Tre Mitchell returns, but leaves injured for Kentucky men’s basketball against Ole Miss
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Game day: No. 22 Kentucky 75, Mississippi 63
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Mississippi in Rupp Arena.
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For the first time this season, Kentucky basketball was at full strength.
In the 24th game of the season, all 16 UK players were available to play in Tuesday night’s SEC home win over Ole Miss.
This clean bill of availability came after fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell, who missed the last two UK games with a back injury, took part in pregame warmups and was announced as being able to play on UK’s pregame radio show by Kentucky coach John Calipari.
Mitchell — who was the only player unavailable to play for Kentucky in Saturday’s home loss to Gonzaga — even returned to the UK starting lineup against Ole Miss.
However, Mitchell’s return for the Wildcats was brief.
Mitchell left the game with a left shoulder injury early in the second half, and he didn’t return to the game.
Postgame, Calipari said Mitchell went to go get X-rays. Calipari didn’t provide any further update on Mitchell’s status.
In the first half, Mitchell tallied five points and five rebounds, along with two assists in 17 minutes played. He led the Wildcats in first-half plus-minus at plus-16.
Mitchell played just four minutes in the second half before picking up his third foul in the game and exiting the contest with the left shoulder injury.
Mitchell had the shoulder injury examined on the UK bench before then going back to the locker room.
Tre Mitchell makes his Kentucky basketball return
Mitchell came into Tuesday’s game averaging 12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season, and he has started all 22 games that he’s played in.
“You know, Tre is a warrior. He’s been a warrior for us throughout the season and for a good majority of that time he was playing, he was playing hurt. He was trying to impact the team with his will and you could see his experience, his veteranship,” Orlando Antigua, UK’s associate coach, told reporters Monday.
“He’s one of our best rebounders out there, aside from being able to (be) steady and calm everyone on the offensive end as well. He’s a big piece that’s been missing, but it also gives an opportunity for some of these other guys to step in and step up. That’s why they’re here. They’re here to be able to take advantage of those opportunities, some guys have done that.”
Obviously, figuring out rotations and on-court pairings with players constantly shifting in and out with availability issues has been a season-long struggle for Kentucky.
Among Kentucky’s regular rotation players, only Jordan Burks, Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard have been available for every game this season. Of this trio, only Reeves and Sheppard have appeared in all 23 UK games.
In total, the Wildcats have had eight players (among those who regularly play) miss 48 combined games due to injury, illness or other availability issues.
How have UK coaches navigated this?
“That’s every coach’s challenge when you’re dealing with injuries. ... Injuries are part of the game and when someone’s out, it gives someone else the opportunity to step in,” Antigua said. “... You just have to have enough depth that you can sustain and deal with injuries as part of the process of being on the team in a long season.”
This story was originally published February 13, 2024 at 7:36 PM.
