Kentucky didn’t come away with the win against Louisville, but something special still happened inside the KFC Yum! Center. Collin Chandler caught fire again — and in the process, did something no Wildcat in history has ever done. The numbers are wild, and they show why Mark Pope might have found his next breakout star.
While Kentucky couldn’t snag the win Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center, history was still made — and it came from the hot hand of Collin Chandler.
For the first time in program history, a Kentucky player has opened the season with three straight games of four or more made threes. That player? Sophomore guard Collin Chandler, who’s officially on fire. He went 4-for-6 from deep against Louisville, continuing a red-hot streak that has no precedent in Kentucky basketball history.
Not even sharpshooters like Koby Brea, Doron Lamb, Reed Sheppard, or Travis Ford ever pulled it off to start a season.
Collin Chandler’s Historic Shooting Stretch
Since March 1 of last season, Chandler has been one of the most efficient long-range shooters in the nation — hitting 24 of his last 44 attempts (54.5%) from beyond the arc. This year alone, he’s 12-for-21 (57.1%), a scorching pace that’s turned him from a solid rotation piece into a must-watch weapon.
That’s a massive jump for a player who shot just 34% from three last year. It’s not a fluke — it’s growth. If Chandler keeps this up and even settles around 45%, he’ll not only be one of the best shooters in college basketball but arguably Kentucky’s most reliable offensive player right now.
Against Louisville, Chandler did his part — going 4-of-6 from deep while the rest of the team went just 8-for-28. For Mark Pope, that kind of steady production is exactly what this Kentucky team needs as it works through early-season chemistry and identity issues.
Chandler’s rise isn’t just impressive — it’s historic. And if he keeps shooting like this, it won’t be long before the rest of the country takes notice.
