“I was trying to figure out the right time to do it and with our busy schedules we don’t have that much free time,” he explained, following the Tuesday night engagement and ensuing basketball game. “I figured this would be an important enough day since it’s a big moment for the both of us being Senior Night. I just wanted to share it with everyone.”
Willis’ teammates didn’t find out until moments before they took the floor, when John Calipari called Willis up in front of the team during the pregame talk. Calipari said, “They gave him a standing-O and hugged him in the locker room.