Hawkins, Willis Vital to UK’s Tourney Prospects

Dominique Hawkins has been a Wildcat for four years now, but he’s never lost his sense of wonder about playing for his favorite team and home-state school.

It was plain to see on his face as he stood on the podium during Kentucky’s Southeastern Conference Tournament championship celebration and heard his named called as a member of the league’s All-Tournament team.

“I really didn’t think I was going to win,” Hawkins said. “I thought another teammate probably would get it. But I’m beyond blessed to be able to be part of the All-Tournament Team.”

Hawkins may have been the most surprised person in Bridgestone Arena at the news. In fact, he was showered with “MVP” chants late in UK’s title-game victory over Arkansas. De’Aaron Fox would take top honors, but there was no missing Hawkins’ fingerprints on the Cats’ three victories in Nashville, Tennessee.

In his 79 minutes – the most he’s ever played over a three-game stretch – Hawkins terrorized opponents and energized anyone in Kentucky colors, fans and teammates alike. He had seven steals and forced at least as many turnovers with his defensive pressure while showing off burgeoning confidence on the offensive end with 26 combined points.

“I’ll reflect on it a little later,” Hawkins said. “I’m still living the enjoyment of it. It’s incredible. All the hard work and all the patience definitely paid off.”

It took plenty of hard work for both Hawkins and fellow senior Derek Willis to reach this point, with both playing important roles as their careers approach an end. The two Kentuckians are acutely aware of the fact that their time is running short, particularly now that UK has been tabbed a No. 2 seed in the final NCAA Tournament for the pair.

“It’s kind of like a little bittersweet feeling, I guess,” Willis said. “Even like leaving the SEC Tournament we just won, it was kind of like, ah, this is my last SEC Tournament, whatever, last time I’ll be here. I’m also looking forward to this weekend. I know it’s going to be exciting and being in Indianapolis we’re going to have an awesome crowd show up for us. I’m just looking forward to that too.”

Hawkins and Willis have each seen 13 NCAA Tournament games, three played in Indianapolis. The venue this weekend – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – for a first-round matchup with No. 15 Northern Kentucky (24-10) on Friday will be different than previous games played in Lucas Oil Stadium, but the seniors’ experience remains vital to UK’s prospects.

“I feel like me and Dom definitely have the most experience with postseason play,” Willis said. “That’s just what’s going to take us—that’s how we’ve been prepared for this moment. We’re just going to go from there. We’ll be ready though.”

The seniors’ experience will be counterbalanced by a lack thereof from their freshman teammates. That’s where a little leadership comes in.

“I feel like I can definitely give advice to them,” Hawkins said. “The first game is always probably the most nervous game you probably play in. I remember my freshman year going in I was so nervous to play in the NCAA Tournament game. These guys are great athletes, have great skills and they’ll be ready to play.”

Willis and Hawkins plan to be ready too.

“This is all it is,” Willis said. “You gotta come out, you gotta get the Ws and this is what we prepare for every year, this part of the season. You just gotta be desperate. Everything’s going to be a dogfight and it’s the last game for a lot of people, so it means a lot to us and I know me and Dom as seniors, we’ll be prepared for it.”

After playing what he agreed was the best game of his college career to this point, Hawkins isn’t resting on his laurels. He also isn’t discounting the possibility that he could top himself over the next three weeks.

“I got six more to go,” Hawkins said. “Maybe I’ll play another game like that.”