Davion Mintz is giving Kentucky some big bench contributions
In the 2020-21 season, Davion Mintz started 21 of 25 games for Kentucky and became the most consistent player for the Wildcats by the end of the season. After averaging 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 30.8 minutes per game, the Creighton transfer decided to return for a super senior season.
Only now Kentucky would need its top returning player to come off the bench to open up starting roles for transfers Kellan Grady and Sahvir Wheeler along with star freshman TyTy Washington.
Mintz is now shining in his role as Kentucky’s sixth man.
For the season, the veteran is averaging 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 23-plus minutes per game with a couple of starts when the Wildcats were bit by the injury bug. However, the super senior got off to a slow start.
In SEC play, Mintz has started to find his groove. The combo guard is putting up 10.7 points in 26.9 minutes through 10 league games. After a slow three-point shooting start, the seasoned vet has found his stroke against SEC foes shooting 23 of 52 (44.2%) from beyond the three-point arc.
Mintz was the best player on the floor in Kentucky’s home win over Vanderbilt going for 21 points on 11 shots. In Tuesday’s road win over South Carolina, the super senior poured in three three-point field goals as Mintz reached double-figures for the sixth time in 10 games.
Elsewhere, some big defensive rebounds from the veteran helped Kentucky close out a road win against Texas A&M. The Wildcats are getting valuable contributions from the pine.
Balanced scoring creates winning recipe for Kentucky
For most of the season, most of the talk has been about the balance of the Kentucky offense. With Sahvir Wheeler dealing with a shooting slump, the Wildcats no longer have five players averaging double-digit points ending some of the comparisons to the 2011-12 club.
However, both teams had a dependable veteran each could bring off the bench to provide a scoring punch.
Davion Mintz could be this team’s version of Darius Miller as a starting-caliber player who has fully accepted a role as a sixth man on one of college basketball’s title-contending teams.
The Wildcats are a top-five offense this season, and most of that is due to the depth of the lineup. Mintz is a huge part of that, and the super senior will continue to have a big role as the season develops.
Expect some more big three-pointers from the veteran similar to the ones poured in against South Carolina.
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