Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win over Michigan in London

Three takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s 73-69 victory over Michigan in London on Sunday:

1. Cason Wallace is Kentucky’s best all-around player

Never mind Oscar “Player of the Year’ Tshiebwe or senior forward Jacob Toppin or senior guard Sahvir Wheeler, through eight games of this 2022-23 season, freshman Cason Wallace is the Wildcats’ best all-around player.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Richardson, Texas, sure made that argument overseas on Sunday. He scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished five assists, blocked a shot and made a steal in 36 minutes on the floor.

More importantly, Wallace was a perfect 4 of 4 from three-point range. His fourth three was a huge three. After Michigan cut the Cats’ lead to 68-66 with 1:40 left, Wallace calmly drained a triple from the left wing to push Kentucky’s advantage out to 71-66.

Remember, UK came into the Sunday affair having made just 13 of its 50 three-point attempts in its two games away from Rupp Arena. Both were losses. John Calipari’s club made just 7 of 25 three-point tries in the double-overtime loss to Michigan State in Indianapolis. Nor could the Cats find the range in Spokane, Wash., where they were 6 of 25 from downtown in that 16-point loss to Gonzaga.

Inside the 02 Arena, the Cats were on the mark, drilling 9 of 15 three-point shots. Antonio Reeves was 3 of 4. Sahvir Wheeler made 1 of 2 and CJ Fredrick went 1 of 3.

But Wallace was the real star, not just for his clutch shooting, but his steady play in so many facets of the game.

2. Kentucky needed a win over a Power Five team

We can debate the level of competition Michigan brought to the table Sunday. The Wolverines are now 5-3. They have lost by 25 to an unranked Arizona State, by two at home to No. 3-ranked Virginia and now four in London to the 19th-ranked Cats.

But Michigan is a team from a Power Five conference. And after going 0-for-2 in games against Michigan State and Gonzaga, the UK psyche needed a win over name opponent.

It got just that Sunday. Despite foul trouble, Oscar Tshiebwe finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Jacob Toppin turned in a strong second half to finish with 14 points and five boards. Wheeler scored 11 points. So did Reeves. And Wallace led the UK in offensive rebounds with four.

UK was better on the defensive end, as well. After Gonzaga shot 56.4 percent from the floor and averaged 1.158 points per possession, Michigan shot 39.1 percent and averaged 0.957 points per possession.

Kentucky also won the glass 46-33. The Cats got 31.6 percent of their offensive rebound opportunities, compared to just 17.1 percent for Michigan. That was despite Michigan’s star center Hunter Dickinson finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Kentucky’s next opportunity comes in two weeks when the Cats face UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

3. Now Calipari gets the practice time he wants

We’re to the part of the non-conference season where there is finally some time between games. That means practice time. And after injuries to Tshiebwe (knee surgery) and Wheeler (leg) limited early-season practice opportunities — something that Calipari harped on — the Cats now have an extended period to address weaknesses.

Free-throw shooting is one. UK was just 10 of 20 from the foul line on Sunday. You might have blamed that on jet lag were it not for the fact the Cats were 16 of 28 from the line in the opener against Howard; 10 of 15 against Duquesne and 16 of 24 in the loss to Michigan State. For the season, Kentucky is shooting just 68.4 from the foul line. Kentucky’s opponents are shooting 72.1.

Calipari’s club also committed 14 turnovers Sunday. Its turnover percentage was 20.1, third highest of the year behind 23.6 percent against Bellarmine and 20.8 percent against Duquesne. Wheeler and Reeves each committed three turnovers.

That’s picking at nits, perhaps. Sunday’s win was a good win. Better shooting generally leads to better performances. Things always look better when the ball is going through the nets.

“If Kentucky can averaged 8-9 made 3s a game with everyone they have this year that spaces and shoots the way they do, they will be VERY hard to beat,” tweeted former Indiana and Georgia coach Tom Crean, now an ESPN analyst, after the game. “They have a lot of different ways to beat you but the 3s can separate them.”

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