Post-Canada trip, how excited should BBN be about this Kentucky basketball team?

They were impressive. No doubt about that. Four wins, zero losses north of the border. More than just grabbing the gold at GLOBL JAM 2023 in Toronto, these young Kentucky basketball Wildcats were fun to watch.

So just how excited should BBN be about 2023-24?

The smart move is to temper expectations. After all, it’s summer. We are still a long way from a long season ahead. John Calipari’s club will no doubt encounter tougher competition once the college basketball season begins than what it faced in Toronto. Much tougher.

And yet, it bears repeating: The Cats were impressive. There was a free-flowing style to their play that accentuated unselfishness and competitiveness.

“This is more like the way my teams used to play,” Calipari said after one victory, adding, “We have basketball players, guys that can play basketball.”

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Antonio Reeves’ return and Tre Mitchell’s addition to the roster. A fifth-year player, Reeves earned MVP honors by scoring 92 points in the four games. A transfer from West Virginia, Mitchell fit seamlessly with his new teammates, providing offense, rebounding and three-point shooting capability.

There’s an added factor to Mitchell’s presence. In the media interviews leading up to the Toronto trip, Mitchell impressed as a thoughtful, grounded veteran who has been around a high-level block enough to know what college basketball is all about.

When Mitchell said he had been impressed in the early practices by the way his new teammates shared the ball, his words carried added weight. His observation was backed up by the games themselves, where Kentucky posted high assist numbers in every outing.

Still, considering Kentucky has seven scholarship freshmen on its roster, not to mention the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, how well the Cats fare this season will surely rely on how quickly and successfully the talented newcomers adapt.

Thanks to his bloodlines, D.J. Wagner received the most recruiting hype. He is a dynamic player, no doubt. In Toronto, Wagner showed a quick first step and uncanny ability to reach the rim. His perimeter shooting was up and down, but he can score.

More interesting is Justin Edwards, the 6-foot-7 wing from Philadelphia. Ranked as the No. 3 prospect by the 247Sports Composite, Edwards isn’t shy. He believes he can make every shot. And while he’ll need to be a bit more choosy once the real stuff starts, you want someone who isn’t afraid to take the shot when you need someone to make the shot.

Also impressive was Reed Sheppard. Like Wagner, the freshman guard has the bloodlines. What stood out about Sheppard was the way he played. He owns what they once called “court vision.” He sees the floor. He has active hands as well as keen instincts. A 30-point scorer in high school, Sheppard led the Cats in assists over the four games.

Kentucky basketball fix-it list after Canada

There were flies in the ointment. Kentucky’s defense is obviously a work in progress. The small-ball approach Calipari was forced to deploy in Canada made for excitement on offense but uneasiness on defense. BAL Africa scored 92 points Saturday. Canada exploited UK defenders in the second quarter of the gold medal game Sunday.

All of that highlighted the need for a healthy Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso come October. Bradshaw is listed at 7-1. Onyenso is 6-11. Neither played in Canada. Bradshaw remained in Lexington to rehab a foot injury. Onyenso injured his ankle in a scrimmage against Africa the day before GLOBL JAM began. Alas, the sophomore’s injury might be more serious than first believed.

The good news: We’re still three-plus months away from the regular season opener. There is plenty of time for healing and development alike.

The better news: The apprehension BBN felt the first of June — when there were seven confirmed players on Calipari’s roster — was washed away by Kentucky’s exhibition play in July.

The Cats’ Canadian accomplishments guarantee nothing come March, of course, but they did stamp this as a team that maybe, just maybe, is one to be excited about.

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