasantly surprised at how the Cats handled Germany with relative ease on Wednesday afternoon.

However, in Thursday’s game with the host Canadian team, there were questions about how this young team would react to back-to-back games in July.

Those questions were quickly answered when Kentucky came out imposing their will from the opening statement. Despite the change of start, the Cats have never missed an offensive victory.

Great Britain led 49-34 at half-time, but the story of the first half was played by Red Sheppard. The Kentucky native was dominant on the defensive end, stealing balls and converting dives on the other end.

After the start, Sheppard led Kentucky in scoring with 12 points and three steals in the first half.

Calipari and the Cats held their form after the break and only extended their lead in the fourth quarter.

I would have liked to see some long-term competition, but it was mostly Kentucky Cruise Control that they would win 93-69.

Here are five things to know.

Red Shepherd Show

The rookie point guard wasted no time impressing the game after his first start. Sheppard mostly dominated the first half with his aggressive defense bolstering his attack.

Numerous steals and championships ignited Kentucky’s dominant crowd, and it was easy to see Red Sheppard feeding on their energy.

For those still wondering “if” Sheppard will play, it’s officially time to change our attitude to “how much” because after what we’ve seen tonight, there’s no doubt the baby will be down.

He finished the game with 14 points on 5/8 shooting, four assists, four steals, two steals, two steals, and two pass breakups.

guard game

Kentucky’s backcourt opened the Globl Jam with an impressive attendance-to-turnover ratio performance and picked up where it left off Thursday night.

After 20 minutes, Kentucky had 14 assists and only six turnovers.

This season, John Calipari will have the luxury of having nearly half a dozen players in his roster who can handle the ball as an early option.

Whether it’s DJ Wagner, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Antonio Reeves — or a combination of the four — it’s safe to say Kentucky’s backcourt looks set for a special season.

For the match, the UK would be left with 27(!) assists for just nine turnovers.

Ufa.

Trey Mitchell – Great Equalizer

It’s only July, and the update on Trey Mitchell’s importance to this team has already been made, but it’s totally valid.

The West Virginia transfer seems to have really learned and embraced his role, while connecting with his teammates.

In post-game press conferences, it was evident that Mitchell’s maturity off the ground was superior to that of his teammates.

Remember, Tre Mitchell is a college basketball player, so he knows how to fit into a program without pissing anyone off.

On Thursday night, he casually recorded eight points, five blocks, three assists, two steals and six boards, but it’s his on-court presence that really defines Kentucky, especially offensively.

Calipari Calm?

Again – it’s only July – but with what we’ve seen of Toronto so far, you’d think Calipari might actually be a cow to drop this season. There’s been a lot of talk about Cal’s desire to be a player-driven team.

Most years I’d say that’s coaching talk, but with so many tackles down the hall, it could become a reality in 2024-24.

Many mouths to feed

The only real concern I can mention after two games in Toronto is that a lot of players will still be happy. Cats are carried all over the floor, so finding and maintaining balance will be a key task for Calipari and her team.

But that’s clearly the kind of problem you want to have, especially considering where this team was a few weeks ago when Trey Mitchell wasn’t at the door and Reeves was probably leaving town.

My how things have changed.

Kentucky is now out on Friday before returning to Saturday’s game against Team Africa. This game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports.

What are your biggest takeaways from tonight’s game? Let us know in the “Comments” section!

Also, keep in mind that the tape delay for this game airs in a few hours at 12:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports. Login here to stream online.

Go Cats!!

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