That Southeastern Conference coaches voted Immanuel Quickley as the league's Player of the Year and Nick Richards to the All-SEC First Team spoke to how much the Kentucky players have improved in the past year.
And also how far "Quick and Nick" had come in the last four days.
After Kentucky rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to win at Florida, Coach John Calipari (facetiously?) said the biggest play in the game was Quickley fouling out with 9:04 remaining.
"I thought he was just being funny," a smiling Quickley said of Calipari's verbal jab. "Because, I mean, this year I feel I played pretty good."
Richards, whose big second half spearheaded UK's comeback, was the target of a jab from associate coach Kenny Payne on Saturday. On Calipari's radio show Monday night, Payne said he suggested at halftime (no doubt, in a direct manner) that Richards wore a diaper in the first half.
Richards laughed when asked about the diaper. "I think he was just trying to tell me to play harder (and) play better," Richards said. "You know, he's been a really good coach for me throughout the entire year."
Of course, Quickley and Richards have improved greatly in the last year. Last season the two failed to average double-digit points as a tandem: a combined 9.2 points.
As he walked by a scrum of reporters interviewing Quickley, Payne shouted a memorable description of the player's improvement.
"You went from committing suicide last year to a Hall of Famer," Payne said. "SEC Player of the Year!"
Kentucky men's basketball guard Immanuel Quickley talks to the media about winning SEC Player of the Year honors, as voted by the league coaches, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. The Wildcats begin play in the SEC Tournament on Friday. BY JOHN CLAY
Speaking less dramatically and in a quieter voice, Quickley did not dispute Payne's assessment.
When asked what lesson from last year paid off the most this season, Quickley said, "Probably mentally was the biggest thing. Just knowing how mentally strong you have to be to play here. Playing through mistakes was a big part of my sophomore year coming back. I knew I was good enough. Just seeing in-game success was a big part."
Richards broke the news to Quickley about being voted SEC Player of the Year when the two were in class earlier Tuesday.
"I looked at my phone," Richards said. "I think I yelled at him. I think it stopped everybody in class."
"I was trying to take a test," Quickley said. "And he was, like, 'Bro. Bro. Bro.'"
Quickley spoke in a whisper as he said Richards told him about being named Player of the Year.
"Nick was super happy for me," Quickley said. "He was basically screaming while I was taking the test."
Calling it a "pretty cool accomplishment," Quickley said he did not have Player of the Year as a goal.
"One of my goals was to make First Team (All-SEC)," he said. "But to win SEC Player of the Year, I don't think a lot of people thought I would be able to do something like this. That's what makes it really cool. Be the quote-unquote underdog to just come out here and do something special, that's really cool."
