Derek Willis wants to earn time for No. 1 UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It's hard to blame Derek Willis for losing his edge. Before Saturday's game at Alabama, when he got a first-half rotation with the second platoon, Willis had been buried on the end of top-ranked Kentucky's unusually deep bench.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward had appeared in just four of the Wildcats' previous 10 games, playing a total of 23 minutes and scoring just 14 points. Six times, he never even got out of his warm-up suit. Understandably, the former Bullitt East star and Mr. Basketball finalist began losing interest.

"It's just kind of weird. You go your whole life playing and then you're not really playing as much. I don't know, it's just kind of like falling out of the game," Willis said. "Just don't know what to do, really. Just kind of looking for answers. I've asked a lot of people, talked to them about it, (and) I'm really just getting the same thing: Just get in the gym more and just be around the game more."

He admits that lately, when it comes to practice and the extra time players spend working on their craft on their own afterward, "usually I'm one of the first people out."

That's why, even when starting forward Alex Poythress was lost for the season to a torn ACL last month, Willis wasn't called upon to take some of those suddenly-available minutes. It's why when Calipari finally decided to go back to the two-platoon system a week ago against Missouri, Dominique Hawkins got the nod instead of Willis.

"I'm putting it on myself," he said. "I just need to put more effort into the game if I want to play."

Willis, who has actually scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and made five 3-pointers in just 59 minutes this season, met with Calipari and heard that exact message from his coach.

"He's got to really step on the gas," Calipari said. "And it's hard, now, when you haven't been playing, to come in and spend extra time and not know if you're gonna play or not. It's one thing if you know you're one of those 10 (in the platoons) and you're playing."

But Willis was reminded last weekend why he must always be ready. After earning a start against Missouri – and playing an energetic, efficient game – Hawkins missed the Alabama game because of a minor medical procedure. So Willis got his shot, and he played hard, but not particularly well.

He had an offensive rebound and a steal, but he also missed both his shots, committed two turnovers and looked generally out of sorts on offense. He finished with five scoreless minutes, only one of which came after halftime.

"I was a little tense out there," Willis said. "I was trying to do, like, a million things. My mind was all worried about everything else, really, but the game. I was just really having a problem calming down and relaxing. I've never really had that. It was extremely difficult. Like those two minutes, or however long I played, I feel like that's just getting me warm."

But he won't be caught unprepared again. Willis could get even more significant playing time tonight as Kentucky (17-0, 4-0 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt (11-6, 1-3), which starts three freshmen – none of whom are potential one-and-done talents like the Cats' – and has lost three consecutive conference games.

Hawkins' status against the Commodores remains unclear, but Willis now knows the recipe for getting another chance.

"Put in more time. If you feel like you're behind, you just gotta get in there," assistant coach John Robic said. "He knows what it takes for him to get better. Dominique was ready. I'm sure Derek saw that. We're not going to give up on any player and he hasn't given up, that's for sure."

To that end, Willis was asked whether he has any regrets about choosing Kentucky or thoughts about transferring elsewhere. He had scholarship offers from Indiana, Louisville, Purdue and Xavier coming out of high school, after all.

"God no. I'm going to stay here four years regardless. I love this place," he said. "I'm trying to be self-critical about everything now and just be more focused, just show that I want to be here. I don't think I did that before."

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.