Collin Chandler, left, "wants to rip your heart out" according to coach Mark Pope. (UK Athletics Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
If there is one hidden strength for this year’s Kentucky basketball team it could be its competitive spirit, an intangible asset that is not usually factored into a team’s success rate.
Start with sophomore guard Collin Chandler, who returned from a two-year church mission trip to play his freshman season at UK last year.
“You have a guy like Collin Chandler, who has grown so much, who is the most kind, mild-mannered, loving guy off the court, and he just wants to rip your heart out on the court right now,” the Kentucky coach said.
Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate might not be far behind when it comes to ripping out hearts.
“Mo Dioubate has just brought this beautiful, competitive, bully mentality to our team. I could go down the list. That’s been really fun,” Pope said.
Pope believes he has “competitive souls” on the team.
“It’s interesting. I’ll take Denzel (Aberdeen) and Jaland (Lowe) as examples. They’re probably best friends off the court, and then on the court they are just torturing each other every single day. It’s so fun to watch,” Pope said.
Kentucky had one of the nation’s oldest, most experienced teams last season. That’s not the case this year but that competitive spirit could help offset that lack of experience.
“We’re not quite as veteran as we were last year, and that’s just going to be a work in progress,” Pope said. “We were blessed last year. We had seven super seniors to start the season on the roster. That’s hard to replace in that sense.”
But Kentucky could be a more flexible team this season because it has more mobility.
“I think we’re way more mobile. I think we’re really, really mobile at all five positions. I think we have a ton of growing ball-handling, ball-moving capacity that I think is going to bode well for us,” he said.
That could lead to more extended defensive pressure from the Cats this season.
“It’s not every second of every minute of every game, but some places where we will always look to exert some pressure right now going into the season that we plan to until we get exposed different, and even probably after that we’ll probably just try and do better,” Pope said.
“We have the personnel, and I think we have the depth, and I think we have the athleticism and the mobility and the determination and togetherness to find a way to be functional extending pressure, which is hard to do. It’s harder in college basketball than it’s ever been because guys are so skilled, but I think we can do it.”
7 Responses
I have extended stomach muscles from all the BB KoolAid I’ve been drinking. Gotta get a hold of myself 🚒.
Hahaha. The hype is real. I think one thing we are missing is a shot blocking presence down on the block. Until I see Garrison play in the games and show improvement and Moreno all of a sudden got really athletic we are going to have problems stopping teams down low. Even when JQ comes back usually the first year after a ACL tear the player is usually very timid towards that knee and they usually don't like to bang down low as much. Everything else is pretty much set. We could use another pure shooter or 2. I've heard chasing #9 for 13 going on 14 straight years. How about we just try to win A championship. Everyone knows it will be #9 but when players come in automatically saying we're chasing #9 sounds stupid. None of the guys on our team besides Mo D and Aberdeen have even made a final 4. Neither started for there respected teams and we havent made it past the sweet 16 in what 7-8 years. Let's just win how about that. All that #9 talk to me is a distraction. These players need to get used to not getting any calls. The refs are pro whoever we are playing.. My two favorite players are Chandler and Oweh. I think they take Kentucky to the next level. I also believe Lowe will be all SEC second team this year with Oweh taking first team honors.
Keep gulping Paul
This should result in giving us the reputation of playing for blood! That mentality builds confidence in our team and casts fear on whoever we are playing. Once the whistle blows, nice guys finish last. It would be great if we had uniforms that had red streaks streaming down toward the floor that would create a feeding frenzy effect. Go out there and destroy anyone stupid enough to take the floor against us!
I like a Smart Physical team. Not a football team on the court but a smart physical team. I think we should run full court and trap. We might have the greatest defensive team ever assembled problem is shooting. Yes Noah can light it up but, how much will he really play? Kam Williams and Collin Chandler can also light it up. Other than them 3 shooters everyone else is average at best.
I think shooting is going to be way better than we expected Mr. KnowItAll
love that thinking Barry