De’Aaron Fox and Derek Willis recap thrilling win over Georgia

The Kentucky Wildcats continue to grind out close wins on the road, the latest being an 82-77 thriller at Georgia.

Things looked bleak for awhile as the Bulldogs maintained a narrow lead throughout the second half, but De’Aaron Fox would not let his team falter. The freshman point guard scored 10 points in the final two minutes and hit six-straight free throws in the last 44 seconds to close the win out.

But Kentucky also got big-time plays from senior forward Derek Willis, who scored seven points and pulled down a game-high 12 boards, several of which coming in crunch time.

After the win, Fox and Willis spoke with the media to recap the thrilling win. Here’s everything Fox had to say, courtesy of UK Athletics:

On playing well late in the game …

“I had two points like (35) minutes into the game. I think we ran something, I got a bucket, and then I realized the plays they were calling they wanted to keep the ball in my hands, so I was like, even though I haven’t been playing well in this game I have to do something. I just made plays in the big moments. I think that’s what people are going to look at with this game.”

On Coach Cal saying he’s happy Fox missed two free throws and then hit eight in a row …

“Just because I hadn’t been making anything and that was my first trip to the line. I missed the first one and Malik (Monk) said something to me about the goal. I missed the second one and I was like, ‘Alright, alright I think I’m fine now.’ After that, I stepped up with confidence even when the crowd was getting loud. That kind of plays into the part where he says I’m so nonchalant and things like that. I’m not listening to the crowd. All that is, is me and the goal and I don’t hear any of that.”

On big this was for him to do, personally …

“It was kind of like the Mississippi State game, but that game was more I was just getting to the rim making layups. This game was knocking down the free throws. So, I just want people to know I can step up in the big moments. Like I’ve said before, it’s been different guys stepping up in those moments. Today it was me.”

On if they said anything to Isaiah Briscoe after his frustrating game …

“It was frustrating for me (and) him. We were both in foul trouble. Other than that, even when you’re having a frustrating night, Coach says bring your energy and bring your emotion to the game because you’re not going to play well offensively every night, but that shouldn’t affect your defense, rebounding, things like that.”

On what it means that UK won despite its three starting guards not shooting well …

“Just that we can win in other ways. Everyone knows we can put the ball in the basket, but today, even though J.J. (Frazier) carried their team, one person is not going to beat us. We tried to lock down. We knew kind of at one point he was just going to get his. We just tried to limit everybody else.”

On the lift that Dominique Hawkins and Mychal Mulder provided …

“Dom played great. Dom was fantastic today. There were a few moments Dom would do something and Coach Cal would look at me and say something. I mean, it’s just a big contribution.

“Mike was hitting big shots. This is one of Mike’s best games of the year. Just try to carry this into the next game.”

Here’s a recap of everything Willis had to say about the win:

On his 12 rebounds against Georgia and if he made a conscience effort to go to the boards …

“No. I didn’t think I had a really good game, honestly. I think defensively with the pick-and-roll, with the open side open, it was kind of tough because the Frazier kid you had to stay long enough to let the guard get back over and get in front of him. But if he saw that happening he was throwing a bounce pass to at the time it was my guy. I think it was 32 (Mike Edwards) or something. That kid had like two or three baskets right around a little stretch. That was definitely getting under my skin. I just tried to do something else and rebounds was the thing I came up with. A couple offensive rebounds at the end and tried to do something.”

On if he has an awareness knowing while the ball is in the air that it could be a big rebound …

“Yeah, of course. Just try to stay calm and stay in the moment. Don’t let – they score a basket on you and the energy of the whole (Stegeman Coliseum) gets the Georgia team hyped up a little bit. Just stay calm, come down and make a play on the other end, get a stop and you’re right back in the game. We just ended up breaking away from them at the end, hit our free throws and locked down.”

On how significant it was for Fox to step up at the end …

“Yeah, Fox did a great job penetrating. I think there was at one point someone had a shot and he came from behind and tipped it away and Zay grabbed the ball and put it in. I mean, he did a lot of things that factored in the game. I think with the ball screens we set for him it was just like an open lane for him. I was open too. He had every option and he played well. He played great.”

On if Briscoe said anything after a frustrating night …

“You have nights like that. That’s with everyone. I’ve had nights like that. It’s part of basketball, you’re not going to be on every night, but the thing is when that happens you have to pick up the slack for someone. Isaiah did do some good things while he was in there but he fouled out and we made an adjustment and came out with the win.”