Davion Mintz is (finally) playing the role he was brought in to play at Kentucky

In his first year in Lexington, Davion Mintz led Kentucky in total points (288), 3-pointers (56), assists (77) and double-figure scoring games (17). When he announced his return to school this offseason, the super senior became the first player since Randolph Morris (2006-07) to come back to UK after leading the team in scoring average.

Mintz’s first year at Kentucky was nothing short of a success. Hell, he might’ve been the only consistent bright spot on the roster from start to finish. The excitement surrounding his return to school was justified.

Through frustration that piled up throughout the team’s 9-16 season, though, was a shift in role and expectations for Mintz. When Kentucky struggled to find consistency and production at the point guard position, the Creighton transfer had to step in and take on that role. He was undoubtedly the best man for the job by year’s end — not that it meant much by then, anyhow.

Exceeding initial expectations

When Mintz announced his return to school, the end-of-year role he embraced was one Kentucky fans expected to carry into his final year. He was penciled into starting lineups and preseason All-SEC whispers grew among the fanbase. If he finished the 2020-21 season averaging a team-high 11.5 points per contest and led the Wildcats in 3-pointers, assists and double-figure games, why couldn’t he reach similar benchmarks with another year under his belt?

The thing is, Kentucky’s point guard issues are gone with Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington joining the fold. And with those two in the starting lineup, it has allowed Mintz to return to the role he was brought in to play when he transferred to UK in the first place. It’s a situation that benefits all parties involved.

Mintz was brought in to be a spark plug scoring threat and transitional piece for a reclassified Devin Askew. He’d be the stop-gap lead guard until Askew found his footing at the collegiate level alongside Terrence Clarke and BJ Boston. Then, Mintz would be able to be Kentucky’s “dagger thrower” off the bench, a prime sixth man role that would maximize scoring and shooting opportunities. He was supposed to be the perfect complementary piece, but was instead thrust into a starting role and asked to put the entire team on his back to close out the season.

“I love what I saw from Davion today.”

Take tonight for example. Mintz came off the bench, but played 24 minutes, good for second on the team behind only TyTy Washington. He finished with 12 points on 5-10 shooting and 1-5 from three to go with a smooth six assists, four rebounds, one block, one steal and just one turnover. It was a well-rounded effort that showed in the advanced analytics, finishing second on the team in net points with 7.5 total, producing 16.3 and allowing 8.8.

Who was the first player Calipari praised during his postgame press conference? None other than Davion Mintz.

“I think Davion fought. I love what I saw from Davion today,” said Calipari. “He didn’t make any 3s. What was he? One of five. In a normal game, he’s going to make more than one of five.”

It wasn’t just the shooting that piqued Calipari’s interest. He was also impressed with Mintz’s effort on the other end of the floor, using his defense as an example of how players can earn more minutes.

“Davion helped himself today because of how he guarded,” said Calipari. “It’s not a secret, if you’re watching the same game I’m watching, you say, ‘He really guarded. Cal has said 50 times, the guys that fight and really guard and will dive on the floor and go rebound, they’re going to get more minutes.’ Well, he’s gotten more minutes.”

“Davion took advantage.”

At the end of the day, Calipari says shooting numbers don’t matter if you fight on defense the way Mintz did.

“He was one for five from the 3. Doesn’t matter,” he said. “You can stay on the court if you defend that way. If you’re breaking down defensively and you’re one for five, ‘Let me stay in. What? This ain’t Communism, man, you got to come out.’”

Going from Kentucky’s leading scorer a year ago to coming off the bench in favor of a new incoming transfer and five-star freshman, Mintz could have thrown himself a pity party. Instead, he proved to be the veteran leader and role model Calipari hoped he’d be when he announced his return.

And he’s still getting the minutes and shots regardless.

“Who took advantage of their minutes? Who do you think? Name one,” said Calipari. “Davion took advantage. He didn’t start. He could have pouted, he didn’t start.”

Davion Mintz is Kentucky’s super sub

The fact of the matter is that the best version of Davion Mintz is the one we saw on the court against Kentucky Wesleyan, and it’s the version Kentucky will need throughout the season. Instead of fighting for his shooting spots and carrying the bulk of the load as the lead facilitator, he’s able to get back to doing what he does best. In this role, catch-and-shoot opportunities are easy to come by. He can push the ball ahead in transition and trust his teammates to make the right play, or he can take over and create for himself. He’s able to exert his effort on the defensive end of the floor when the team is in desperate need of a stop.

Is it sexier to roll out with the starters and be introduced during warmups? Maybe. But that doesn’t impact winning. Mintz serving as a complementary scoring piece with major defensive upside, however, does.

Mintz is a perfect plug-and-play option on any team in college basketball. He has infinite value on this roster and is going to help Kentucky win a lot of games in 2021-22.

And in an ideal world, he’ll do so as the team’s super sub.