John Calipari gave his Kentucky team a much-deserved day off Monday after a weeklong road trip. Even if the Cats go on a deep NCAA Tournament run, the seven-day trip was the longest stretch the Cats will be away from home this year.

“This was a long trip, folks,” Coach Cal said in Sunday’s postgame news conference. “I am tired. That was three games (in less than a week), two of them mud-wrestling games. … We’re ready to go back and get our feet underneath us.”

Now that I’ve had a few hours to recover and recharge, here are five things I took away from the trip. These thoughts do not reflect the opinion of Coach Cal; they are merely my observations from press row.

1. This team can defend

The reaction after that 230-point Blue-White Scrimmage game a few weeks ago was that this team had a long ways to go defensively. Either this team has come a long way in a short period of time or Coach Cal’s squad was merely playing the type of defense that we’ve all come to expect in exhibition games (I’ll go with the latter).

Through four games, UK is holding its opponents to under 56 points per game while limiting them to 31.0 percent shooting.

What’s been the secret? Length. Coach Cal starts a trio of trees in Anthony Davis (6-foot-10), Terrence Jones (6-9) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6-7), but he’s also got Darius Miller (6-8), Eloy Vargas (6-11) and Kyle Wiltjer (6-9) coming off the bench. A lot of those guys, including the human shot-blocking machine (Davis) have a wingspan over 7 feet.

It’s hard to make shots when they’re getting swatted from the air. UK is averaging 10.8 blocks per game, tops in the nation. Davis, who has swatted 18 shots in four games, is well on pace to shatter the program’s single-season high of 83, held by Andre Riddick (1993-94) and Melvin Turpin (1982-83).

2. Give Teague time

If you thought Marquis Teague was going to simply lace up his shoes and transform into the next great Coach Cal point guard, think again. After posting 16 assists and just four turnovers in the two exhibitions, the freshman has come back to Earth. He’s turned the ball over 18 times while dishing out 11 assists.

I pointed this out last week in a separate story, but allow me to bring it up again: It’s natural for Cal’s point guards to struggle early in the season. If anyone thought a freshman was going to step in, grasp the offense and just cruise right along, think again. John Wall didn’t do it and neither did Brandon Knight.

It takes time. Don’t believe me? Look at the averages of Calipari’s guards at UK through their first four games:

Now obviously Teague doesn’t have the scoring numbers that both Wall and Knight had (that has a lot to do with the scoring options around him). This also isn’t to say that Teague has played as well as those guys. But it should be noted that through their first four games, each guy had 18 turnovers apiece.

After the game Sunday, Calipari said he just needs to coach Teague more. It’s going to take time, but when Teague gets it, there’s no reason why he can’t take off just like those two players did.

3. Anyone can score

The scariest thing for Kentucky’s opponents to game plan against are the number of scorers. Coach Cal’s first five off the bench would start for a lot of teams.

Through five games, UK has five scorers averaging double figures. That doesn’t include Kyle Wiltjer, who posted 19 points in the game against Marist, or senior Darius Miller, who can put up 20-plus on any given night.

Think about this: Kentucky has had four different players lead the team in scoring in four different games (Kidd-Gilchrist and Miller tied last game with 13). Those leading scorers don’t include Jones or Teague, who you can bet will lead this team in scoring a number of times.

4. Miller will be needed

Miller seemed like a forgotten man through the first three games, but he proved his worth Sunday.

His calming, senior influence will be counted on throughout the year as teams throw different looks at UK’s youth. When Old Dominion frustrated the Cats with its 3-2 zone, Miller steadied the team by driving into the lane and kicking out for open looks. He also scored seven of Kentucky’s points during the 9-0 run to end the first half.

Miller’s scoring numbers have gone up and down like a rollercoaster throughout his career, but Coach Cal has been pleased with his play this year. While everyone is quick to point to his 6.5 scoring average, let’s not forget his team-high 18 assists.

5. Free throws, turnovers weaknesses

What is it about free-throw shooting problems and Coach Cal’s teams? I’ve been to the majority of practices this year and I’ve seen the team work on free throws – and make them – plenty of times.

Whatever the explanation is, this team has struggled so far from the stripe. Four games in, UK is averaging 63.3 percent at the free-throw line. Only Lamb and Miller (both at 83.3 percent) have shown the consistency to hit the freebies.

After the 21-turnover performance against Old Dominion, UK is averaging 14.8 turnovers a game.  Coach Cal thinks his team isn’t playing right if it’s not turning it over 10 to 12 times a game, but 21 is way too much.