Derek Willis’ quest to defend better has its ups and downs

Derek Willis paints a vivid picture of how his goal of becoming a better defender is going this preseason.

“I think it’s really just a mindset,” he said Thursday. “There will be days I think I do play good defense. There will be days I’ll have a couple breakdowns and it’s in my head: ‘My God, I’m not playing any defense.’ The practice will go down from there.”

Willis is getting an advanced course in defense. Among the teammates he said he’s been guarding in practices, he mentioned wing Wenyen Gabriel, big man Bam Adebayo, power forward Isaac Humphries and guard Isaiah Briscoe.

The guards present the biggest challenge, he said, “because they’re so quick.”

Briscoe’s improved shooting makes him more difficult to contain. “I try to give him a step” in order to prevent drives to the basket, Willis said. “Then again, you can’t really (give a step) because ‘Zay’ has been knocking down shots.”

Leadership

Mychael Mulder said he and fellow seniors Dominique Hawkins and Willis try to provide “a little bit of leadership” on this latest freshman-dependent UK team.

“These guys are all really talented young basketball players,” Mulder said. “They do look at us for some sort of guidance on how we should handle ourselves on and off the court.”

This leadership can show itself in Sunday’s exhibition game against Clarion.

“It’s not like they need a lot of leadership,” Mulder said of the UK freshmen. “These guys are leaders on their own.

“They’ll be really jacked up to see all the fans. I’m sure they’re excited about (the game). They’ve been talking about it all week. I’m excited to see how they’ll handle it.”

Exhibition season?

UK Coach John Calipari spoke of expanding the preseason.

“Sometimes I wish we had, like, an exhibition season where you play whoever you want to play,” he said.

Calipari mused about a home-and-home set of games against an unnamed opponent. These games could be played on weekends so as not to interfere with classes.

“I think that would bring more excitement,” he said.

Renovate Craft Center?

Calipari said the Craft Center needs a renovation. “This building is 10 years old,” he said. “ It’s time. . . . Let’s make it more modern.”

UK renovated the weight room in the Craft Center prior to the 2009-10 season.

Reunion weekend

Calipari’s coach at Clarion, Joe DeGregorio, is expected to attend Sunday’s game. So is Calipari’s high school coach, Bill Sacco, who also attended Clarion.

Daily briefing

Calipari said he is given a report each morning listing how former UK players performed in NBA games the previous night. The UK coach then tries to text or call players.

The most recent report showed how Anthony Davis scored 50 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Calipari playfully said he did not contact Davis because, “Yeah, you should.”

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had a double-double for Charlotte (23 points and 14 rebounds).

Tyler Ulis blocked a shot for Phoenix. “Are you kidding me?” Calipari said.

Andrew Harrison started for Memphis. “I was so happy,” Calipari said.

Of Devin Booker and DeMarcus Cousins exchanging shoves in the Phoenix-Sacramento game, Calipari said, “Devin will not budge.”

Then, the UK coach added, “I’d imagine the little kid (Ulis) went out and bit his kneecap when it happened because those two (Booker and Ulis) are like two peas in a pod.”

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Derek Willis’ quest to defend better has its ups and downs."