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Kentucky assistant coach Bruiser Flint gave a brief update on fifth-year senior Tre Mitchell’s recent drop in productivity Monday but did not address what a source told me about Mitchell having back pain and taking treatment before and after practice so he can keep playing.
Mitchell apparently has been dealing with the back issue for over two weeks but it was most noticeable in the losses to Florida and Tennessee. In the last four games he’s averaging 7.0 points per game and hitting 32 percent from the field but in the last week’s two defeats he was 2-for-15 from the field and had just five points. Against Tennessee he did not score and had only five rebounds.
He’s averaging 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the season and has been the glue guy for UK most of the season.
“I think a little bit is about how teams are playing him. We still want Tre to be aggressive,” Flint said Monday.
Mitchell is averaging a team high 33.7 minutes per game and Flint acknowledged UK had “played him a lot of minutes” with the lack of true centers for part of the season.
“With Adou (Thiero) coming back, we hope we can help out with that a little bit, but we still want Tre to be aggressive,” Flint said. “He seems to be a little tired. We’re working on that a little bit.”
Tired? Probably. But no mention of the back issue? To me, that remains puzzling but Flint is right that UK needs an aggressive, productive Mitchell to succeed.
3 Responses
Off the subject. On the new center from Sudan (war town country). So if you are recruiting this guy what would you say to persuade before he goes G. Especially when you look at the draft board.
Duke has the upper here. Anyway Larry, what would you tell the guy? Could be some fun answers. I’d go Ali museum but that’s in the Ville, haha
So the Bruiser not aware of back problems either…not a shocker there either. This falls under the mysterious or mfg injury side. This is also on Cal…he needs to recruit Dogs and not just Stars…tired is no excuse this time of year.
He has to know about the back but I guess is not supposed to say