Tre Mitchell's status is uncertain with a new shoulder injury suffered against Ole Miss

Tre Mitchell returned to Kentucky‘s lineup Tuesday night in the win over Ole Miss, giving John Calipari his full complement of players for the first time all season. However, the clean injury report lasted only a short time because Mitchell suffered a new injury four minutes into the second half. This time, it’s a shoulder that knocked Mitchell from the game, and lip-readers watching the broadcast at home believe he said aloud that the shoulder is dislocated, although that is only speculation for now.

After the game, John Calipari provided a brief update on his senior forward, telling the postgame press conference, “He went to get X-rays, I don’t know.” Fans likely won’t hear another update until the pregame radio show on Saturday before Kentucky plays at Auburn, hopefully with Mitchell in uniform. John Calipari is not scheduled to speak again this week.

Before the injury, Mitchell played 17 first-half minutes in a return to his starting role and the first four minutes out of halftime until the bum shoulder. He scored five points on 2 for 5 shooting from the field and six rebounds.

“Tre being in there today helped us,” said Calipari. “He gets those tough rebounds, which we don’t get. Now, you get them with him in the game.”

Mitchell was the game’s leading rebounder when he left to get checked out. He is Kentucky’s best rebounder on the year with 7.6 boards per game. Getting him back in time for Auburn will be critical in the fight against the Tigers, a team featuring the SEC’s second-leading rebounder, Johni Broome. Mitchell’s experience was also helpful in the other SEC road trips.

Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said, “I think Tre Mitchell is one of the best players in college basketball.”