Don't give up on Mitchell

I don't know what's going to happen in the long run with Alvin Mitchell, but UC fans shouldn't give up on him yet. Different players react differently to the jump from high school to college. Some make the adjustment seamlessly. Others struggle to find their way when they discover that things aren't coming as easily as they did in high school.

A few years ago, like Mitchell, Eric Hicks arrived at UC having posted impressive numbers on the prep level and found himself sitting on the bench, trying to figure out what Bob Huggins was all about. He was sullen and angry and kept to himself. Eventually, though, he figured out that if we was going to play he would have to learn to rebound and play defense. He also figured out that since he was no longer going to be the first option on offense, he would have to earn his shots off the offensive glass.

By the time he was a junior, Hicks was a solid player. By the time he was a senior, he was an excellent player, a team leader and media spokesman, a symbol for a team that overcame great odds to put together a season that should have been rewarded with an NCAA Tournament berth.

Given time, Mitchell might respond the same way. He seems to be at that juncture where he either gets it together or gets frustrated and transfers. As Mick Cronin said in the paper today, it's up to Mitchell.