Davion Mintz (UK Athletics Photo)
It certainly will not be his first collegiate game but tonight when Kentucky plays Morehead State in Rupp Arena it will be the first time point guard Davion Mintz has played for the Wildcats.
“I’m definitely very excited. I feel anxious is probably the better word. I can’t even remember my first freshman game. I might have air balled it. I don’t even know,” the Creighton transfer said Monday.
“I think that Coach Cal prepares us for. Like, he puts us in situations and we’re playing against guys every day to where you don’t even really think about failure when you’re with Coach Cal. He puts you into situations where it’s OK to fail with him. I feel like this is the most comfortable I’ve felt going into a season.”
Why?
“I know that I’ve matured and got older through it, but why I also probably feel a little bit more comfortable. But just the fact that Cal has prepared me and prepared us and got us to the mental state of going out there and playing a season. It’s really good to be in this mindset right now.”
Unfortunately games continue to be cancelled/postponed because of COVID-19. UK’s game with Detroit Mercy set for Friday has been postponed, too.
“That’s the tough part right now, especially going right to the tipoff that you have these unfortunate things happen. You’ve just got to stay focused through the situation and know the importance of health and wearing a mask and the importance of social distancing because it could easily be us if we have the smallest slip up,” Mintz said before knowing UK had lost a game.
“This is still important for us guys. We try not to get too caught into the negative of what’s going on and guys losing a few weeks into the season. We’re just really trying to focus on us and make sure that we’re doing our parts so we can’t be to blame when things like this happen.”
Mintz thinks the pandemic has been tough on veteran players as well as freshmen waiting for their first collegiate season.
“It’s kind of very different for those guys (freshmen) because they haven’t had the normal experience. I feel terrible for them because these are really good players and really good guys,” Mintz said. “Everyone deserves an opportunity to showcase their talent in front of big crowds. But it’s completely different and who knows when it will change.”
