KSR Today: Kentucky Basketball Delivers a Wildly Entertaining Win

There was some angst in Rupp Arena on Wednesday. Set aside the real-world problems affecting lives across Kentucky, Mark Pope’s basketball team has plenty of their own. The unavoidable injury bug has been relentless. After watching the Cats struggle at Texas without their top three guards, there were plenty of reasons for late-season uncertainty to creep in around Big Blue Nation.

There may still be questions about the Cats, but they showed in an 82-61 win over Vanderbilt that there’s still plenty of good Kentucky basketball left in the tank.

Both teams got off to a smoking hot start, with each hitting 9 of their first 12 shots. Five of Kentucky’s makes were behind the three-point line. It was a blistering pace, but Kentucky could not get separation from the Commodores.

The Cats led by one at the half. They started the second half with the ball inside and it tilted the game in their favor. Kentucky went on a 12-2 run — half the points came from the paint, half from behind the arc — and kept that double-digit lead for the rest of the night.

Kentucky shot 58% from the field, led by 20 points from Otega Oweh. Amari Williams was a perfect 6-6 with 17 points and six rebounds.

The Cats couldn’t afford to lose to Vanderbilt at home. They took care of business in wildly entertaining fashion, allowing Big Blue Nation to let out a sigh of relief.

Is Andrew Carr Back?

Andrew Carr hadn’t looked the same since he returned from his back injury. Looking for a way to get him back to his old self, Mark Pope put him back into the starting lineup, the eighth different starting five Kentucky has used this season. It worked out pretty well. In 21 minutes, the stretch-four scored 11 points, knocked down a three, and grabbed a pair of boards for the Cats.

“I thought he was brilliant,” Mark Pope said after the game. “He really did look like his old physical, attacking self.”

Collin Chandler’s Best SEC Performance

Without Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, and Kerr Kriisa, Mark Pope needed something from his freshmen. Many thought it might come from Travis Perry. It was Collin Chandler who played the best game of his young career.

He jumped in passing lanes to swipe a couple of steals. He grabbed six boards and created offense with two assists. Maybe even more surprisingly, we saw Chandler knock down a contested three en route to a career-high seven points.

“I’m putting in the work every day, I know what I can do and my teammates do as well,” Chandler said. “It’s just continuing to stack nights like this. On to the next one.”

More Postgame Coverage from Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt

KSR’s 5 Favorite Things from the Vandy Win
Mark Pope referred to Collin Chandler as a bamboo tree
Amari Williams had the most perfect night since…
Kentucky Dedicates the Win to Flood Victims
Chandler, Carr, Williams Break Down the Win
Andrew Carr looked more like his old self vs. Vandy
Highlights from the Win
A Closer Look at the Numbers
Recapping an Exceptional Second Half Performance

Obviously, you’ll be able to read more throughout the day on Kentucky Sports Radio. You can also hear Jack Pilgrim talk some ball on the KSR YouTube Channel with a new edition of Sources Say.

Kentucky WBB on the Road

Kenny Brooks’ Cats got right by snapping a losing streak on Sunday against Georgia. That was at the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum. Tonight they’ll hit the road to take on a Missouri team that only has two wins in SEC play. It’s their final game of the regular season against an unranked foe. You can catch all of the action on SECN+, beginning at 7:30 pm EST.

Trivia Thursday with Matt Jones

Wanna watch Kenny Brooks’ Cats with other Kentucky fans? Enjoy it at KSBar and Grille with a side of trivia. Matt Jones is hosting trivia starting at 7 pm EST. Break your cabin fever with an exciting night at KSBar.

If trivia at Kentucky women’s basketball isn’t your thing, we’ll also have some U.S. Hockey on the tube. Team USA is facing off against Canada in the 4 Nations Final. Let’s beat ’em at their best sport, shall we? The puck drops at 8 pm EST on TNT.