As Newcomers Learn, Mitchell Relying on Veterans to Steady Ship
Resilience, in Matthew Mitchell’s mind, isn’t a trait that comes naturally, not entirely anyway.
Though some might be more predisposed than others, Mitchell believe it takes time and work to develop the trait.
“You have to practice the art of bouncing back,” Mitchell said. “You have to start to recognize, ‘My energy level is dropping because I am feeling down about whatever play just happened,’ and you have to recognize those and move forward.”
So of course, Mitchell’s Kentucky team has a ways to go in that area. That’s inevitable with a roster featuring six newcomers, including four talented freshmen adjusting in real time to the college game. When those moments of failure and resulting lapses in focus and effort happen, that’s when the work to develop resilience happens.
“If there is a negative situation you have to react this way, you have to bounce back and have to have resilience,” Mitchell said. “So you do see the freshmen sometimes have not been in those situations. What they did worked but now it doesn’t work and they have to deal with that emotionally and technically. So you can see it and they are great teaching moments.”
Even through those teaching moments, Mitchell still has an immediate priority: winning games. Fortunately for the Wildcats – off to a 2-0 start to the season – they have players who are more well practiced when it comes to handling adversity.
“Also you need to realize where your experience can help you in those moments,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes an experienced player can weather some difficulties this time of the season much better than a freshman can, but our freshmen are picking up on it and are getting there.”
In those moments, Mitchell has turned to a more veteran lineup featuring the likes of seniors Alyssa Rice and Makenzie Cann, juniors Maci Morris and Taylor Murray, and sophomore Jaida Roper, with newcomers mixed in, to steady the ship. He did so successfully in an exhibition win over Southern Indiana and again in UK’s season opener vs. Sacramento State.
“I think the veterans did a nice job on Friday night of kind of stabilizing the game when we were playing a lot of young players and it was trending in the wrong direction,” Mitchell said. “I thought the veterans really came in and stabilized that game and moved it in the right direction.”
UK then went on to a 101-70 victory and followed it up with another comfortable 72-34 win over Gardner-Webb to sweep the opening weekend. On the strength of those performances, UK claimed a No. 25 ranking in the AP Top 25 this week.
“I spend zero time on that because it has zero impact on our daily improvement,” Mitchell said. “You win games, you play well, you handle your business, all of that stuff takes care of itself. That is the furthest thing from our mind right now.”
What is on Mitchell’s mind is a two-game westward road trip to take on Montana (0-1) on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET and Washington State on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
“Montana has over the years developed a really awesome environment for women’s college basketball,” Mitchell said. “It will be a great crowd and it will be a hostile environment in the best kind of way because they have enthusiastic fans and great fan support. It will be a great test for our team to go on the road and into that kind of environment. They have a team with a lot of really good athletes and a lot of really good basketball players. They are tough, hardnosed and well coached. The challenge will be great there at Montana.
“And then we had a terrific game with Washington State last year here in Memorial Coliseum. It went right down to the wire and was a really tough game and they have a lot of players back and they are well coached and talented as well so I am sure they will be ready to roll on Sunday.”
The trip will have the Cats away from home for an extended stretch for the first time, which will bring both logistical and basketball challenges. The best way Mitchell can think to handle them is by not changing a thing.
“From a basketball perspective we are really approaching it the same way we would if we were home,” Mitchell said. “We have improvements that we need to make, a lot of improvements. I am excited and encouraged by what we can become but we are not there yet. Every day and every time you have a chance to take the floor and get a little bit better you need to seize that opportunity and make the most of it.”
That opportunity will no doubt bring moments of adversity. How the Wildcats handle it in the short term remains to be seen, but Mitchell doesn’t have concerns in the long term.
“They will get there,” Mitchell said. “They are really high-character people so they will do fine with that. But it is something that we will have to learn.”
