Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky got a huge unexpected lift from freshman guard Collin Chandler on Wednesday night against Vanderbilt.
The former BYU commit who followed Mark Pope to Kentucky after a two-year mission trip to England had just seemed out of sync most of the season, had trouble making shots and never put to use the athleticism he was supposed to possess.
However, that changed against Vanderbilt with his 15 most productive minutes of the season in the 82-61 win. He went 2-for-5 from the field and had seven points, six rebounds and two assists. His second-half perimeter defensive pressure also helped limit Vandy to just 21 points in the second half after it scored 40 in the first half.
Center Amari Williams had 17 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field and 5-for-5 at the line along with six rebounds, four blocks and one assist. He was a force in the paint on both ends but UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens still went with Chandler at the defensive player of the game.
“A lot of people shined (on defense) in the second half but I thought Collin did a great job defensively against the point guards and had to keep guys in front of him, something he hasn’t done that much this year. I thought he was really good,” Givens said.
Givens said he knew Kentucky coaches had been waiting for the 6-5 Chandler to have a game like this.
“Now he has to build on this. They (UK coaches) will show him everything he did well in this game,” Givens said. “The video they will give him will have every positive play he made. They will really harp on the positives and how you need to play with confidence like this and hope we see a whole lot more of this.”
Chandler hit the first 3-point shot he attempted early in the game and even though he missed his next three, that made shot still seemed to boost his confidence.
“Basketball is a big mental game. The message is to keep going, trust yourself, put in the work and at some point it will come,” Chandler said on the UK Radio Network postgame show. “Tonight was a good night and a good step forward for me.”
Chandler said it was nice to “celebrate and do it with your brothers” after avenging an earlier loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville.
“It’s nice to do that and also nice to do it to a team that got us last time. We came with a different fire. We feel a lot better after tonight,” Chandler said. “We don’t want to feel that way again (like they did after the Vanderbilt loss).”
Givens thought using Chandler to back up starting point guard Travis Perry was a bold move by Pope that paid off. Starting point guard Lamont Butler and backup point guard Jaxson Robinson were both out again with injuries and a third point guard, Kerr Kriisa, has not played since early December.
Using Chandler as the second point guard enabled Otega Oweh to stay as his normal two guard spot and he finished with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in 31 1/2 minutes.
“Otega stayed in his same position and didn’t have to run the show (at point guard). Collin allowed him to stay in his position and that allowed him to continue to score,” Givens said. “He (Chandler) gave Kentucky another guy to stick out there.”
Chandler patiently has waited for a chance to contribute more and understands why Pope wants him to fill a specific role.
“The goal for me right now is to provide valuable minutes where I’m needed,” the freshman guard said. “We are three point guards down and I have been asked to step up and I am happy to perform.”
Chandler said the players talk a lot about not “carrying baggage” with them.
“I have been working hard to play with a fresh mind and to not let past performances weigh on me and I think that is what I have been focusing on. I have still got room to grow in that way, but I think that helped me out tonight,” Chandler said.
“I was talking to Coach yesterday. It is not even just a complete switch of not carrying any baggage, but it is going from carrying 60 percent to 40 percent, and so I am working to—we are all working to—get lower and lower.”
6 Responses
Collin played really well. I can’t imagine trying to get back in the groove mentally and physically after having not played for two years, at times in places without basketball courts.
Great team victory.
The Collin Chandler a lot of us had hoped to see blossomed last night and shined when needed. Defensive pressure from Chandler was a big plus.
UK played TEAM 1st ball in the 2nd H & the results were extra special @ 41-21 – one of the best halves all season.
It was very cool to see Chander make a impact last night. I was hoping he would make that last 3 and give him a 10 spot. Hopefully, this confidence will keep launching him forward. Now if we could just find out if Garrison wants to be on the team or not. He seems to be getting the minutes he deserves.
Chandler Perry and Noah are going to incredible if they stick around and don’t transfer! The only one out of the 3 that I could possibly see transfer would be Chandler. Hopefully all 3 of them stick around because in the next couple years this will be there team! This years team is a team of plug and play guys because Pope needed to prove himself fast and he did a sensational job at bringing in guys that are team first guys no superstars! No top 5 on the mock draft all year! Just good college basketball players! And I love it. You don’t have to have 2-3 top 10 draft picks to win a championship in college basketball. I would even disagree that it helps to win one. To much ego kills team basketball. Look at Arkansas yes they beat us but no they are not better than us and they have 4-6 NBA prospects on the team. To me I like college basketball and I never watch NBA basketball so I don’t care who they get drafted to or how many double doubles they have for the Sacramento Kings! I love Kentucky basketball! And Mark Pope gets it and will win a championship in the next 3-4 years! If the cornball coach at Uconn can win championships surely Pope can! I think ol Ricky P pulls off another final 4. He says he has 3-5 years left in the tank and I think he does! St Johns has now become my second favorite team in college basketball! I honestly think St Johns has a more talented roster than we do and they have the best defense I’ve seen in college in a long time. Put it like this when they need steals they get steals! And that Richmond is a unbelievable athlete. Luis and the White boy can shoot the lights out. Watch out for The Johnnies come tournament time!!!!! Lol Louisville also looks like a team that could possibly make a run in the tournament! I think we will play either st johns or Louisville in the NCAA tournament this year! I just hope its Louisville and not St Johns because I think ol Rick might get the W!
St. John’s is a team we really don’t want to play this year because I feel Ricky would inflict the same pain on us that Cal did this year. Consistency is still very elusive for us. We looked and played great 2nd half and didn’t the first. We had no interior offense and defense that half and looked like we had no game plan either. What makes me nervous is when we try and feed the post from outside. We still are not a good passing team. Our 2nd half play has given some optimism that we may have a slight chance on Saturday. I would not have liked to be playing Missouri last night because they played better than us.
All hands on deck
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