Collin Chandler smiles as he listens to coach Mark Pope after Friday's win. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Normally every NCAA Tournament postgame press conference opens with a statement from the winning coach.
That would have been Kentucky’s Mark Pope Friday night in Milwaukee after UK beat Troy 79-57. However, it didn’t quite go that way.
“So we are scheduled to have an opening statement by Kentucky coach Mark Pope. There might be a change in plans. Collin Chandler,” the NCAA moderator said before turning the microphone over to the Kentucky freshman guard.
“Today was a great battle. We prepared very well for this team. This Troy team was very good. They came out and did what we thought they were going to do. I thought we did a good job in the first half of containing them on the offensive glass,” Chandler said in his best coach talk.
“The second half, it got away from us a bit, but we responded very well as a team. We stayed very connected as a team. The leaders on our team that have been here before helped us to come together. It was a great team effort and a great first win this year.”
Pope called Chandler’s remarks “impressive” but his two-minute spurt in the second half was even more impressive. He came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer immediately. He had another 3 and three free throws in his blitz that helped break the game open with a 16-0 UK run.
His nine points were his second-most this season and only added to the confidence Pope has in him as he continues to adjust after a two-year mission trip following his high school graduation.
“I’m going to not be overstated. I’ll try to understate this. But it is the best part of coaching. The best part of coaching is watching guys that are super committed and have a ton of talent and a great work ethic and watching the process of them realize themselves a little bit,” Pope said. “Here he is on the biggest stage he’s ever been on in his entire life in a high-pressure game with a bunch of teammates that are hanging on by a thread health-wise. He’s like, guys, I’m ready to go get this.
“What we don’t see along the way, and this is super special to me, but we don’t see all along the way are the quiet moments in his — in the Wildcat Lodge where he’s by himself wondering if this is ever going to work, and did he make the right decision. Or the time he rolls out of a game, and the team has won a huge, huge game and he didn’t get to play so he’s battling within himself the emotion of I have to celebrate with my team, and I’m dying inside that I’m not contributing.
“It’s just this beautiful process that these guys get to go through, and the guys that keep going, that keep going, that keep going, like Collin Chandler, they get this moment. And he’s got so many more moments ahead of him. He’s going to be a terrific player. To be able to kind of bear witness to that and mentor and help these guys through this process is special.
“The guys that hang in there and keep going at the end of the road mean something more than any of us probably recognize because we weren’t in all those dark, doubting moments that the players go through to kind of get there. And fighting to keep your confidence and the whole process, I love it. It’s super inspiring. That’s why I’m talking about it so much.”
Chandler said he was not sure if there was a timeline for his development after taking two years off from basketball. He admitted he didn’t know what to expect this season.
“There’s been ups and downs and setbacks, but it’s been a great learning lesson this whole year of patience and trusting myself and trusting God and his plan for me,” Chandler, who plans to get married in the fall, said. “So it’s going to continue to be that way, I’m sure. I don’t know if there’s a schedule, but I know I’m right where I need to be right now so I’m here to contribute and help the team as best I can.”
Pope explained that junior Otega Oweh, UK’s leading scorer, has been a terrific mentor for Chandler and called him the freshman’s “biggest cheerleader” this season.
“Like his big brother. Collin makes a good play, Otega is the first one to run over and dap him up and hype him up. Collin makes a young play, and Otega’s the first to say it’s okay. Having mentors on the team and these two together is pretty special for us,” Pope said.
Oweh, an Oklahoma transfer, believes Chandler is progressing just like he should be.
“Every day in practice, we work out together, like we’re on the same basket. So I’m seeing, like, everything that he’s doing and knowing like he’s really trusting his work and doing everything that he works on. It’s great seeing it,” Oweh said.
“We’re at that point of the year where freshmen aren’t freshmen no more. He’s not a freshman no more. He’s not playing like a freshman. I’m happy to see him succeed. Every time he contributes, it makes us better.”
Kentucky-Troy MBB
Photos by Vicky Graff
8 Responses
Chandler can be a huge difference maker in this team but I would also like to see Almonor get it going again for a few games. Sunday would be a great start.
CONGRATS to the Cats for getting this first game monkey off our backs and lets hope we can do some damage beyond. Very happy that both Chandler and Garrison made key contributions at the needed times. If they can duplicate that Sunday, we should be okay. Finishing inside continues to be a major area of concern. Williams has been terrible last couple of games unless he gets dunks and Carr missing too many also. We still can’t get all hands on deck contributing when opportunity arises. Almonor seems to be content cheerleading.
Williams was hamper with a back injury he suffer during Thursday practice. That limit his offense ability. But he did well in the rebound area.
Crazy thought – Magic was a 6’9” point guard with limited offense – that may be his calling under the right supervision.
Williams above.
Chandler is going to be very very very good next year. It has taken him until now to get back after taking them 2 years off. I think if he works hard enough he can be a starter or 6 man next year. He has the best jump shot out of the 3 freshman. When the lights come on he’s ready. He also has the best defense out of the 3 freshman. I don’t know why Perry struggles so much even with open 3 pointers. Perry will eventually be a great shooter in college basketball. Noah will also be a great shooter in college basketball and is getting better and better. They are just a liability on defense. Chandler is a little more shifty and athletic. All 3 freshman have surprised me how much they’ve improved from the first game up until now and they will only get better and better. This trio will be incredible in a couple of years if they stick together. Call me different but I think Williams had a terrible game. I counted 5 missed layups within 2 feet from the basket. If he just dunks those instead of trying to do finger rolls he scores 10 more points then what he had. Also at the free throw line its like he was rushing his free throws. Garrison is much better on offense then Williams but Williams is better on defense. All these injuries has helped these younger guys be more prepared for this moment so it will only help us in the future. Illinois will be a tough outing but I think we take care of business and to be honest I was more worried about Xavier than Illinois. I think we matchup better faith Illinois. If Carr and Oweh have a good game and the rest of the team gets hot from 3 I think we win easily. Its about time for Brea to have a big game as well. We need him to start getting hot from 3. He might be the difference maker. 1 thing I don’t understand is why Alomonor isn’t playing as much??? I would play him over Noah but maybe Pope is getting Noah prepared for the future because Alomonor is clearly the better player. It baffles me but I’m not the coach. If Perry and Noah could both knock down a couple 3s it would help so much because if they aren’t scoring they are a liability. I still think we beat Illinois but what also worries me is if we win and Tennessee wins I don’t know if we can beat Tennessee 3 times in the same season. I honestly hope they get upset. With all that being said Go Cats and Go johnnies
Williams just has no touch inside…his shots need a little arch and he pushes straight line. Agree that Chandler is the best of the 3 and am surprised it took him this long with all their practices. He may be the only one period that is capable of hitting a jumper inside. Hated to see him miss those back-to-back 3’s. It does make you wonder if Almonor has worked his way into doghouse or shows nothing in practice. It seems like he is being punished a little. I am more nervous about the fighting illini bc of our inconsistency.
I am glad to see Chandler breaking through. We will need 10 points each from Chandler, Almonor, Williams, and Garrison along with 15 points each from Carr, Brea, and Oweh against Illinois. Butler just needs to play defense and get 10 assists. Any points he and Perry score will be gravy. Go CATS!!!