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Freshman Collin Chandler admits he’s been surprised at how quick he’s been able to come back from not playing basketball regularly during his two-year mission trip and tweaking his hamstring early in preseason workouts in August.
“I can still remember a few rigorous days of conditioning that got me but after that it has mainly been mental from not playing for two years,” said Chandler. “The physical is coming back but I am not going to say I am in full form yet. I am confident that I am able to produce on any given night. I am confident I can do that.”
Considering he had 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3, along with three assists, three rebounds and two steals in the Blue-White Game, what is full form. He also jumped over coach Mark Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, to dunk for fans at the Blue-White Game.
“I am not as fast as I think I can be. I can’t jump as high as I can jump,” the UK freshman said.
He notes his hamstring tweak was not “super terrible” and came at a time when the team was on a little break.
“It’s just kind of a nagging injury that takes a little bit of time to come back and to heal. There was a little bit of time where I had to let it heal,” the 6-5 guard said. “I didn’t feel like I missed too much, which I’m grateful for and I’m grateful to be back now.
“Trying to just be aggressive to feel the game out. Just trying to get a feel and I feel like that’s coming back and I am feeling very comfortable on the floor and going after our guys. I’m feeling good.”
He’s excited about tonight’s exhibition game in Rupp Arena against Kentucky Wesleyan on SEC Network+.
“We are so excited to give other people headaches and to compete together,” Chandler said Tuesday.”We have started scouting and planning on how we are going to play. We have been practicing coming together and leaning on each other but it is something different when you are not playing against guys on the same team. We will really learn how to lean on each other playing another team.
“We have watched film and talked about personnel These (Wesleyan) guys can play. We are going to be ready for them. They are very good players. We have a report on all their guys and a bunch of film. We are looking to attack and make a statement.”
13 Responses
Everybody will play in the two exhibition games. This will give everyone a chance to find their groove and show what they can bring to the team. My guess is Pope will pick a starting five that will get 60% of the minutes in the Wright State and Bucknell games with the next 5 getting 30% and the remaining two get 10%. Then we play Duke to see where we are as a team. Everyone wants to beat Duke, but the value in this game will show who and what is clicking and who and what is not, but a win would be sweet! Then Pope has 4 more games to make adjustments which could result in a new starting five. I think the breakdown of playing time will remain the same for each group until the Clemson game. Pope will want the Clemson and Gonzaga games to be statement games., with Louisville and Ohio State confirming those statements. That starting 5 and the next 5 will get 100% of the minutes if that is what it takes to win those games. The last 2 guys will get some PT against Colgate and Brown, but from there on, their minutes will come from foul trouble, injury, or illness. Without having a "pet" agenda, we will be ready to play for an SEC crown. It’s time for Kentucky to reclaim its rightful place on the SEC throne. Then we go dancing…maybe until the joint closes for good this time.
I agree but I think we go 11 deep. With Noah being the odd man out. Noah is going to need a year to get adjusted to college basketball. Harlan literally plays nobodys. His competition was terrible. Going from that to SEC basketball is a giant step. I’ve been telling everyone this forever. People actually think Noah is going to get pt. Its not going to happen. He’s a good player he’s just not ready. Perry will get 5-10 mins a game. I’ve literally argued this point all summer and its looking more and more like I was right the whole time. I’m good at Evaluating talent. I still think we should sign Magwood. He’s a top 50 player and a top 10 PG from Louisville. If we don’t sign him Louisville will. My evaluation of this team was that Carr will lead the team in scoring. I said he’s a poor mans Larry bird which is a he’ll of a comment bird was a top 5 player of all time. He reminds me of him. His shot and everything. I think Robinson is second in scoring Oweh is third and Chandler is 4th or 5th I’m scoring. We will have it spread put across the board. I think there will be 3 or 4 double figure averages. Then alot of 9ppg and 8ppg because everyone is going to get their turn.
Say what you want about Noah. But, in 4 years he’s going to be a big MAN
You also said Kentucky football was going to be 10-2 in the SEC this year.
Chandler will be in the top 5 in scoring on this team. Next year he will be the best player on the team. I see him being a 2 and done maybe 3. When he gets 100% back which won’t be until the midway point this season. He didn’t play basketball for 2 years and is still the best freshman on the team. That shows that he’s very good. He’s more electric and athletic than Reed. I don’t think he has reeds defense. Or his shooting ability, but as far as being electric with the ball in his hands he’s incredible. I wish we would recruit Hudson Greer. At one point I thought he was going to commit then our staff backed off him once Jasper signed. Chandler and Greer would have been the most potent one two punch in college basketball. I hope we somehow still get Greer. If we had Perry at the point Chandler at the 2 guard. Greer at the 3 and Noah at the 4 with Moreno at the 5. That would be my starting 5 next year.
Carr & Chandler proved their value in the BW game and will probably confirm it in the 2 Exhibitions. I was privileged to see the results of analytical work which revealed the most efficient players in that game. Those 2 were among the Top 5.
Garrison was at the Top and Butler was in the Top 5, and then the raw efficiency of players dropped down.
Robinson barely edged above Noah.
Brea avoided being in the zero cellar with the walk-ons.
My “best” conclusion is that Pope did a superior job matching up 2 equal teams. He knows who he expects to shine before the Duke game and he also knows there will be 11 players getting at least 12 to 16 minutes per game.
I personally like a 2-team platoon (when there are enough skilled players) with the “1st unit” playing 4 minute segments #1, 3 & 5 each half. The others play #2 & #4 segments each half.
The result is
24 min for 5 players
16 min for 4 players
Those who are on the court together learn more and more about each other on both O & D.
If each unit is about equal over a 5 to 10 game stretch then the slightly better unit can play 2 segments in the 1st half & 3 in the last half, to be on the court in crunch time.
Been too long since I coached.
Where’s the Professor? I’d like to hear what he thinks after our first exhibition game.
Good point. Hopefully Professor will chime in
I know it was Kentucky Weslyan, but a 71 point win, shooting 50% on 40 plus threes and the defense was awesome too! Special kudos to Butler, Oweh, Almonor, and Noah.
I was very pleased with the hustle . As soon as they got the 🏀 everyone was running hard to the other end and they knew what to do when they got there. They are going to be fun to watch. I like Coach Popes still of playing. I wish Coach Pope and the boys BEST OF LUCK. GO CATS.
I’ve been a UK fan since 1965. I was a Lexington Police Officer. At that time I was assigned to the traffic unit as a motorcycle officer.
We worked all the basketball games. Of course I came inside for all the games. That was one of my best assignments.
GO CATS.
Love that Ed about managing to get inside to see the games … and with you on the team’s hustle