Vicky Graff Photo
Sophomore guard Collin Chandler went 4-for-8 from 3-point range in Wednesday’s 94-78 win over Oklahoma and is now shooting 40.4 percent from 3 (42 of 104) this season to lead UK in total 3’s and 3-point shooting percentage.
He had 18 points, three rebounds and three assists and has become a more consistent overall contributor during UK’s 7-1 surge since an 0-2 start in Southeastern Conference play. He is the team’s third leading scorer at 9.4 points per game and is also adding 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Kentucky assistant coach Jason Hart said after the Oklahoma win that Chandler is a “prime example of believing” in coach Mark Pope’s system and staying put to develop rather than transferring to another school to seek a fresh start.
“This is his second year and he’s real comfortable and he’s grown and matured. He’s been on this long mission for two years and he’s got his legs back under him. He’s just playing at a level where we knew he was and I’m just happy for the world to get to see Collin Chandler playing at a high level,” Hart said. “We need him.”
Chandler normally downplays his own play as he prefers to credit teammates.
“I just feel like I’ve been getting to spots where I’m comfortable and, we’re getting to spots offensively that we weren’t before,” Chandler said after Wednesday’s win. “We’re clicking a lot better and understanding the offense a lot better as games go on. I attribute a lot of it to that.”
Chandler was disappointed that UK let Oklahoma go off from 3-point range in the second half and cut into Kentucky’s lead.
“Luckily, we were winning there at the end, but they actually shot the ball really well in the second half. It was demoralizing a little bit even though we were winning by a lot. I mean, it does that to every team and it has that effect,” Chandler said.
“That’s how runs happen. One of them was a fast break, one was at the end of the shot clock. I just think it adds to a run.”
The good news, though, is that UK’s offense is clicking much better than it was going into Southeastern Conference play when the Cats started by losing games to Alabama and Missouri.
“I think more things are clicking for us, offensively,” the sophomore guard said. “I think it’s been trial and error. We’re finding things that are working, and I think we’re doing that really well.
“We’re finding each other in spots that we can score. I think it’s been very smooth. It kind of felt like a little bit choppy at the start of the year at the offense. It’s gotten a lot more smooth.”
7 Responses
Like I've said all year Chandler will be the best player on the team next year. He will have his biggest jump from his sophomore year to his junior year. Next year he will be a 15-16 PPG type of player. He will be all conference next year and I can see him possibly being a all American his senior year. If he stays all 4 years at Kentucky he might end up being one of my favorite Kentucky player of all time.
Not sure about that Terry but he is obviously getting better
You will see Larry. What makes me confident in this decision is the fact that he's getting better and better every game. Not even from a point standpoint. All around. Passing, defense, and he's finding his 3 point shot. Shooting 40% from 3 with a bunch of shots. If you take Oweh and Aberdeen off of this team Chandler would lead the team in scoring. Next year they will be gone and Chandler will be the leader of the team.
I like how he's always hustling. Going for rebounds, loose balls,blocks,steals,well everything!
So do I Ricky
Down 14 at the half to Tennessee. No defense and all hero ball! This team seems to not give a shit about winning unless they are the hero. Rah Rah Rah!
There is only one antidote for hero-ball sickness. It’s a long dose of the bench. Too many players have bucket loads of mulligans so they can be selfish “just one more trip” down the floor.
Last season, at 10-1 (?), the team aspect vanished and SOME selfish players took over and it quickly broke any chemistry established in the pre-season & initial 7 games.
This season, the players abandoned TEAM FIRST play after the win over Purdue! This co tinier until the 3rd SEC game.
The TEAM FIRST concept resurfaced in the 3rd SEC game this season.
The Professor’s ANE player values have been as accurate measuring player value to the TEAM as has his ANE TEAM values where the Title Team and the FF contenders earn the highest values.
Selfish players like to score to hide their resistance to sharing the ball. Media always hype hush scoring players and ignore many other characteristics of othet players.
The top 5 active players based on ANE values:
The 3 bigs – Moreno, Dioubate, & Garrison. Noah & Chandler round out the starting 5 who have the TEAM FIRST value to lead UK to the FF.