John Calipari on Tre Mitchell's injury: "We just got to get it right."

Tre Mitchell was clearly not his usual, productive self during Kentucky’s two losses last week. Reports of a back injury soon surfaced in recent days, which were confirmed by KSR’s Jack Pilgrim ahead of the Wildcats’ win over Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

Head coach John Calipari officially ruled out Mitchell prior to Kentucky’s dominating 109-77 victory over the Commodores. He also verified Mitchell’s issue as a back injury, noting pregame that the fifth-year forward might need a couple more days of rest before making his return. Calipari then mentioned during his postgame radio segment with Tom Leach that they just need to give Mitchell more time to get his back in order.

“Tre’s back, he needed some time and I knew something was up,” Calipari said. “I was teasing him saying you look like you have mono. And we know what he’s meant to this program. So the back, we just got to get it right.”

Does that mean Mitchell will be ready to suit up against Gonzaga on Saturday? As of right now, it’s still unclear. Mitchell was laboring during Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee over the weekend, finishing with zero points for the first time all season. It was still bothering him enough to sit out on Tuesday. But maybe a few more days of rehab will have his back squared away for this weekend.

Speaking of back injuries, Kentucky isn’t unfamiliar with those this season. Calipari also brought up Adou Thiero and his nagging back issue. Thiero missed seven straight games earlier this season due to his back but has returned to play the last four for UK. He finished with four points and four rebounds in 18 minutes against Vanderbilt. Calipari added that Thiero still isn’t 100 percent healthy quite yet.

“I’m not sure Adou’s all the way back,” Calipari said. “Or at least his body language leads you to believe or late getting to stuff that it’s his back.”

But even without Mitchell and a damaged Thiero (plus the absence of starting point guard DJ Wagner, who sat out his third straight game with an ankle injury), Kentucky still dominated the Commodores. Six different Wildcats scored in double-figures. Jordan Burks came off the far end of the bench to play his best game yet. Justin Edwards finally had a breakout performance.

Everyone who saw the floor on Tuesday night made an impact in some fashion — a positive sign moving forward with the rest of the season.

“In another week or two we’re gonna have 11 guys,” Calipari said. “We’re gonna have 11 guys and they can play. So I’d rather have that than four guys.”

Watch the latest John Calipari press conference on the KSR YouTube Channel.