Tre Mitchell motivated by Oakland's 'disrespect' ahead of homecoming: "It's just another level of confidence."

Oakland head coach Greg Kampe turned heads this week by singling out Kentucky as the program he personally hoped to see in the NCAA Tournament. Sure, he talked about the stage and facing a blue-blood on prime time television — “You want your kids to have a chance to be in the spotlight,” he said. It’s a chance to face off against longtime friend John Calipari, who he calls the “best coach in the country” alongside Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.

But that wasn’t what got people riled up. It was the fact he said he “didn’t want to play Iowa State after watching them play Houston” and “didn’t want to play Creighton because of their ability to shoot.”

He threw a shot at Kentucky’s personnel and where he saw a matchup advantage in his team’s efforts for a potential upset, all eyes on the frontcourt.

“Most importantly, they don’t score in the post,” Kampe said. “For a mid-major, that’s an Achilles heels when you play teams that can score in the post. It really affects you defensively. So since they don’t score in the post, our ability to maybe guard the three and to keep the game slow, we have a chance. We really do, if we can keep the game slow and take the three away from them.”

Kampe walked back some of those comments ahead of the matchup on Wednesday, saying his words “got a little bit skewed” before explaining again “wouldn’t you want the spotlight to play the best?”

“This is our time to step into the spotlight and shine. Now, could we we fall on our face? Sure we could,” Kampe said. “But why would we want to run from that? Why would I want to play some team that we might have a better chance to beat, right? I want the best, and we got the best. So that’s what those comments were meant to be.”

Sure, but that doesn’t address the personnel-specific comments he first made about the Wildcats, though he did call them an “unbelievably talented young team” and “a national champion contender.”

Regardless, the damage has been done and the message was heard loud and clear. Kentucky can read between the lines, specifically Tre Mitchell — inarguably the team’s best post scoring presence when healthy.

And it’s why he’s entering this matchup with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder.

“You know, coaches can say what they want to say. I’m not going to speak too much on it now, but it is what it is. You can have your opinions, you can have your viewpoints, but let the game do the talking at the end of the day,” Mitchell told KSR. “It’s one thing to speak how you feel, but there’s another level to it when a little bit of disrespect comes to play. It’s not just me, it was basically like we have no inside presence whatsoever.

“We have some unbelievable talent on our team. Our 7-footers, me, Adou (Thiero), we have some unbelievable players. I feel like it should have been at least acknowledged. At the end of the day, you’re gonna have your opinions. Our game will speak.”

Mitchell has been the straw that stirs the drink for Kentucky this season, the guy who opened the door for a true five-out approach starting back in Toronto during the summer. A number of players deserve credit for the team’s offensive explosion with record-breaking scoring numbers, but none of it happens without the fifth-year senior out of Pittsburgh. The vision started with No. 4.

Back and shoulder injuries set him back during conference play and he hasn’t quite been himself since, but he’s inching closer as his legs get back beneath him — and not a minute too soon.

Kampe’s comments didn’t hurt that progress, especially considering he’s back home in Pittsburgh for the ultimate full-circle moment.

“I’ve been unbelievably excited this past week. As soon as Pittsburgh popped up on the screen, not only that, but when we got into film and stuff and we saw they played a lot of zone, I was like, ‘OK, this is a legitimate opportunity here,'” Mitchell said. “On top of that, just getting back into my flow, how I’ve been, it’s just another level of confidence and I’m ready to go.”

The Golden Grizzlies poked the bear.