When Kam Williams left Kentucky Basketball’s 85-80 win over Texas with a foot injury, it was a moment that could have swung the game in favor of the Longhorns.
But when Williams went out with 18:11 remaining
in the second half and Kentucky leading 46-42, Collin Chandler checked in, and the rest is history.
Chandler, who was battling an illness coming into Wednesday night’s game, proceeded to have a game-changing second half that helped the Wildcats break the game open and preserve their fourth straight win.
Chandler was one of many stars who stood out and carried the Wildcats over the finish line in a back-and-forth battle against the Longhorns on Wednesday night.
Stars of the Game
1. Collin Chandler: 18 pts, 5/9 FG (2/4 3-PT FG), 6/6 FT, 7 rebs, 1 ast., 2 stl, 32 mins
Chandler was, without question, the biggest star in Kentucky’s win Wednesday night. When he entered the game less than two minutes into the second half, he proceeded to score 14 of his 18 points in the final 18:11 of the game. In addition, he made two 3-pointers and went 4/4 from the free-throw line.
What made Wednesday night’s performance even better was that he did it while battling an illness.
“There was never a doubt on whether I was going to play or not,” Chandler said after the game. “I haven’t been feverish, which has been the nicest thing about it, but there’s been stuff going around. That’s just how the winter is, so it’s something I get every year.”
After going eight straight games without scoring in double figures, Chandler has scored double-digit points in back-to-back games to increase his season scoring average by over half a point per game. In his last three games, Chandler is 8/14 from 3-point range and has six steals, while also pulling down 13 rebounds.
2. Otega Oweh: 18 pts, 8/20 FG, 2/2 FT, 3 rebs (2 off.), 1 stl, 36 mins
It’s a great night for the Wildcats when Otega Oweh “quietly” has 18 points. It may have taken him 20 shot attempts to get there, but he grinded out all 18 of his points in 36 valiant minutes.
Oweh’s two biggest points came at the free-throw line with 10:18 remaining in the game, a result of a flagrant one by the Longhorns as Oweh was driving to the rim on a fast break.
“I think we’re really playing connected,” Oweh said after the game about the team’s confidence with four straight wins. “We’re focusing on the defensive end and trying to get out in transition. I feel like when we do that, it sets us up for our offense, even in the half-court.”
Ever since Oweh posted a picture of Mark Pope on his Instagram story, saying to fans, “not to worry,” Kentucky has won four straight games. Kentucky’s leader is playing like it this month, and the rest of the team is completely following him.
3. Denzel Aberdeen: 19 pts, 4/10 FG (2/5 3-PT FG), 9/12 FT, 1 reb., 1 ast., 1 sta., 32 mins
Aberdeen made six free throws in the final 1:19 of the game to seal Kentucky’s victory. He went 9/12 from the free-throw line, and six of those makes came in the final 1:19 of the game
Over his last four games, Aberdeen is 9/17 from 3-point range and has scored in double figures in all four, raising his scoring average by over 1.5 points per game.
4. Malachi Moreno: 8 pts, 2/6 FG, 4/5 FT, 4 rebs (3 off.), 6 ast., 5 blk, 26 mins, +19
Moreno was fantastic in so many facets on Wednesday night. He stuffed the stat sheet and made an impact in multiple areas.
Mark Pope calls him a seven-foot freshman who is a head coach on the floor. Moreno also drew praise from Texas head coach Sean Miller.
“Malachi is a terrific young player, I think he’s one of the best freshmen in the country and certainly has a big role in Kentucky’s team,” Miller said. “Everyone likes to judge these guys on one snapshot, but you forget he’s nineteen years old and from Northern Kentucky. He’s playing in games that he’s never played before. I think he’s only going to continue to get better.
“He’s a wonderful kid and comes from a great family as well. I thought he did a great job tonight.”
Miller added that he thought Moreno influenced Texas’s seven-foot center Matas Vokietaitis into missing nine of his 14 shot attempts.
5. Andrija Jelavic: 4 pts, 2/2 FG, 7 rebs, 1 ast., 2 stl, 18 mins, +18
Jelavic made his third start of the season Wednesday night, and it was his go-ahead bucket with 10:42 remaining that gave the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.
Those were just two of his four points Wednesday night, but Jelavic also led the Wildcats with seven rebounds and was +18 from the floor while stuffing the stat sheet.
Over his last three games, Jelavic has 13 rebounds and is 8/13 from the floor. Kentucky is going to need him to keep producing, especially now that Kam Williams is out. Williams was getting plenty of run at the 4 spot, and that’s where Jelavic primarily plays.
