Devin Askew (SEC Photo)
Sometimes I just like to look back at preseason interviews to see how beliefs players had or insights they gave into the season might turn out. I can still remember when freshman point guard Devin Askew was asked if he was prepared for the peaks and valleys of being a freshman point guard. He never hesitated giving this answer”
“Just stay level-headed. Not getting too up, not getting too down,” Askew said. “The peaks and valleys, there are always highs, there are always lows. Just trying to stay on a straight line and keep a steady pace. Not go up, not go down.”
Hopefully that is helping him now because he’s had more valleys than peaks in Kentucky’s first five games. He might have been UK’s most criticized fan by UK fans — or at least in the top three. He’s been turnover prone and surprisingly has been hesitant to take shots.
Coach John Calipari seems to have lost confidence in his ability to play point guard. He’s moved wing Terrence Clarke to point and it seems Davion Mintz is going to be the other option at point with Askew shifting to the wing.
Askew said in the preseason he would always be vocal on the court.
“Off the court, I wouldn’t say quiet but just easygoing, going with the flow. Whatever happens, happens. But I’m just very locked in and focused in on basketball, so I would say everything is based on basketball right now for me,” Askew said.
That basketball has not gone well for him or his team, so starting Saturday against UCLA it needs to find some peaks — not more valleys — for Askew and his teammates.
