Keion Brooks Jr., Davion Mintz have earned their Kentucky Moments

A lot has changed for Kentucky since last season. On the floor, this team is trending upward after an influx of impact transfers, a star freshman and new additions to the staff.

Off the floor, Big Blue nation has filled Rupp Arena back up to the brim. Besides the constant in John Calipari, this roster is benefitting from another form of stability in the Kentucky veterans, specifically Keion Brooks Jr. and Davion Mintz.

With the team ranked #5 in the country and the fans giving them the praise for it, they’re finally earning their Kentucky moments.

Keion Brooks got an appetizer of this feeling during his freshman season. In 15.1 minutes per game during the 31 games in his first year, he played a role on that team. Playing alongside the stars on that roster of Immanuel Quickley, Nick Richards and Tyrese Maxey, though, Brooks was going to have to wait for his chance as he developed. As the pandemic made an impact on college basketball last season, that wait only got longer.

In Davion Mintz’s case, he’d never experienced anything like the love of Kentucky’s fanbase. After three years at Creighton, he arrived in Lexington to find a nearly empty Rupp Arena. During a 9-16 season in 2020-2021, Mintz was the hero of that team as its leading scorer. Still, all his big moments weren’t the same with only a reduced crowd getting to witness them in person.

Now, Brooks and Mintz have earned the love they’re receiving this season.

In Brooks’ case, he has seemed to be the odd man out at times in UK’s starting lineup. He’s always been seen as the X-factor, but we’ve been waiting for that emergence. In his junior season, Brooks is starting to break out with career-high scoring at 11.5 points with 4.5 rebounds.

On the road against #5 Kansas, he had his best game in a Kentucky uniform as he dropped a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight boards against the Jayhawks. Brooks scored 20 more last night against Vanderbilt, making it the first time he’s ever scored 20 points back-to-back time as a Wildcat. When he plays like this, he elevates this team into a contender.

Kentucky is now 9-1 this season in games where Keion Brooks scores in double figures.

Wildcats still have not lost at full strength in 2022.

Trending upward.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 3, 2022

For Mintz, last season’s fan-favorite has become UK’s reliable sixth man off the bench. While his role has diminished on this team, his impact has been more than felt over the last month. Since Kentucky’s New Year’s Eve matchup against High Point, Mintz has scored in double-digits in six of the Wildcat’s last 10 games. That includes a career-high-tying 21 against Vanderbilt last night. It may not be in the same capacity as last season, but he’s been a lifesaver for UK’s second unit.

Oscar Tshiebwe is a National Player of the Year candidate. Sahvir Wheeler and Kellan Grady are two of the best at what they do in the country. Mock drafts project TyTy Washington and even Shaedon Sharpe to be Top-10 picks in the NBA Draft.

With all that said, this team was built on the foundation that was left here after last season. Lance Ware, Jacob Toppin and Dontaie Allen fall into this category too, but getting to see Brooks and Mintz get their day in the sun as Wildcats has been an underrated aspect this season.