Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s exhibition win over Georgetown College

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s 92-69 win over Georgetown College in an exhibition game Friday night at Rupp Arena:

1. Kentucky needs its bigs in a big way

As expected, Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso and Zvonimir Ivisic were all on the Kentucky bench. All three are 7-footers. Onyenso and Bradshaw are still recovering from injuries suffered over the summer. Ivisic is waiting to go through the NCAA clearinghouse.

The trio’s absence showed in the first half. Kentucky led just 35-34 at the break over its NAIA opponent. Georgetown scored 22 points in the paint, Kentucky 18. Despite not having a starter taller than 6-foot-7, Georgetown blocked eight shots on the night. Kentucky blocked four.

At halftime, Kentucky was up just 22-20 on the boards.

“”We’re going to have to gang rebound,” UK coach John Calipari said afterward. “We’re going to have to play with more energy.”

“Having those 7-footers out I felt like was a big difference for us,” Georgetown’s Tae Dozier said.

What happens if Kentucky is still without its big three when it faces a bigger, more talented team than Georgetown? I’m not sure Kentucky fans want to know the answer that.

2. Tre Mitchell provided a veteran presence

Having started 92 times in 102 Division I games — real games — Tre Mitchell wasn’t awed by his first taste of Rupp Arena, even if it was an exhibition game.

The West Virginia transfer scored 22 points in 33 minutes on Friday. The 6-foot-9 forward was 9 of 12 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. He grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and made two assists.

“Tre Mitchell did some good things today, but I told him I want him to be better, “ Calipari said. “I want him to be a professional.”

With the 7-footers still out, Mitchell is going to have to be a lot of things.

3. Kentucky shot the ball just OK

The Wildcats came out with a quick 8-0 run to start the second half, which appeared to build UK’s confidence. “We were more aggressive,” Calipari said.

The Cats shot 56.8% from the floor in the second half and 48.6% for the game.

After going 2 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half, the Cats were 6 of 13 from long range in the second. As mentioned, Mitchell was 4 of 5 from deep, so his teammates ended up 4 of 17 from behind the line.

Antonio Reeves was 2 of 6. Reed Sheppard was 1 of 4. Justin Edwards missed both of his 3-point attempts.

“If you’re open, you better shoot it,” Calipari said. “I don’t want to see open shot, and you drive it and turn it over.”

On the other end of the floor, Georgetown was 1 of 8 from 3-point range in the first half, 2 of 8 in the second.

Then again, this was the team’s first chance to play someone other than themselves. It was the first time playing together as a group against outside competition on the Rupp Arena floor.

And give Georgetown College a ton of credit. Chris Briggs’ team has won a pair of NAIA titles. It could win another this season.

“You’ve got to give them credit,” Calipari said. “They didn’t move. They didn’t back away.”

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