It was not coincidental that Monday was the day Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey announced his intention to enter this year's NBA Draft and forego his remaining college eligibility. The national championship game was scheduled to be played Monday.
"I feel like we would have been in this game today," Maxey said in an interview posted online by ESPN. "And that's one reason why I wanted to make the decision today."
Maxey said he had the date April 6 posted on a wall in his room on the UK campus.
"I saw it every single morning when I woke up and brushed my teeth," he said. "That was a goal of mine."
In his one season for Kentucky, Maxey averaged 14.0 points and 34.5 minutes. The latter was the fourth most by any Southeastern Conference player.
Maxey had a knack for playing well in big games. In the season's opening game, his 26 points led No. 2 Kentucky to a 69-62 victory over No. 1 Michigan State. He later scored a season-high 27 points in UK's 78-70 overtime victory over archrival Louisville.
In what turned out to become Kentucky's final game, he took over at point guard for the absent Ashton Hagans. His seven assists and only one turnover in 38-plus minutes helped UK defeat Florida 71-70.
Maxey's mother said the decision to enter this season's NBA Draft was not made lightly.
"A lot of thought, of course," was part of the decision-making, Denise Maxey said. "A lot of prayers. A lot of family chats around it.
"I think my son really grew up there in Lexington. He left here a kid, in my mind. And by the end of the season, although it was unfortunately cut short, I saw him really grow up. So, a lot of that played a factor in his decision."
Maxey was named to the SEC's all-freshman team and second-team all-league.
"He felt like he was very successful there at Kentucky," Denise Maxey said, "and was ready to take the plunge into the next step."
In the news release announcing Maxey's decision to the enter the draft, he expressed regret about the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic. But, he expressed satisfaction with the 2019-20 season.
"This season was everything I signed up for," he said in the news release. "I know I'm a better player and man for embracing the challenge of playing for Kentucky.
"It's time for my next challenge, though. My dream has always been to play in the NBA and I know I'm prepared for this because I'm Wildcat made."
Maxey will depart with the blessing of UK Coach John Calipari.
"There was no player I was harder on this year than Tyrese, and there's a reason for that," Calipari said in the news release. "One, he's a great kid with a confidence in his ability that does not waver. Two, he has a potential that he has only begun to realize. And three, Tyrese needed to be challenged to take that next step."
Maxey met every challenge presented to him, Calipari said.
Calipari likened Maxey to former UK player Jamal Murray. Both displayed ball-handling ability, athleticism and improved defense as their one UK season unfolded, Calipari said.
"In a lot of ways, he reminds me of what Jamal Murray was able to do and we know how well he's done in the NBA," Calipari said in the news release.
Maxey joined Hagans as UK players who have declared the intention to enter this year's NBA Draft and forego any remaining college eligibility. Announcements about the UK-or-NBA Draft decisions are expected in the near future from teammates Immanuel Quickley, Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery.
In the first 10 NBA drafts during Calipari's time as Kentucky coach, UK has had 38 players selected. Of those 38 players, 29 were first-round picks with 21 lottery selections and three overall No. 1 selections.
