Freshman Collin Chandler had 19 points, including two dunks, in the Blue-White Game. (Les Nicholson Photo)
A veteran and a newcomer stole the show in Kentucky’s Blue-White annual scrimmage Friday night at Memorial Coliseum.
Graduate transfer Andrew Carr scored 25 to lead the Blue team to a 67-66 win over the White team. Carr, a transfer from Wake Forest, knocked down three of his team’s 11 3-pointers and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
The scrimmage, Carr said, was a learning experience that proved to be beneficial to both the players and the coaching staff.
“I think we learned a lot about our team,” he said. “It is a great benchmark for us to turn the page in the preseason and finally come together and become one team. I’m super excited for the next couple of weeks.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope agreed and added the timing of the contest was perfect for his team.
“It’s the right time for us,” he said. “In our progression right now, we desperately need to play against other teams and we’re playing against a terrific team on Wednesday. And then the next week we’ll play a national champion, and it goes on from there … It’s what we need.”
Freshman Travis Perry provided the heroics for the Blue team when he knocked down a free throw to reach the target score of 67 points. Perry finished with six points and added four assists.
While Carr was the leading scorer for the Blue team, freshman transfer Collin Chandler (BYU) led the White team with 19 points, Chandler made four of his team’s six shots from long range and threw down a pair of dunks in the second half, including a thundering two-handed dunk over teammate Brandon Garrison. He added a steal and a dunk later in the half to the delight of those in attendance.
“I thought he was terrific tonight and was really aggressive,” Pope said of Chandler. “I thought he was incredibly smart and he’s going to get better and better every single day. … he’s an incredibly talented young man who’s a better person than he is a basketball player. … He’s going to be a big-time, big-time basketball player.”
Amari Williams followed Chandler with 15 points, followed by Otega Oweh with 14 and Lamont Butler finished with 11 for the white squad. Jaxson Robinson followed Carr with 15 points and Garrison added 10 for the blue team.
Overall, the teams combined for 17 3-pointers in the contest.
The event featured contests for those fans in attendance. Butler won a dance-off contest with the Wildcat mascot as fans you and old interacted with the Wildcats during the first half of the two-plus hour event sponsored by Club Blue.
The women’s basketball team scrimmaged against the practice squad and defeated their counterparts 43-29.
“BBN is as good as advertised,” coach Kenny Brooks said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we are looking forward to playing on this court.”
11 Responses
I was expecting a higher score from both teams, but that will come against other teams. The surprise was the play of Chandler. For a kid who hadn’t played competitive basketball for 2 years, he stole the show. The next 2 exhibition games will provide a clearer picture of who will start and how well they have picked up Pope’s offense and defense. Where was Kriisa?
The article says 67 was the target score, so the first team to 67 must have been the winner instead of a clock. I don’t know for sure, but that’s what it sounds like. Both teams got thr most they could get at 67-66 if that’s the case.
Little Baron—They utilized the Elam Ending which was used in the TBT Tournament this past summer. At a certain point in the game, usually with 4 minutes to go, the target score is set by adding 8 points to the score of the team who is leading and the game clock is turned off. The first team to the target score wins. I believe I read they utilized a running clock throughout the game though.
I read elsewhere that they held Kriisa out because he had tweaked his hamstring in practice. It was purely precautionary and not expected to cause any issues.
Krissa tweaked a hammy in practice..no big deal..sat out for precautionary reasons. You can’t gauge anything at all from one of these games. You are right, we will know more after the exhibition games.
I didn’t see the game, but have seen clips from the game. I saw a LOT of stationary dribbling to start the offense. I was hoping to see more passing and off ball screens that allowed for open shots; maybe that will come later in actual game play.
I told y’all Carr would be the most dominant player on the team. When I said he’s a poor mans Larry bird I stand on that statement.
I also said Chandler is by far the best freshman on the team. I was right again. I also said Noah won’t get much clock this there. Which I will also be right. Alot of people got !ad when I said Chandler was better than Perry and Noah. The truth hurts. Chandler was underrated in the class of 22. He should have been a top 15 recruit. I think he ended up at #30. Which was a bit underrated. I think Perry should have been in the top 50 in this years CLASS around #40-#50. Noah should have been in the top 100 but wasn’t as well. I never said that Noah and Perry are bad players. I think they are excellent. People are used to freshman being in the top 30. They forgot what freshman look like outside the top 100. I said Noah won’t get much clock because we have 57 5th year seniors. Plus the wing and 4 are pretty much set in stone. With Carr and Alomor at the 4 and Robinson and Oweh at the 3. I just don’t see playing time this year for Noah.
How many points did Noah have? To all the people who said he would get playing time this year. And Perry played exactly how I said he would. Y’all were gassed up over 100 free throws in a row. Perry will get his time to shine Noah will too. But it won’t be this year fellas.
TJ, intrasquad games are poor predictors of regular season play. Nobody I know of questioned that Carr and Robinson would be key contributors. Chandler’s play was a surprise, but a pleasant one, but if Kriisa had played Chandler may not have had the same breakout performance. If anyone had an off game, it was Brea, but this game didn’t matter…it was just a scrimmage. It’s not cool to be downing players in such a game. We are all on the same team…aren’t we?
Everybody didn’t have their best game, but I still think this team is stronger 1-12 than any other team. Pope will know who to play and when. There are 5 non conference games that may only see an 8 man rotation. There are 10 others that will allow decent confidence building minutes for all of the 12 which will give Pope plenty of options come SEC play.