Oakland Spoils Homecoming for Tre Mitchell in Upset Win Over Kentucky

PITTSBURGH – Former Mountaineer Tre Mitchell may have been at home in Pittsburgh, but that didn’t equate to an easy night in the Steel City for the Wildcats.

Even though Mitchell accounted for a significant portion of Kentucky’s early scoring, it was 14-seed Oakland who held a lead through most of the first half. The half closed with Oakland up 38-35.

The pressure then kept mounting with each basket by the Golden Grizzlies. But eventually, Kentucky showed why they are the blue blood with the talent edge most nights.

Kentucky then started to embody the mentality their Hall of Fame head coach, John Calipari, another Pittsburgh native, referenced those from Western Pennsylvania always carry with them wherever they go during his media session on Wednesday.

“Let me say this about Pittsburgh. When I grew up, it was a blue-collar town. But it’s never changed the roots of what Pittsburgh is and what it’s all about,” he said.

Mitchell strapped on his hard hat and muscled his way through traffic to chip away at the scoreboard, putting up a double-double.

Joining Mitchell to carry the way for Kentucky, Antonio Reeves led the Wildcats in scoring with 27 points, a mostly efficient night that saw him connect on 11-of-18 field goal attempts.

It wasn’t easy for Kentucky, but nothing is supposed to come easy in March. In March, the only thing that’s important is surviving and advancing, and that’s exactly what Kentucky did.

Oakland wouldn’t give up as Jack Gohlke finished with 32 points on 10 threes.

With the loss, Tre Mitchell had his college career end as he was a fifth-year senior. Mitchell had stints at UMass, Texas and West Virginia before his final year at Kentucky. Mitchell averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season for the Wildcats.