Kentucky also needs Davion Mintz to bust current shooting slump

In Kentucky’s SEC Tournament loss to Tennessee, the Wildcats were ice cold on jumpers. Kellan Grady is getting most of the blame, but Davion Mintz also needs to start making some shots.

In the 69-62 defeat, UK held the Vols to just one point per possession but were unable to get over the hump thanks to a woeful shooting performance. On shots not at the rim, Kentucky was just 8 of 46 (17.4%). Contributing to that were the super senior guards who were a combined 1 of 14 from the floor with two total points. That letdown in Tampa continued a brutal shooting stretch for both.

Grady is currently just 5 of 22 (22.7%) from three in his last six games after going for 25 points with seven three-point makes in the Feb. 19 home win over Alabama. However, the scoring has all but disappeared. Since that performance, Grady is averaging just 7.7 points per game and shooting 40 percent from the field. However, slumps happen.

When Kentucky built the roster, John Calipari loaded it with shooting threats to surround drive-first point guard Sahvir Wheeler with spacing. Unfortunately, Iowa transfer CJ Frederick never saw the floor this season due to injury. However, Davion Mintz was the sixth man to provide the scoring punch. For most of the season, the Creighton transfer has done that.

Off the bench, Mintz is averaging 8.5 points per game and gives the Wildcats some much needing spacing. In SEC contests, the veteran shot 39.3 percent from three. In his career at Kentucky, Mintz is shooting 36.1 percent from three on five attempts per game and has made some big shots in his career. However, he’s in a big slump.

In the last seven games, Mintz is averaging seven points per game and shooting 32.6 percent from the field. The combo guard is on a cold 5 of 22 (22.7%) stretch from three, but when you dig deeper, losses have occurred when Mintz has not put the ball in the hole.

In Kentucky’s seven setbacks this season, Mintz is averaging just 6.3 points per game and 26.4 percent field goal shooting on 7.6 attempts per game with a 6 of 29 (20.7%) from three. In recent losses to Arkansas and Tennessee, the role player scored a combined one point while shooting 0 of 8 from the field.

Grady is an integral piece to Kentucky’s offense, but Davion Mintz might be the secret sauce. Kentucky is at its best when the sixth-year player is providing a scoring punch off the bench. After two bad performances in the recent losses, hopefully, Mintz has gotten through a bad patch and will enter a hot shooting run in the NCAA Tournament.

It could be needed for Kentucky to reach New Orleans.