Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky likely will be without Tre Mitchell Saturday when it plays at No. 13 Auburn which will be coming off a 40-point home win over South Carolina.
Mitchell missed UK’s win at Vanderbilt and loss against Gonzaga due to back pain he’s been experiencing for several weeks. He returned against Ole Miss in Tuesday’s win and had five points on 2-for-5 shooting, six rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes before injuring his shoulder trying to fight through an Ole Miss screen.
“Tre being in there today helped us,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said after the game. “He gets those tough rebounds, which we don’t get. Now, you get them with him in the game.”
Mitchell has averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the 22 games he’s played and shot 49.7 percent overall from the field, 33.3 from 3 and 73.1 at the foul line despite dealing with back pain most of Southeastern Conference play.
X-rays on Mitchell’s shoulder did not show any broken bones according to a source close to the team. However, I’m told he has a sprained trapezius muscle in his upper back — a kind of injury seen more often in football when a player is hit hard from the side.
Mitchell’s injury occurred when the Ole Miss player stepped into the screen on Mitchell and made contact with his shoulder.
He started treatment and therapy Thursday but does not have a lot of range of motion.
Coach John Calipari will likely update Mitchell’s status on the UK Radio Network before Saturday’s game and my source said he could be out one to two weeks or maybe longer.
Apparently Mitchell has been in more pain than he was when he had to miss two games or played through pain earlier this SEC season.
Calipari should have a more complete update on Mitchell Saturday but it’s unlikely he will be playing at Auburn. It’s not a season-ending situation but getting him back for UK’s road game at LSU Wednesday could be questionable too.
If Mitchell cannot play at Auburn it will be a big blow because the Tigers have the SEC’s second leading rebounder in Johni Broome.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard knows how important Mitchell is to UK.
“I think Tre Mitchell is one of the best players in college basketball,” Beard said.
10 Responses
I would really like to see Burks get a lot of minutes. I think he can be a difference maker for this team.
YES!!! I agree. Burks can be a difference-maker, especially in Tre’s absence.
I agree, and Adou needs to keep up his super aggressive play, not only Saturday, but the rest of the year. I still think we can make a run in the tourney. It is all about guard play in March, and I will take our 4 guards over anybody. Go Cats!!!
Hope and wish, but Kentucky will get bounced in the second round of the tournament. Sad. NBA recruiter Cal = has more talented players than most, yet does less with said talent. Kentucky needs a coach NOT an NBA recruiter.
I like Burks too. I so hope he doesn’t transfer next year
I hope he stays also
He needs/wants PT. He ain’t getting it at U.K. he’ll transfer to another team and hopefully be successful. Kinda like Keion Brooks (Washington) – 4 highlught dunks in one game the other night. He was on fire.
I do Doordash’ when ever I see coach cal at Dunkin’ Donuts why I don’t know is he bragging or what but when I see him there, they start losing games. It is happened again poor Cal I don’t know what to tell. The dude say the hell out of Dunkin’ Donuts
HOpe he takes your advice Dana
I think we will be a middle of the pack SEC Basketball team like the football team! Do not think we will win the Sec as long as Coach Cal is there! Players don’t stick around long enough to be able to help us anymore!