Heartbroken Seniors Still Treasuring Time at UK

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Derek Willis, Dominique Hawkins and Mychal Mulder were facing one of the most gut-wrenching moments of their young lives on Sunday: the end to not only a memorable season, but to their Kentucky careers.

Emotion was plain to see on their faces, ranging from shock at the way it had happened so abruptly, to the realization that they will never again wear that blue jersey, to warm reflections on the memories they made, to thoughts of what will come next.

To make matters worse, they had to talk through all that emotion with a group of reporters whose job it was to document it all. It’s no surprise it was all a little difficult to cope with in the moment.

“I’m just not really thinking right,” Willis said. “I don’t even know how to respond to some of these questions, to be honest with you.”

Nonetheless, all three conducted themselves with poise and grace in a difficult situation in the wake of a buzzer-beating 75-73 defeat at the hands of North Carolina on Sunday in Memphis, Tennessee.

“It’s sad,” Hawkins said. “I never thought it would end, to be honest. I feel like my four years I gave my heart and soul. Just wish there was a few more games.”

The goal for UK was always to extend the seniors’ careers by three more games into the national championship game, but the Cats fell short in a classic Elite Eight battle. It happened in spite of Hawkins’ best efforts, who steadied the ship in the first half in scoring all 10 of his points in the midst of foul trouble for De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk.

Hawkins has played the best basketball of his four years this March during UK’s tournament run. He’ll carry those memories and that confidence forward into the next chapter of his life.

“It just lets me know that I’m able to play at a high level against elite opponents,” Hawkins said. “North Carolina’s a great team and I feel like I played pretty well against them.”

Willis has similarly grown into a key contributor down the stretch, but his experience over the last four years isn’t confined to his development as a player.

“I definitely learned a lot coming here,” Willis said. “It helped me grow as a man, learned a lot of life lessons as well as learning about the game of basketball. So I can’t thank Coach Cal and all the assistants enough for just being on me, keeping me in the gym. They taught me so much stuff. They helped me grow as a man, like I said. I can never repay them for that. This whole college experience was definitely a good one. I had a lot of fun.”

Most of that fun was together with Hawkins, Willis’ roommate. The two Kentucky natives have been tied together ever since they arrived on campus, and have in turn developed an unbreakable bond.

“He meant a lot to me,” Hawkins said. “I definitely can rely on him on anything. Definitely on the court he got me a lot of assists. It’s been a great four years with him and I love him like a brother.”

Hawkins and Willis had an experience that is the envy of every blueblooded Kentuckian. They can say with pride that they made the most of it, even though they came up short of delivering a ninth national championship to their home state.

“It means a lot,” Hawkins said. “There’s not a lot of Kentucky kids right now playing for Kentucky. It’s everybody’s dream. To be able to play for four years here has been a blessing for me.”

Even in the midst of some of his most difficult moments, Hawkins managed to flash the smile and the positive outlook that has endeared him to the Big Blue Nation over the last four years.

“I’m pretty sad right now, but I’ll get over it,” Hawkins said. “I’m still living, so everything’s not the end of the world right now.”

A precious parting gift from UK’s seniors: perspective.