If it's open, Tre Mitchell is shooting it... and he hit two big shots in OT

Tre Mitchell got hot at the right time in Kentucky‘s overtime win over St. Joe’s on Monday. The 23-year-old stretch-forward was already having a good night with 13 points in regulation, including the putback dunk to take the lead with 29 seconds left to go in the game.

.@tre_mitch33 with the SLAM to take the lead! pic.twitter.com/FXlldHAVMI

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 21, 2023

But Mitchell really turned things up a notch in bonus time when he helped the Wildcats pull away to win by eight points. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Kentucky’s first points in overtime, then hit three free throws to help secure the victory. His nine points in the five-minute overtime brought his total to 22 points scored for the game, matching DJ Wagner for the team-high. Mitchell was Kentucky’s leading rebounder, too.

After the game, Mitchell was asked about those two clutch 3s that gave Kentucky a cushion in OT.

“It’s open so I was letting it go,” he said of the daggers from the top of the key. “I know Cal would probably yell at me if I didn’t.”

Mitchell added that his mindset is always to keep shooting if the shot is open.

“If they’re going to leave me open, I’m going to shoot it,” he explained. “I try to stay present throughout the entire game so regardless of what the outcome or the score is going to be – if I get an open look, I’m going to take it.

“If you’re going to leave me open, I’m going to shoot it and chances are it’s going to drop.”

Hear more from Mitchell in KSR’s postgame interviews with the Wildcats.

Mitchell on Kentucky’s depth and versatility

For his performance, SEC Network selected Tre Mitchell for the postgame interview on the broadcast, and Mitchell used the opportunity to brag about his teammates and their versatility.

“We got some unbelievable depth,” he said of Kentucky’s roster. “Like, we have dudes that can do absolutely everything. And that’s kind of what I love about this team. There’s so many different lineups that we could bring out there and so much that we could just bring to the court. Dudes that can do absolutely everything. They’re unselfish. They’re willing to make the right play to win the game.”

Oh, and one more thing…

“And we got some some big dudes that ain’t even back yet. But once they get back, you’re gonna see they’re just as versatile as everybody else on the floor.”