The Kentucky Wildcats started off the season 13-4 and seemed to be a mediocre team at best. Kentucky though, followed up that shaky start with a 7-2 stretch which coincided with Derek Willis being inserted as the starting power forward. Willis injured his ankle last weekend against Texas A&M and since then the Wildcats have lost two of three (including the loss to Texas A&M). Willis is clearly a huge part of the team's success and fortunately for Kentucky it looks like he will be back sometime soon, according to Kentucky Basketball's Twitter.
Willis left the game against Texas A&M in the second half and was unable to return. Since then he has missed the team's last two games and head coach John Calipari says he will likely miss at least one more. While Willis is likely out for Kentucky's game on Tuesday at Florida Cal said that he is getting closer as he was able to run up and down the floor at their most recent practice.
Kentucky is a lock to make the NCAA tournament this year but this stretch run could definitely effect their seeding. Willis' absence isn't the sole reason for them losing two of their last three games but it certainly plays a role. Their next two games are at Florida and home to a desperate LSU team so those are both games they could possibly lose. Not having Willis for those games makes it tougher and Jason Marcum of SB Nation believes Willis' absence might cost the Wildcats.
Willis was not expected to be a major part of this Kentucky team coming into the season but he has made himself crucial. The 6-foot-9 junior wasn't playing too much at the beginning of the season but he was inserted into the starting lineup and gave Kentucky a stretch four that helped spread the floor. Kevin Erpenbeck of CoachCal.com believes that Willis' absence has caused Kentucky's offense to hit a lull.
On the season Willis is averaging career highs across the board with 7.8 points and 4 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from three. Nobody would have believed you if you would have said Willis would be a crucial part of this year's Kentucky team but the evidence shows that he is. The good news for Big Blue Nation is that Willis should be back sooner rather than later.
